The main characters of the story are dead souls. Analysis of Gogol's poem "Dead Souls

compositional basis Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" is Chichikov's journey through the cities and provinces of Russia. According to the author's intention, the reader is invited to "travel the whole of Rus' with the hero and bring out a wide variety of characters." In the first volume of Dead Souls, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol introduces the reader to a number of characters that represent " dark kingdom”, familiar from the plays of A. N. Ostrovsky. The types created by the writer are relevant to this day, and many proper names eventually became common nouns, although in Lately V colloquial speech are used less and less. Below is a description of the heroes of the poem. In "Dead Souls" the main characters are the landlords and the main adventurer, whose adventures are the basis of the plot.

Chichikov, main character"Dead Souls", travels around Russia, buying documents for the dead peasants, who, according to the audit book, are still considered alive. In the first chapters of the work, the author tries in every possible way to emphasize that Chichikov was a completely ordinary, unremarkable person. Knowing how to find an approach to every person, Chichikov, without any problems, was able to achieve location, respect and recognition in any society that he had to face. Pavel Ivanovich is ready for anything to achieve his goal: he lies, impersonates another person, flatters, uses other people. But at the same time, he seems to readers to be a completely charming person! Gogol masterfully showed a multifaceted human personality, which combines depravity and the desire for virtue.

Another hero of the work "Dead Souls" by Gogol is Manilov. Chichikov comes to him first. Manilov gives the impression of a carefree person who does not care about worldly problems. Manilov found his wife to match - the same dreamy young lady. Servants took care of the house, and teachers come to their two children, Themistoclus and Alkid. It was difficult to determine the character of Manilov: Gogol himself says that at the first minute you might think “what an amazing person!”, A little later - be disappointed in the hero, and after another minute make sure that nothing can be said about Manilov at all. It has no desires, no life itself. The landowner spends his time in abstract reflections, completely ignoring everyday problems. Manilov easily gave the dead souls to Chichikov without asking about the legal details.

If we continue the list of heroes of the story, then the next will be Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna, an old lonely widow who lives in a small village. Chichikov came to her by chance: the coachman Selifan lost his way and turned onto the wrong road. The hero was forced to stop for the night. External attributes were an indicator internal state landowners: everything in her house was done sensibly, firmly, but nevertheless there were a lot of flies everywhere. Korobochka was a real entrepreneur, because in every person she was used to seeing only a potential buyer. Nastasya Petrovna was remembered by the reader for the fact that she did not agree to the deal in any way. Chichikov persuaded the landowner and promised to give her several blue papers for petitions, but until he agreed to order flour, honey and lard from Korobochka next time, Pavel Ivanovich did not receive several dozen dead souls.

Next on the list was Nozdryov- a reveler, a liar and a merry fellow, a playboy. The meaning of his life was entertainment, even two children could not keep the landowner at home for more than a few days. Nozdryov often got into various stories, but thanks to the innate talent to find a way out of any situation, he always got out of the water dry. Nozdryov communicated easily with people, even with those with whom he managed to quarrel, after a while he talked like with old friends. However, many tried not to have anything in common with Nozdryov: the landowner invented various fables about others hundreds of times, telling them at balls and dinner parties. It seemed that Nozdryov was not at all worried about the fact that he often lost his property in cards - he certainly wanted to win back. The image of Nozdryov is very important for the characterization of other heroes of the poem, in particular Chichikov. After all, Nozdryov was the only person with whom Chichikov did not make a deal and in general did not want to meet with him anymore. Pavel Ivanovich barely managed to escape from Nozdryov, but Chichikov could not even imagine under what circumstances he would see this man again.

Sobakevich was the fourth seller of dead souls. His appearance and in behavior he resembled a bear, even the interior of his house and household utensils were huge, out of place and cumbersome. From the very beginning, the author focuses on Sobakevich's thriftiness and prudence. It was he who first offered Chichikov to buy documents for the peasants. Chichikov was surprised by this course of events, but did not argue. The landowner was also remembered for the fact that he filled the price of the peasants, despite the fact that the latter were long dead. He talked about their professional skills or personal qualities, trying to sell documents for more high price than suggested by Chichikov.

Surprisingly, it is this hero who is much more likely to spiritual rebirth, after all, Sobakevich sees how small people have become, how insignificant they are in their aspirations.

This list of characteristics of the heroes of "Dead Souls" contains the most important characters for understanding the plot, but do not forget about coachman Selifane, and about Pavel Ivanovich's servant, and about good-natured landowner Plyushkin. Being a master of words, Gogol created very vivid portraits of heroes and their types, which is why all descriptions of the heroes of Dead Souls are so easy to remember and immediately recognizable.

Artwork test

The image of Chichikov "Dead Souls"

Chichikov is outwardly neat, loves cleanliness, dressed in a good fashionable suit, always carefully shaved; always wear clean linen and fashion clothes"brown and reddish shades with a spark" or "the color of Navarino smoke with fire." But Chichikov's outward neatness, cleanliness, strikingly contrasts with the hero's inner dirt and dishonesty. In the image of Chichikov, the author emphasized typical features predator, scoundrel and accumulator. In the eleventh chapter, the author talks in detail about life path hero from birth to the moment when he took up the acquisition of dead souls. How was the character of Chichikov formed? What vital interests, formed under the influence of the external environment, guided his behavior?
Even as a child, his father taught him: “... most of all please teachers and bosses ... communicate with those who are richer so that in some cases they will be useful to you, and most of all take care of a penny, this thing is the most useful in the world ... You will do everything and break through the world with a penny. " These father's advice formed the basis of Chichikov's relationship with people since school years. While still in school, he achieved good relationship teachers, successfully accumulated money. Service in various institutions developed his natural abilities - a practical mind, ingenuity, hypocrisy, patience, the ability to "understand the spirit of the boss", find a weak spot in a person's soul and the ability to influence him for selfish reasons. Chichikov directed all his skills to achieve the desired enrichment. He knew how to bewitch and provincial city, and estates. Chichikov knows how to find an approach to someone, clearly calculating his every step and adapting to the character of the landowner. The reader notices the difference in the manner of his communication with each of the landowners.
Gogol satirically exposes his hero "scoundrel", a representative of those predators, of which there were many in the 30s XIX years Art., when the bourgeois-capitalist forces had already begun to develop within the framework of the feudal-serf order.

Image of Manilov

The image of Manilov opens the gallery of landowners. He reminds a little of Chichikov with his "sweet" neatness and refinement of clothes and movements. Her life is empty and worthless. Even the names of his sons Manilov gives exceptional - Themistoclus and Alkid. The landowner spends his life in complete inactivity. He has moved away from any work, he does not even read anything. Manilov decorates his idleness with groundless dreams and "projects" that do not make sense. Instead of a real feeling, Manilov has a “pleasant smile”, sweet courtesy; instead of thought, meaningless judgments; instead of activity, empty dreams.
Concerning main goal Chichikov's visit, Manilov does not even know how many peasants have died, and shows complete indifference to this.

Box Image

Nastasia Petrovna Korobochka appears before us as a parody of a person, the embodiment of the same spiritual emptiness as Manilov. A small landowner (owns 80 souls), she is a housewife, but her worldview is extremely limited. The author emphasizes her stupidity, lack of education, superstition, craving for profit. You can't always trust first impressions. Chichikov is deceived by Korobochka's outward simplicity, naive patriarchal speech, which indicates that she has always lived in the village, among the peasants, has not received any education, and in the city she happens to sole purpose: Find out about the prices of some products. Chichikov calls Korobochka a "clubhead," but this landowner is no more stupid than him; like him, she never misses her advantage. She knows very well what is being done in her household, at what price and what products are sold, how many serfs she has, who is called and how many died when.

Image of Nozdrev

The type of "living dead" is Nozdrev. This is the complete opposite of both Manilov and Korobochka. He has "an irrepressible liveliness and militancy of character". He is a reveler, a swindler and a liar. Even without understanding the essence of Chichikov's scam, he recognizes him as a swindler. Nozdryov completely abandoned his farm, only the kennel is well maintained, since he loves hunting.

The image of Sobakevich

Sobakevich is a new step in the moral fall of man. He is an adherent of the old feudal forms of farming, is hostile to the city and education, ardently strives for profit. The thirst for enrichment pushes him to dishonest deeds. This landowner knows how to run a household. Wealth provides him with self-confidence, makes him independent in his judgments. He knows well how the other landowners and top officials in the province have grown rich, and he deeply neglects them. Sobakevich, in addition to the corvée, also applies the monetary system. His serfs are dying because of inhuman conditions existence, as he behaves cruelly with them, despite their talents and abilities. And his peasants are really talented: the skillful carriage-maker Mikheev, the carpenter Stepan Cork, the tsegelnik Milushkin, the shoemaker Maxim Telyatnikov and others.
Chichikov's request to sell "dead souls" does not surprise Sobakevich, since he is convinced that money can be made from everything. The author emphasizes the broad generalizing meaning of this image.

Plushkin's image

“A hole in humanity,” Plyushkin is the exact opposite of Sobakevich. He has lost his human likeness so much that Chichikov at first considers him a housekeeper. Undoubtedly, he has income, and considerable: over a thousand souls of serfs, full barns of all kinds of goods. However, his extreme avarice turns the wealth earned for him by the hard work of the serfs into dust and rot. Is there anything dear to him in life? Plyushkin forgot why he lives in the world. His serfs suffer from the stinginess of the owner and "die like flies." According to Sobakevich, he starved all people to death. Everything human died in him; it is in the full understanding of the "dead soul". This landlord has no human qualities, even his father's things are more dear to him than the people whom he considers thieves and swindlers. In the image of Plyushkin, with special force and satirical aggravation, the shameful desire for accumulation at any cost, born of society, is embodied.
It is no coincidence that Gogol completes the gallery of landlords in the image of Plyushkin. The author shows what can happen to each of them. Gogol is offended by the mockery of man as the likeness of God. He says: “And could a person come to such insignificance, pettiness, vileness? Could it have changed! and does it look like it's true? Everything seems to be true, everything can happen to a person ... ".

Positive characters in the poem Dead Souls by N.V. Gogol

For those who have not read, but heard something, I will immediately explain that Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol called "Dead Souls" a poem himself. And what is called, all questions to the author. This is instead of an epigraph. Further - in the text.

The classic analysis of the poem "Dead Souls" does not imply the presence of positive characters. All characters are negative. The only "positive" is laughter. I do not agree with this position of comrades and professors. What is it? Made on the basis of again the classic illustrations to the text? Are you laughing?

If you look carefully classic illustrations of any Soviet edition of Dead Souls, then, indeed, each character on them is ugly in its own way. But! There is no need to substitute pictures of tendentious artists for true lines, portraits and descriptions.

In fact goodie can be considered the landowner Sobakevich. Remember how Gogol gives it to us! Chichikov comes to Sobakevich after several visits to other landowners. And everywhere his attention is focused on the quality of what he sees. This is a patriarchal order. There is no stingy Plyushkin here. The recklessness of Nozdryov. Manilov's empty dreams.

Sobakevich lives "as the fathers did." He does not go to the city too much, not because he is wild. And for the reason that the owner is strong. He must and monitors what is done in the fields, in the forge, in the workshops, in the cellar. He was not accustomed to completely and completely rely on clerks. And does he have a clerk at all?

Sobakevich is a good manager. Otherwise, why are his peasants all strong and stately, and not frail and sick? This means that he sees the urgent needs of peasant families and satisfies them even too much, but at the same time he is burly and rich. He was able to solve the most difficult managerial problem: to appropriate other people's results of labor, but at the same time not to ruin his serfs.

Sobakevich is a patriot. Pay attention to the portraits of the Sobakevichs on the wall. On them people in military uniform who served the Fatherland. And did Sobakevich himself evade military service? It was on such strong peasants as Sobakevich and his peasants that Russia was kept.

Sobakevich is an enlightened landowner. Remember, he tells Chichikov the story of one of his peasants, whom he even let go to Moscow to trade? And he brought him 500 rubles as dues. At the time, that was crazy money. A good serf could be purchased for 100 rubles. A good estate cost about ten thousand rubles.

Sobakevich speaks negatively of almost everyone whom Chichikov lists during dinner. The only exception is the prosecutor. And he, according to Sobakevich, is a decent pig. Isn't it true? How can a negative hero scold others bad guys word "fraudster"?

In the end, remember how the bargaining between Chichikov and Sobakevich goes. Yes, Sobakevich is not an angel. But he is a landowner. He must be able to bargain. He does it. But after some time, when he had already "saved face", he reduced the price to an acceptable level for Chichikov. That is, Sobakevich is not devoid of the nobility of the soul.

In this article we will describe the image of landowners created by Gogol in the poem " Dead Souls". The table compiled by us will help you remember the information. We will sequentially talk about the five heroes presented by the author in this work.

The image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" by N.V. Gogol is briefly described in the following table.

Depiction of landowners by Gogol

In the work of Nikolai Vasilyevich, one of the main topics is the theme of the landlord class in Russia, as well as the ruling class (nobility), its role in society and its fate.

The main method used by Gogol when depicting various characters is satire. The process of gradual degeneration of the landlord class was reflected in the heroes created by his pen. Nikolai Vasilievich reveals shortcomings and vices. Gogol's satire is colored with irony, which helped this writer to speak directly about what was impossible to speak openly under censorship conditions. At the same time, the laughter of Nikolai Vasilyevich seems to us good-natured, but he does not spare anyone. Each phrase has a subtext, hidden, deep meaning. Irony in general is characteristic element Gogol's satires. It is present not only in the speech of the author himself, but also in the speech of the characters.

Irony is one of the essential features of Gogol's poetics, it gives more realism to the narrative, it becomes a means of analyzing the surrounding reality.

Compositional construction of the poem

Images of landowners in the poem the largest work this author, are given in the most multifaceted and complete way. It is built as the story of the adventures of the official Chichikov, who buys up "dead souls". The composition of the poem allowed the author to tell about different villages and the owners living in them. Almost half of the first volume (five of the eleven chapters) is devoted to characterizing different types landowners in Russia. Nikolai Vasilyevich created five portraits, not similar friend on the other, however, in each of them at the same time there are features that are typical of the Russian serf-owner. Acquaintance with them begins with Manilov and ends with Plyushkin. Such a construction is not accidental. There is a logic to this sequence: the process of impoverishment of a person's personality deepens from one image to another, it unfolds more and more as scary picture disintegration of feudal society.

Acquaintance with Manilov

Manilov - representing the image of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls". The table only briefly describes it. Let's get to know this character better. The character of Manilov, which is described in the first chapter, is already manifested in the surname itself. The story about this hero begins with the image of the village of Manilovka, a few able to "lure" with its location. The author describes with irony the manor's courtyard, created as an imitation with a pond, bushes and the inscription "Temple of solitary reflection". External details help the writer to create the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls".

Manilov: the character of the hero

The author, speaking of Manilov, exclaims that only God knows what kind of character this man had. By nature, he is kind, courteous, polite, but all this takes ugly, exaggerated forms in his image. sentimental and splendid to the point of cloying. Festive and idyllic seem to him the relationship between people. Various relationships, in general, are one of the details that create the image of landlords in the poem "Dead Souls". Manilov did not know life at all, reality was replaced by an empty fantasy with him. This hero loved to dream and reflect, sometimes even about things useful for the peasants. However, his ideas were far from the needs of life. He did not know about the real needs of the serfs and never even thought about them. Manilov considers himself a bearer of culture. He was considered the most educated person in the army. Nikolai Vasilyevich speaks ironically about the house of this landowner, in which "something was always missing", as well as about his sugary relationship with his wife.

Chichikov's conversation with Manilov about buying dead souls

Manilov in an episode of a conversation about buying dead shower is compared to an overly smart minister. Gogol's irony here intrudes, as if by accident, into a forbidden area. Such a comparison means that the minister differs not so much from Manilov, and "Manilovism" is a typical phenomenon of the vulgar bureaucratic world.

box

Let's describe one more image of landowners in the poem "Dead Souls". The table has already briefly introduced you to the Box. We learn about it in the third chapter of the poem. Gogol refers this heroine to the number of small landowners who complain about losses and crop failures and always keep their heads somewhat to one side, while gaining money little by little in the bags placed in the chest of drawers. This money is obtained through the sale of a variety of subsistence products. Korobochka's interests and horizons are completely focused on her estate. Her entire life and economy are patriarchal in nature.

How did Korobochka react to Chichikov's proposal?

The landowner understood that trade dead souls profitable, and agreed after much persuasion to sell them. The author, describing the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" (Korobochka and other heroes), is ironic. For a long time, the "clubhead" cannot figure out what exactly is required of her, which infuriates Chichikov. After that, she bargains with him for a long time, fearing to miscalculate.

Nozdrev

In the image of Nozdryov in the fifth chapter, Gogol draws a completely different form of decomposition of the nobility. This hero is a man, as they say, "of all trades." There was something remote, direct, open in his very face. Characteristic for him is also the "breadth of nature." According to the ironic remark of Nikolai Vasilyevich, Nozdrev is a "historical person", since not a single meeting that he managed to attend was ever complete without stories. He loses a lot of money at cards with a light heart, beats a simpleton at a fair and immediately "squanders" everything. This hero is an utter liar and a reckless braggart, real master"pouring bullets". He behaves defiantly everywhere, if not aggressively. The speech of this character is replete with swear words, and at the same time he has a passion to "shame on his neighbor." Gogol created in domestic literature a new socio-psychological type of the so-called Nozdrevshchina. In many ways, the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" is innovative. Brief image the following heroes are described below.

Sobakevich

The satire of the author in the image of Sobakevich, with whom we get acquainted in the fifth chapter, acquires a more accusatory character. This character bears little resemblance to previous landowners. This is a fisted, cunning merchant, a "landowner-fist". He is alien to the violent extravagance of Nozdryov, the dreamy complacency of Manilov, and also the hoarding of Korobochka. Sobakevich has an iron grip, he is laconic, he is on his mind. There are few people who could deceive him. Everything about this landowner is strong and durable. In all household items surrounding him, Gogol reflects the features of the character of this person. Everything surprisingly resembles the hero himself in his house. Each thing, as the author notes, seemed to say that she was "also Sobakevich."

Nikolai Vasilyevich depicts a figure that strikes with rudeness. This man seemed to Chichikov like a bear. Sobakevich is a cynic who is not ashamed of moral ugliness either in others or in himself. He is far from enlightened. This is a stubborn feudal lord who only cares about his own peasants. Interestingly, apart from this hero, no one understood true essence"scoundrel" Chichikov, and Sobakevich perfectly understood the essence of the proposal, reflecting the spirit of the time: everything can be sold and bought, one should profit as much as possible. Such is the generalized image of the landowners in the poem of the work, however, it is not limited to the image of only these characters. We present you the next landowner.

Plushkin

The sixth chapter is devoted to Plyushkin. On it, the characteristics of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls" are completed. The name of this hero has become a household name, denoting moral degradation and stinginess. This image is the last degree of degeneration of the landlord class. Gogol begins his acquaintance with the character, as usual, with a description of the estate and village of the landowner. At the same time, "special dilapidation" was noticeable on all buildings. Nikolai Vasilievich describes a picture of the ruin of a once rich serf-owner. Its cause is not idleness and extravagance, but the painful stinginess of the owner. Gogol calls this landowner "a hole in humanity." Myself appearance its characteristic is a sexless creature resembling a housekeeper. This character no longer causes laughter, only bitter disappointment.

Conclusion

The image of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls" (the table is presented above) is revealed by the author in many ways. The five characters that Gogol created in the work draw a versatile state this class. Plyushkin, Sobakevich, Nozdrev, Korobochka, Manilov - different forms one phenomenon - spiritual, social and economic decline. The characteristics of the landlords in Gogol's Dead Souls prove this.

In one of his articles, Belinsky notes that “the author of Dead Souls does not speak anywhere himself, he only makes his characters speak in accordance with their characters. He expresses the sensitive Manilov in the language of a man educated in a petty-bourgeois taste, and Nozdryov in the language of a historical man ... "The speech of Gogol's characters is psychologically motivated, conditioned by characters, way of life, type of thinking, situation.

So, in Manilov, the dominant features are sentimentality, daydreaming, complacency, excessive sensitivity. These qualities of the hero are unusually accurately conveyed in his speech, elegantly ornate, courteous, “delicate”, “sugary-sweet”: “observe delicacy in your actions”, “magnetism of the soul”, “name day of the heart”, “spiritual pleasure”, “such a guy”, “most respected and most amiable person”, “I don’t have high art express myself”, “the chance gave me happiness”.

Manilov gravitates towards bookish sentimental phrases; in the speech of this character we feel Gogol's parody of the language sentimental stories: "Open, darling, your mouth, I'll put this piece for you." So he turns to his wife. Manilov and Chichikov are no less "gracious": "they honored us with their visit", "let me ask you to sit in these armchairs."

One of the main features of the speech of the landowner, according to V. V. Litvinov, "its vagueness, confusion, uncertainty." Starting the phrase, Manilov seems to be under the impression own words and can't finish it clearly.

Characteristic and speech manner of the hero. Manilov speaks quietly, insinuatingly, slowly, with a smile, sometimes closing his eyes, "like a cat that has been slightly tickled behind the ears with a finger." At the same time, his facial expression becomes “not only sweet, but even cloying, similar to the potion that the clever secular doctor sweetened mercilessly.”

In Manilov's speech, his claims to "education", "culture" are also noticeable. Discussing with Pavel Ivanovich sale of the dead shower, he asks him a grandiloquent and ornate question about the legality of this "enterprise". Manilov is very worried "whether this negotiation will be inconsistent with civil regulations and further types of Russia." At the same time, he shows “in all the features of his face and in compressed lips such a deep expression, which, perhaps, was not seen on a human face, except for some too smart minister, and even then at the moment of the most puzzling case.”

Characteristic in the poem is the speech of Korobochka, a simple, patriarchal mother landowner. The box is completely uneducated, ignorant. In her speech, colloquialism constantly slips: “something”, “theirs”, “manenko”, “tea”, “so hot”, “you bend down the zabranki”.

The box is not only simple and patriarchal, but fearful and stupid. All these qualities of the heroine are manifested in her dialogue with Chichikov. Fearing deceit, some kind of trick, Korobochka is in no hurry to agree to the sale of dead souls, believing that they may "somehow be needed in the household." And only Chichikov's lies about the conduct of government contracts had an effect on her.

Gogol also depicts Korobochka's inner speech, in which the landowner's vital and everyday sharpness is conveyed, the very trait that helps her gain "little by little money in motley bags." “It would be nice,” Korobochka thought meanwhile to herself, “if he took flour and cattle from me for the treasury. You need to appease him: there is still dough left from yesterday evening, so go tell Fetinya to bake pancakes ... "

Nozdrev's speech is unusually colorful in Dead Souls. As Belinsky noted, "Nozdryov speaks the language of a historical person, a hero of fairs, taverns, drinking parties, fights and gambling tricks."

The speech of the hero is very colorful and varied. It also contains “ugly Frenchized slang of an army-restaurant style” (“bezeshki”, “clicot-matradura”, “burdashka”, “scandalous”), and expressions of card jargon (“banchishka”, “galbik”, “password”, “break the bank”, “play doublet”), and terms of dog breeding (“muzzle”, “barreled ribs”, “brudy”), and a lot of swear words are expressed ii: “svintus”, rascal”, “you’ll get the hell of a bald man”, “fetyuk”, “beast”, “you are such a cattle breeder”, “zhidomor”, “scoundrel”, “death I don’t like such thaws”.

In his speeches, the hero is prone to "improvisation": often he himself does not know what he can come up with in the next minute. So, he tells Chichikov that he drank "seventeen bottles of champagne" at dinner. Showing the guests the estate, he leads them to a pond, where, according to him, there is a fish of such size that two people can hardly pull it out. Moreover, Nozdryov’s lie does not have any apparent reason. He lies "for a red word", wanting to impress others.

Nozdryov is characterized by familiarity: with any person he quickly switches to “you”, “affectionately” calls the interlocutor “svintus”, “cattle breeder”, “fetyuk”, “scoundrel”. The landowner is "straightforward": in response to Chichikov's request for dead souls, he tells him that he is a "big swindler" and should be hanged "on the first tree." However, after that, Nozdryov, with the same "ardor and interest," continues his "friendly conversation."

Sobakevich's speech is striking in its simplicity, brevity, and accuracy. The landowner lives alone and unsociable, he is skeptical in his own way, has a practical mind, sober look on things. Therefore, in his assessments of those around him, the landowner is often rude, in his speech there are swear words and expressions. Thus, characterizing city officials, he calls them "swindlers" and "Christ sellers." The governor, but in his opinion, is “the first robber in the world”, the chairman is a “fool”, the prosecutor is a “pig”.

As V.V. Litvinov notes, Sobakevich immediately grasps the essence of the conversation, the hero is not easily confused, he is logical and consistent in the dispute. So, arguing the price requested for dead souls, he reminds Chichikov that "this kind of purchase ... is not always permissible."

Characteristically, Sobakevich is also capable of a great, inspired speech, if the subject of conversation is interesting to him. So, talking about gastronomy, he discovers knowledge of German and French diets, "hunger cures." Sobakevich's speech becomes emotional, figurative, vivid even when he talks about the merits of dead peasants. “Another swindler will deceive you, sell you rubbish, not souls; but I have a vigorous nut”, “I’ll bet my head if you find such a man anywhere”, “Maxim Telyatnikov, shoemaker: whatever pierces with an awl, then boots, and that boots, then thank you.” Describing his "goods", the landowner himself is carried away by his own speech, acquires a "lynx" and a "gift of words."

Gogol also depicts Sobakevich's inner speech, his thoughts. So, noting Chichikov's "stubbornness", the landowner remarks to himself: "You can't knock him down, he's stubborn!"

The last of the landowners in the poem is Plyushkin. This is an old miser, suspicious and wary, always dissatisfied with something. The very visit of Chichikov infuriates him. Not in the least embarrassed by Pavel Ivanovich, Plyushkin tells him that "a visit is of little use." At the beginning of Chichikov's visit, the landowner speaks to him warily and irritably. Plyushkin does not know what the guest's intentions are, and just in case he warns Chichikov's "possible encroachments", remembering his nephew beggar.

However, in the middle of the conversation, the situation changes dramatically. Plyushkin understands what the essence of Chichikov's request is, and becomes indescribably delighted. All his intonations change. Irritation is replaced by frank joy, alertness - by confidential intonations. Plyushkin, who saw no use in visiting, calls Chichikov "father" and "benefactor". Touched, the landowner recalls the "gentlemen" and "hierarchs".

However, Plyushkin does not remain in such complacency for long. Not finding a clean paper to make a bill of sale, he again turns into a grouchy, grumpy curmudgeon. All his anger he brings down on the yard. Many abusive expressions appear in his speech: “what a mug”, “fool”, “fool”, “robber”, “swindler”, “swindler”, “devils will bake you”, “thieves”, “unscrupulous parasites”. Present in the lexicon of the landowner and colloquial speech: “bayut”, “boats”, “hefty jackpot”, “tea”, “ehwa”, “stuffed”, “already”.

Gogol also presents Plyushkin's inner speech to us, exposing the suspicion and incredulity of the landowner. Chichikov’s generosity seems incredible to Plyushkin, and he thinks to himself: “After all, the devil knows, maybe he’s just a braggart, like all these little moths: he’ll tell lies, lie, to talk and drink tea, and then he’ll leave!”

Chichikov's speech, like Manilov's, is unusually elegant, florid, full of book turns: "an insignificant worm of this world", "I had the honor to cover your deuce." Pavel Ivanovich has "excellent manners", he can support any conversation - about a horse farm, and about dogs, and about judicial tricks, and about a game of billiards, and about making hot wine. He talks especially well about virtue, "even with tears in his eyes." The very conversational manner of Chichikov is also characteristic: "He spoke neither loudly nor quietly, but exactly as he should."

It is worth noting the special maneuverability and mobility of the hero's speech. Communicating with people, Pavel Ivanovich skillfully adapts to each of the interlocutors. With Manilov, he speaks floridly, significantly, uses "vague paraphrases and sensitive maxims." “Yes, indeed, what did I not tolerate? like a bar

amid the ferocious waves... What persecutions, what persecutions he did not experience, what grief he did not taste, but for keeping the truth, for being pure in his conscience, for giving his hand to a helpless widow and a miserable orphan!

With Korobochka, Chichikov becomes a kind patriarchal landowner. "All the will of God, mother!" - Pavel Ivanovich profoundly declares in response to the lamentations of the landowner about the numerous deaths among the peasants. However, realizing very soon how stupid and ignorant Korobochka is, he is no longer particularly on ceremony with her: “Yes, perish and go around with your whole village”, “like some, without saying a bad word, mongrel that lies in the hay: she doesn’t eat herself, and doesn’t give to others.

First appears in the chapter on the Box. inner speech Chichikov. Chichikov's thoughts here convey his dissatisfaction with the situation, irritation, but at the same time the arrogance, rudeness of the hero: "Well, the woman seems to be strong-headed!" I've been sweating, you damned old woman!"

WITH Nozdrev Chichikov speaks simply and concisely, "trying to get on a familiar foot." He understands perfectly well that thoughtful phrases and colorful epithets are useless here. However, a conversation with the landowner does not lead to anything: instead of a successful deal, Chichikov finds himself embroiled in a scandal, which stops only due to the appearance of the police captain.

With Sobakevich, Chichikov at first sticks to his usual manner of speaking. Then he somewhat reduces his "eloquence". Moreover, in the intonations of Pavel Ivanovich, while observing all external decorum, one feels impatience and irritation. So, wanting to convince Sobakevich of the complete uselessness of the subject of bargaining, Chichikov declares: “It’s strange to me right: it seems that some kind of theatrical performance or a comedy, otherwise I can’t explain to myself ... You seem to be a rather smart person, you have knowledge of education.

The same feeling of irritation is present in the thoughts of the hero. Here, Pavel Ivanovich is not shy about "more definite" statements, outright abuse. "Why, really," Chichikov thought to himself, "does he take me for a fool, or something?" In another place we read: “Well, damn him,” Chichikov thought to himself, “I’ll add fifty dollars for him, the dog, for nuts!”

In a conversation with Plyushkin, Chichikov returns to his usual courtesy and grandiloquence of statements. Pavel Ivanovich declares to the landowner that "having heard about his savings and the rare management of estates, he considered it a duty to get acquainted and personally pay his respects." He calls Plyushkin "venerable, kind old man". Pavel Ivanovich maintains this tone throughout the entire conversation with the landowner.

In his thoughts, Chichikov discards "all ceremonies", his inner speech is far from bookish and rather primitive. Plyushkin is unfriendly, inhospitable towards Pavel Ivanovich. The landowner does not invite him to dine, arguing that his kitchen is “low, bad, and the pipe has completely collapsed, you start to heat it, you’ll make another fire.” “Wow, how it is! Chichikov thought to himself. “It’s good that I intercepted a cheesecake from Sobakevich, and a chunk of a lamb side.” Asking Plyushkin about selling runaway souls, Pavel Ivanovich first refers to his friend, although he buys them for himself. “No, we won’t even let our friend sniff it,” Chichikov said to himself ... “Here one can clearly feel the joy of the hero from a successful “deal”.

Thus, the speech of the heroes, along with the landscape, portrait, interior, serves in the poem "Dead Souls" as a means of creating integrity and completeness of images.