Heroes of dead souls gogol characteristic. Positive characters in the poem Dead Souls N.V.

The main work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is not only in terms of the scale and depth of artistic generalizations. For this author, working on it has become long process writing and human self-knowledge. The analysis of "Dead Souls" will be presented in this article.

Gogol noticed after the publication of the first volume that the main subject of his work was not at all ugly landowners and not the province, but a "secret" that was suddenly to be revealed to readers in subsequent volumes.

"The Pale Beginning" of a Grand Design

Searching for a genre, changing the idea, working on the text of the first two volumes, as well as thinking about the third - these are fragments of a grandiose "construction" carried out by Nikolai Vasilyevich only partially. When analyzing "Dead Souls", it should be understood that the first volume is only a part in which the outlines of the whole are outlined. This is the "pale beginning" of labor, according to the definition of the writer himself. No wonder Nikolai Vasilievich compared it with a porch, hastily attached to the "palace" by the provincial architect.

How did the idea for the piece come about?

Features of the composition and plot, the originality of the genre are associated with the deepening and development of the original idea of ​​"Dead Souls". Pushkin stood at the origins of the work. As Nikolai Vasilievich said, the poet advised him to take up big essay and even suggested a plot from which he himself wanted to create "something like a poem." However, it was not so much the plot itself as the "thought" contained in it that was Pushkin's "hint" to Gogol. The future author of the poem was well aware of the real stories that are based on scams with the so-called " dead souls". IN youth Gogol in Mirgorod there was one of such cases.

"Dead Souls" in Gogol's Russia

"Dead Souls"- who died, but continued to be listed as alive until the next "revision tale". Only after it they were officially considered dead. It was after that that the landowners stopped paying for them - a special tax. The peasants who existed on paper could be mortgaged, donated or sold than scammers sometimes used, seducing the landlords, not only the opportunity to get rid of the serfs that did not bring income, but also to receive money for them.

Buyer " dead souls"At the same time, he became the owner of a completely real state. The adventure of the protagonist of the work, Chichikov, is the result of the" most inspirational thought "that dawned on him - the Board of Trustees will give 200 rubles for each serf.

An adventurous picaresque novel

The basis for the so-called adventurous picaresque novel was given by the "joke" with "dead souls". This type of novel has always been very popular, because it was interesting. Gogol's older contemporaries created works in this genre (V. T. Narezhny, F. V. Bulgarin, and others). Their novels, despite the rather low artistic level, were a great success.

Modification of the genre of adventure-picaresque novel in the process of work

The genre model of the work we are interested in is precisely an adventurous and picaresque novel, as the analysis of "Dead Souls" shows. She, however, greatly changed in the process of the writer's work on this creation. Evidence of this, for example, is the author's designation "poem", which appeared after the general plan and main idea corrected by Gogol ("Dead Souls").

Analysis of the work reveals the following interesting features. "All Rus' will appear in it" - Gogol's thesis, which not only emphasized the scale of the idea of ​​"Dead Souls" in comparison with the initial desire "at least from one side" to show Russia, but at the same time meant a radical revision of the genre model chosen earlier. The framework of the traditional adventurous and picaresque novel became tight for Nikolai Vasilyevich, since he could not contain the wealth of the new idea. Chichikov's "odyssey" has become only one of the ways of seeing Russia.

An adventurous picaresque novel, having lost leading value in "Dead Souls", remained at the same time a genre shell for the epic and moralistic tendencies of the poem.

Features of the image of Chichikov

One of the tricks that is used in this genre is the mystery of the origin of the hero. The main character in the first chapters was either a man from the common people or a foundling, and at the end of the work, having overcome life's obstacles, he suddenly turned out to be the son of wealthy parents, received an inheritance. Nikolai Vasilievich resolutely refused such a template.

Analyzing the poem "Dead Souls", it should certainly be noted that Chichikov is a man of the "middle". The author himself says about him that he is "not bad looking", but not handsome, not too thin, but not too fat, not very old and not very young. The life story of this adventurer is hidden from the reader up to the final, eleventh chapter. You will be convinced of this by carefully reading "Dead Souls". Analysis by chapters reveals the fact that the author tells the background only in the eleventh. Deciding to do this, Gogol begins by emphasizing the "vulgarity", the mediocrity of his hero. He writes about how "modest" and "dark" his origins are. Nikolai Vasilievich again rejects extremes in defining his character (not a scoundrel, but not a hero either), but he dwells on Chichikov's main quality - this is an "acquirer", "owner".

Chichikov - "average" person

Thus, there is nothing unusual in this hero - this is the so-called "average" person, in whom Gogol strengthened a trait that is characteristic of many people. Nikolai Vasilyevich sees in his passion for profit, which replaced everything else, in the pursuit of the ghost of an easy and beautiful life, a manifestation of "human poverty", poverty and spiritual interests - all that many people so carefully hide. Analysis of "Dead Souls" shows that Gogol needed a biography of the hero not so much to reveal the "secret" of his life at the end of the work, but to remind readers that this is not an exceptional person, but quite ordinary. Anyone can discover in himself some "part of Chichikov."

"Positive" heroes of the work

In adventurous picaresque novels, the traditional plot "spring" is the persecution of the main character by malicious, greedy and vicious people. Against their background, the rogue who fought for his own rights seemed almost a "perfect model." As a rule, he was helped by compassionate and virtuous people who naively expressed the ideals of the author.

However, no one pursues Chichikov in the first volume of the work. Also, there are no characters in the novel who could at least to some extent be followers of the writer's point of view. Analyzing the work "Dead Souls", we can notice that only in the second volume "positive" characters appear: the landowner Kostanzhoglo, the farmer Murazov, the governor, who is irreconcilable to the abuses of various officials. But even these characters, unusual for Nikolai Vasilyevich, are very far from novel templates.

What interests Nikolai Vasilyevich in the first place?

Far-fetched, artificial were the plots of many works written in the genre of an adventurous picaresque novel. At the same time, the emphasis was on adventures, the “adventures” of rogue heroes. And Nikolai Vasilievich is not interested in the adventures of the protagonist in themselves, not in their "material" result (Chichikov eventually got a fortune by fraudulent means), but in their moral and social content, which allowed the author to make roguery a "mirror" reflecting modern Russia in Dead Souls. Analysis shows that this is a country of landowners who sell "air" (that is, dead peasants), as well as officials who assist the swindler, instead of hindering him. The plot of this work has a huge semantic potential - various layers of other meanings - symbolic and philosophical - are superimposed on its real basis. It is very interesting to analyze the landowners ("Dead Souls"). Each of the five characters is very symbolic - Nikolai Vasilievich uses the grotesque in their depiction.

Plot slowdown

Gogol deliberately slows down the movement of the plot, accompanying each event with detailed descriptions of the material world in which the characters live, as well as their appearance, reasoning about their not only dynamics, but also significance, the adventurous and picaresque plot loses. Each event of the work causes an "avalanche" of the author's assessments and judgments, details, facts. The action of the novel contrary to the requirements this genre stops almost completely recent chapters. This can be seen by independently analyzing Gogol's poem "Dead Souls". For the development of the action, only two events of all the others, which occur from the seventh to the eleventh chapter, are important. This is the departure from the city of Chichikov and the execution of the bill of sale.

Requirements for readers

Nikolai Vasilyevich is very demanding of readers - he wants them to penetrate into the very essence of phenomena, and not to skim over their surface, to ponder hidden meaning works "Dead Souls". It should be analyzed very carefully. It is necessary to see behind the "objective" or informative meaning of the author's words not an explicit, but the most important meaning is a symbolic-generalized one. Just as necessary as Pushkin in "Eugene Onegin" is the co-creation of readers by the author of "Dead Souls". It is important to note that the artistic effect Gogol's prose is created not by what is told, what is depicted, but by how it is done. You will be convinced of this by once analyzing the work "Dead Souls". The word is a subtle instrument, which Gogol mastered to perfection.

Nikolai Vasilievich emphasized that the writer, addressing people, must take into account the fear and uncertainty that live in those who commit bad deeds. Both approval and reproach should carry the word "lyrical poet". Reasoning about the dual nature of the phenomena of life is a favorite topic of the author of the work that interests us.

Such brief analysis("Dead Souls"). Much can be said about Gogol's work. We have highlighted only the main points. It is also interesting to dwell on the images of the landowners and the author. You can do this yourself, based on our analysis.


The protagonist of the poem "Dead Souls" is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Complex character Literature opened his eyes to the events of the past, revealed many hidden problems.

The image and characterization of Chichikov in the poem "Dead Souls" will allow you to understand yourself and find features that you need to get rid of so as not to become his likeness.

Hero's appearance

The main character, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, does not have an exact indication of age. You can do mathematical calculations, distributing the periods of his life, marked by ups and downs. The author says that this is a middle-aged man, there is an even more precise indication:

"...decent middle summers...".


Other features of appearance:
  • full figure;
  • roundness of forms;
  • pleasant appearance.
Chichikov is pleasant in appearance, but no one calls him handsome. The fullness is in those dimensions that it can no longer be thicker. In addition to appearance, the hero has a pleasant voice. That is why all his meetings are based on negotiations. He easily talks to any character. The landowner is attentive to himself, he carefully approaches the choice of clothes, uses cologne. Chichikov admires himself, he likes his appearance. The most attractive thing for him is the chin. Chichikov is sure that this part of the face is expressive and beautiful. A man, having studied himself, found a way to charm. He knows how to arouse sympathy, his techniques cause a charming smile. The interlocutors do not understand what secret is hidden inside an ordinary person. The secret is the ability to please. Ladies call him a charming creature, they even look for what is hidden from view in him.

Hero personality

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov has a rather high rank. He is a collegiate adviser. For a person

"...without tribe and clan..."

Such an achievement proves that the hero is very stubborn and purposeful. From childhood, the boy cultivates in himself the ability to deny himself pleasure if it interferes. big things. To obtain a high rank, Paul received an education, and he worked diligently and taught himself to get what he wanted in all ways: cunning, sycophancy, patience. Pavel is strong in mathematical sciences, which means that he has the logic of thinking and practicality. Chichikov is a prudent person. He can talk about various phenomena of life, noticing what will help achieve the desired result. The hero travels a lot and is not afraid of meeting new people. But the restraint of the personality does not allow him to lead long stories about the past. The hero is an excellent connoisseur of psychology. He easily finds an approach and common topics conversation with different people. Moreover, Chichikov's behavior is changing. He, like a chameleon, easily changes appearance, demeanor, style of speech. The author emphasizes how unusual the twists and turns of his mind are. He knows his worth and penetrates into the depths of the subconscious of his interlocutors.

Positive character traits of Pavel Ivanovich

The character has a lot of traits that do not allow him to be treated only as negative character. His desire to buy up dead souls is frightening, but before last pages the reader is at a loss why the landowner needs the dead peasants, what Chichikov conceived. One more question: how did you come up with such a way of enriching yourself and raising your status in society?
  • protects health, he does not smoke and monitors the norm of drunk wine.
  • does not play gambling: maps.
  • believer, before important conversation a man is baptized in Russian.
  • pities the poor and gives alms (but this quality cannot be called compassion, it does not manifest itself to everyone and not always).
  • cunning allows the hero to hide his true face.
  • neat and frugal: things and objects that help to keep in memory important events are kept in a box.
Chichikov brought up in himself a strong character. The firmness and conviction that one is right is somewhat surprising, but also conquers. The landowner is not afraid to do what should make him richer. He is firm in his conviction. Many people need such strength, but most get lost, doubt and go astray.

Negative traits of a hero

The character has negative qualities. They explain why the image was perceived by society as a real man, similarities with him were found in any environment.
  • never dances, although she diligently attends balls.
  • likes to eat, especially at someone else's expense.
  • hypocritical: can burst into tears, lie, pretend to be distressed.
  • deceiver and bribe-taker: statements of honesty sound in speech, but in reality everything says otherwise.
  • composure: politely, but without feelings, Pavel Ivanovich conducts business, from which the interlocutors shrink inside from fear.
Chichikov does not feel for women the right feeling- love. He calculates them as an object capable of giving him offspring. He even evaluates the lady he likes without tenderness: "a nice grandmother." The “acquirer” seeks to create wealth that will go to his children. On the one hand, this positive trait, the meanness with which he goes to this is negative and dangerous.

It is impossible to accurately describe the character of Pavel Ivanovich, to say that it is positive character or villain. A real person taken from life is both good and bad at the same time. United in one character different personalities, but his desire - to achieve his goal, can only be envied. The classic helps young people stop the traits of Chichikov in themselves, a person for whom life becomes an object of profit, the value of existence, the mystery of the afterlife, is lost.

The artistic depth and scale of the work "Dead Souls" suggests that it can be considered the main creative biography Nikolai Gogol. The author worked long and painstakingly on its creation, starting with the understanding that, first of all, the writer has all the problems and storyline, as well as the nature of the heroes, should be passed through yourself. Let's analyze the analysis of "Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol.

The humble beginning of a great poem

We will begin our analysis of the poem "Dead Souls" by Gogol with the fact that in the first volume of the work the author outlined only common features and called it " pale start". How did Gogol come up with the idea of ​​the plot, because in order to think through such a serious thing in detail, you need an appropriate approach and a solid foundation?

It turns out that the idea to write a new poem was given to Gogol by none other than Alexander Pushkin. The poet said that he had a plot in his outline that he himself would like to use, but recommended that Nikolai Vasilyevich do this. But it is important to remember what is most important: Pushkin "suggested" the leading idea of ​​the poem, and he outlined the plot in in general terms. Gogol himself perfectly developed the storyline, because he knew a lot real stories, which were based on various scams with "dead souls".

For example, let's include in the analysis of the poem "Dead Souls" one such case from the life of Gogol. When he was still quite young and lived in Mirgorod, he heard a similar story in sufficient detail - it was advantageous to count some serfs who had already died alive, at least until the upcoming revision. This practice spread throughout Russia, and on official papers, only after the audit, such peasants began to be considered dead. In view of this, until the so-called "revision tale" landlords had to continue paying taxes in the form of a poll tax.

What is the essence of the scam with "dead souls"

When a peasant remained “alive” only on official papers, he could be donated, sold or pledged, which was beneficial in some fraudulent scams. The landowner could be seduced by the fact that the serf did not bring more income, and in this way one could get some amount for him. There was a buyer who, in the event of a transaction, began to own a very real state.

Initially, Gogol, taking into account this basis of the scam, defined for his work such a genre as an adventurous picaresque novel. Some authors of that time already wrote in this spirit, and their novels were quite successful, although they were not so high in terms of artistic level. In the course of work, Gogol modified the genre, and this important detail in the analysis of the poem "Dead Souls". After the general idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe work became clear and the idea was clearly formed, Gogol himself designated the genre - a poem. Therefore, from an adventurous picaresque novel, it turned into a poem.

Analysis of the poem "Dead Souls" - features of the work

If we talk about the scale of Gogol's idea in relation to the poem "Dead Souls", then it is clear how it grew, because initially the author wanted to reflect only "one side" of Russia, and later, with his thesis, Gogol showed that he revised not only the genre model, but also wealth of ideas. The essence of his thesis lies in the thought: "all Rus'" should be reflected in the poem. The new idea was so broad and rich that it was practically impossible to realize it within the narrow framework of an adventurous and picaresque novel. Therefore, this genre began to play the role of a shell, but lost leading role.

Let's talk a little about the main character of the poem Chichikov. His origins are shrouded in mystery, and this is the same technique that Gogol used to fully reveal his image. Analyzing the poem "Dead Souls", it becomes quite obvious that Chichikov is a man of the middle. He has a good appearance, that is, you cannot call him handsome, and he is not ugly. He's not fat, and he's not thin. Age is also incomprehensible - not young, at the same time not old. As readers, we don't know Chichikov's life story until we get to the last chapter.

In the eleventh chapter, the vulgar nature of this person becomes visible. About his origin, again, it is said very vaguely, again it is emphasized that he is not mean, but not a heroic warehouse either. The main quality of Chichikov is that he is an "acquirer". One can draw conclusions from the way Gogol calls him an "average" person. This means that he is not very different from everyone else, but a trait inherent in many is strengthened in his character - Chichikov is ready to make money, pursue a beautiful life, and at the same time he has almost no deep goals in life, and he is spiritually empty.

/S.P. Shevyrev (1806-1864). The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls. Poem by N. Gogol. Article one/

Let us carefully go through the gallery of these strange persons who live their special, full life in the world where Chichikov performs his exploits. We will not violate the order in which they are depicted. Let's start with Manilov, assuming that the author himself starts with him not without reason. Almost a thousand faces are brought together in this one face. Manilov represents a lot of people living inside Russia, which can be said together with the author: people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan. If you like, they are generally kind people, but empty; they praise everything and everyone, but their praise is of no use. They live in the village, they don’t do housework, but they look at everything with a calm and kind look and, smoking a pipe (a pipe is their inevitable attribute), indulge in idle dreams, like how to build a pond across a pond. a stone bridge and set up shops on it. The kindness of their soul is reflected in their family tenderness: they love to kiss, but that's all. The emptiness of their sweet and sugary life echoes with pampering in children and bad upbringing. Their dreamy inaction was reflected in their entire economy; look at their villages: they will all be like Manilov. Gray, log huts, no greenery anywhere; everywhere there is only one log; a pond in the middle; two women with nonsense in which two crayfish and a roach are entangled, and a plucked rooster with a head gouged to the brain (yes, such people in the village must certainly have a plucked rooster) - these are the necessary external signs their rural life, which even happened to be a day of light gray color, because in sunlight such a picture would not be so entertaining. There is always some kind of defect in their house, and with furniture upholstered in smart material, there will certainly be two armchairs covered with canvas. With every business matter they always turn to their clerk, even if they happen to sell something from the countryside.<…>

box— this is a completely different matter! This is the type of active landowner; she lives entirely in her household; she knows nothing else. On the face of it, you will call her a krokhoborka, looking at how she collects fifty dollars and quarters in different bags, but, looking at her more closely, you will do justice to her activities and involuntarily say that she is a minister in her business, no matter where. Look how neat she is everywhere. The contentment of the inhabitants can be seen in the peasant huts; the gate did not squint anywhere; the old tes on the roofs have been replaced everywhere with new ones. Look at her rich chicken coop! Her rooster is not the same as in Manilov's village - a dandy rooster. The whole bird, as you can see, has already been so accustomed to the caring mistress, it seems to be one family with her and comes close to the windows of her house; that's why at Korobochka's there could only be a not entirely courteous meeting between the Indian rooster and Chichikov's guest. Her housekeeping is going well: it seems that there is only Fetinya in the house, and look what kind of cookies! and what a huge down jacket took the weary Chichikov into its depths! "And what a wonderful memory Nastasya Petrovna has!" How she, without any note, told Chichikov by heart the names of all her extinct peasants! You have noticed that the peasants of Korobochka differ from other landowner peasants by some unusual nicknames: do you know why this is?

The box is on her mind: what she has is hers, then hers is strong; and the men are also marked with special names, as a bird is marked with careful owners so that it does not run away. That is why it was so difficult for Chichikov to settle things with her: although she loves to sell and sells any household product, she looks at dead souls in the same way as she looks at lard, hemp or honey, believing that they are in the household may be needed. She tortured Chichikov to the sweat of her face with her difficulties, referring all the time to the fact that the goods were new, strange, unprecedented. She could only be frightened by the devil, because Korobochka must be superstitious. But it’s a disaster if she happens to sell some of her goods at a low price: it’s as if her conscience is not calm - and therefore it’s no wonder that, having sold dead souls and then thinking about them, she galloped into the city in her travel watermelon stuffed with cotton pillows, bread , rolls, kokurki, pretzels and other things, then galloped up to find out for sure how much dead souls go and whether she had missed, God save, selling them, maybe at a bargain price.

On high road, in some wooden, darkened tavern, met Chichikov Nozdreva, whom he met back in the city: where can you meet such a person, if not in such a tavern? There are quite a few Nozdrevs, the author notes: true, at any Russian fair, the most insignificant, you will certainly meet at least one Nozdrev, and at another, more important - of course, several such Nozdrevs. The author says that this type of people in Rus' is known under the name broken small: epithets also go to him: careless, eccentric, jumbled, braggart, bully, bully, liar, rubbish man, rakalia, and so on. From the third time they tell a friend - You; at fairs they buy everything that comes into their heads, such as: collars, smoking candles, a dress for a nanny, a stallion, raisins, a silver washstand, Dutch linen, grain flour, tobacco, pistols, herring, paintings, a grinding tool - in a word , in their purchases there is the same jumble as in their head. In their village they like to boast and lie without mercy, and call everything that does not belong to them theirs. Do not trust their words, tell them to their face that they are talking nonsense: they are not offended. They have a great passion to show everything in their village, although there is nothing to look at, and to boast to everyone: this passion shows cordiality - a trait of the Russian people - and vanity, another trait, also dear to us.

Nozdryovs are great hunters of change. Nothing will sit still for them, and everything should also revolve around them, as in their head. Friendly tenderness and curses flow from their tongues at the same time, interfering in the stream of obscene words. God save them from their dinner and from any shortness with them! In the game, they brazenly cheat - and are ready to fight if they notice it. They have a special passion for dogs - and the kennel in great order: Doesn't it come from some kind of sympathy? for in the character of the Nozdryovs there is something truly canine. Nothing can be done with them: that is why at first it seems even strange how Chichikov, such an intelligent and business-like fellow, who recognized a person from the first time, who he was and how to talk to him, decided to enter into relations with Nozdryov. Such a blunder, which Chichikov later himself repented of, can, however, be explained from two Russian proverbs that there is enough simplicity in every wise man and that a Russian person is strong in hindsight. But Chichikov paid the price afterwards; without Nozdryov, who would have stirred up the city so much and caused all the turmoil at the ball, which caused such an important upheaval in the affairs of Chichikov?

But Nozdryov must give way to a huge type Sobakevich. <…>

It sometimes happens in nature that the appearance of a person is deceiving, and under a strange monstrous image you meet kind soul And soft heart. But in Sobakevich, the external perfectly, exactly, corresponds to the internal. His outer image was imprinted on all his words, actions and on everything that surrounds him. His awkward house, full-weight and thick logs used for the stable, barn and kitchen; dense huts of peasants, cut down marvelously; a well, lined with strong oak, fit for a ship structure; in the rooms there are portraits with thick thighs and endless mustaches, the Greek heroine Bobelina with a leg in her torso, a pot-bellied walnut bureau on absurd four legs; a dark-colored blackbird—in a word, everything surrounding Sobakevich looks like him and can sing in chorus together with the table, armchairs, and chairs: and we are all Sobakevich!

Take a look at his dinner: every dish will repeat the same thing to you. This colossal nanny, consisting of a sheep's stomach stuffed with buckwheat, brains and legs; cheesecakes are larger than plates; a turkey the size of a calf, stuffed with who knows what - how all these dishes look like the owner himself!<…>

Talk to Sobakevich: all the calculated dishes will burp in every word that comes out of his mouth. In all his speeches, all the abomination of his physical and moral nature responds. He cuts everything and everyone, just as merciless nature chopped him off: his whole city is fools, robbers, swindlers, and even the most decent people in his dictionary mean the same thing with pigs. Of course, you have not forgotten Fonvizin's Skotinin: if not native, then at least Godfather Sobakevich, but one cannot but add that the godson outdid his father.

“Sobakevich’s soul seemed to be closed in such a thick shell that everything that tossed and turned at the bottom of it did not produce any shock on the surface,” says the author. So the body mastered everything in him, clouded the whole person and already became incapable of expression. mental movements.

His gluttonous nature was also indicated in his greed for money. The mind operates in it, but only to the extent that it is necessary to cheat and make money. Sobakevich is exactly like Caliban 1, in which one evil trick remained from the mind. But in his ingenuity he is more ridiculous than Caliban. How skillfully he screwed Elizaveta Sparrow into the list of male souls, and how cunningly he began to poke a small fish with a fork, having first eaten a whole sturgeon, and played hungry innocence! It was difficult to deal with Sobakevich, because he was a man-fist; his tight nature loves to haggle; but on the other hand, having managed the matter, it was possible to remain calm, for Sobakevich is a solid and firm man and will stand up for himself.

The gallery of faces with whom Chichikov does his business is concluded by a miser Plushkin. The author notes that such a phenomenon rarely comes across in Rus', where everything likes to turn around rather than shrink. Here, just like with other landowners, Plyushkin's village and his house outwardly depict for us the character and soul of the owner himself. The log in the huts is dark and old; the roofs bleed through like a sieve, the windows in the huts without glass, plugged up with a rag or zipun, the church, with yellowish walls, stained and cracked. The house looks like a decrepit invalid, the windows in it are lined with shutters or boarded up; on one of them, a triangle of blue sugar paper darkens. Decaying buildings around, dead carefree silence, gates always locked tightly, and a giant castle hanging on an iron hinge - all this prepares us for a meeting with the owner himself and serves as a sad living attribute of his soul shut up alive. You rest from these sad, heavy impressions on rich picture garden, although overgrown and decayed, but picturesque in its desolation: here you are treated for a moment by the poet’s wonderful sympathy for nature, which lives all under his warm gaze on her, and meanwhile, in the depths of this wild and hot picture, you seem to look through the story the life of the owner himself, in which the soul has also died out, like nature in the wilderness of this garden.

Go up to Plushkin's house; everything here will tell you about him before you see him. Heaped furniture, a broken chair, on the table a clock with a stopped pendulum, to which a spider has attached its web; a bureau lined with mother-of-pearl mosaics, which had already fallen out in places and left behind only yellowish grooves filled with glue; on the bureau there is a pile of small papers written in small pieces, a lemon, all dried up, a broken arm of the chair, a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies, covered with a letter, a piece of sealing wax, a piece of a rag raised somewhere, two feathers stained with ink, dried up, as in consumption , a toothpick, completely yellowed, with which the owner, perhaps, picked his teeth even before the French invasion of Moscow ... Further, the paintings on the walls, blackened with time, a chandelier in a canvas bag, which from the dust has become like a silk cocoon in which a worm sits, a heap of various rubbish in the corner, from which protruded a broken piece of a wooden shovel and an old boot sole - and only one sign of a living being in the whole house, a worn cap lying on the table ... you already know the man himself!

But here he is himself, looking from a distance like his old housekeeper, with an unshaven chin that protrudes very far forward and resembles an iron-wire comb used to clean horses in a stable, with gray eyes that, like mice, run from under highly grown eyebrows ... Plyushkin is seen so vividly by us, as if we recall him in Albert Dürer's painting in the Doria 2 gallery ... Having depicted a face, the poet enters inside it, reveals to you all the dark folds of this hardened soul, tells the psychological metamorphosis of this person: how stinginess, having once made a nest in his soul, little by little extended its possessions in it and, having conquered everything, devastated all his feelings, turned a person into an animal that, by some instinct, drags into its hole everything that would be for him. nothing came across on the road - an old sole, a woman's rag, an iron nail, a clay shard, an officer's spur, a bucket left by a woman.

Every feeling almost imperceptibly glides over this callous, petrified face... Everything dies, rots and collapses near Plyushkin... No wonder Chichikov could find something like that in him. a large number of dead and runaway souls, which suddenly multiplied its fantastic population so significantly.

These are the faces with which Chichikov puts his plan into action. All of them, in addition to special properties that belong to each one, have one more feature common to all: hospitality, this Russian cordiality to the guest, which lives in them and seems to be held by the instinct of the people. It is remarkable that even in Plyushkin this natural feeling was preserved, despite the fact that it is completely contrary to his stinginess: and he considered it necessary to treat Chichikov with tea and ordered the samovar to be put on, but fortunately for him, the guest himself, who realized the matter, refused to treat .

Lagoda Anastasia

The presentation can be used when studying the work of N.V. Gogol.

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Characteristics of the heroes in the poem "Dead Souls" by N.V. Gogol. The project was prepared by a student of grade 9A: Lagoda Anastasia

In the poem "Dead Souls" Gogol created a picture of contemporary Russia of extraordinary scope and breadth, depicting it in all its grandeur, but at the same time with all its vices. He managed to immerse the reader into the depths of the souls of his heroes with such force that the work has not ceased to make an amazing impression on readers for many years. At the center of the narrative of the poem - feudal Rus', a country in which all the land with its wealth, its people belonged to the ruling noble class. The nobility occupied a privileged position and was responsible for the economic and cultural development states. Representatives of this class are landowners, "masters" of life, owners of serf souls.

Manilov The gallery of images of landowners is opened by Manilov, whose estate is called the front facade of landlord Russia. At the first meeting, this hero makes a pleasant impression of a cultured, delicate person. But already in this runaway author's description the irony cannot be overlooked. In the appearance of this hero, sugary sweetness clearly appears, as evidenced by the comparison of his eyes with sugar. Further, it becomes clear that an empty soul is hidden under a pleasantly courteous treatment of people. In the image of Manilov, many people are represented, about whom, according to Gogol, one can say: "people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan nor in the village of Selifan." They live in the country, have a penchant for refined, ornate turns of speech, because they want to appear enlightened and highly educated people, look at everything with a calm look, and, smoking a pipe, dream of doing something good, for example, building a stone bridge over a pond and starting benches on it. But all their dreams are meaningless and unrealizable.

This is also evidenced by the description of the Manilov estate, which is Gogol's most important method of characterizing the landowners: one can judge the character of the owner by the state of the estate. Manilov does not take care of the household: everything with him "went somehow by itself"; and his dreamy inaction is reflected in everything, in the description of the landscape an indefinite, light gray color prevails. Manilov attends social events because other landowners attend them. The same is the case in family life and in the house. Spouses love to kiss, give toothpick cases, and do not show much concern for landscaping: there is always some drawback in their house, for example, if all the furniture is upholstered in smart fabric, there are sure to be two armchairs covered with canvas.

The character of Manilov is expressed in his speech and in the way he behaves during the deal with Chichikov. When Chichikov suggested that Manilov sell him dead souls, he was taken aback. But, even realizing that the guest’s proposal was clearly contrary to the law, he could not refuse such a most pleasant person, and only set off to think about “won’t this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further types of Russia?” The author does not hide the irony: a person who does not know how many peasants have died, who does not know how to organize his own economy, shows concern for politics. The surname Manilov corresponds to his character and was formed by the author from dialect word“beckoned” - one who beckons, promises and deceives, a flattering saint.

Korobochka Another type of landowner appears before us in the form of Korobochka. Unlike Manilov, she is economic and practical, knows the price of a "penny". The description of her village suggests that she taught everyone to order. The net on the fruit trees and the bonnet on the scarecrow confirm that the mistress's hands reach everything and nothing is wasted in her household. Looking around Korobochka's house, Chichikov notices that the wallpaper in the room is old, the mirrors are old. But for all individual features she is distinguished by the same vulgarity and "dead spirit" as Manilov.

Selling Chichikov an unusual product, she is afraid to sell too cheap. After bargaining with Korobochka, Chichikov "was covered in sweat, like in a river: everything that was on him, from shirt to stockings, was all wet." The hostess killed him with her clubhead, stupidity, stinginess and desire to delay the sale of unusual goods. “Perhaps merchants will come in large numbers, and I will apply to prices,” she says to Chichikov. She looks at dead souls the same way she looks at lard, hemp or honey, thinking that they may also be needed in the household.

Nozdrev On the high road, in a wooden tavern, he met Chichikov Nozdrev, a “historical man”, whom he met back in the city. And it is in the tavern that one can most often meet such people, who, according to the author, are many in Rus'. Speaking about one hero, the author at the same time gives a description of people like him. The irony of the author lies in the fact that in the first part of the phrase he characterizes the nostrils as "good and faithful comrades", and then adds: "... and for all that, they are very painfully beaten." This type of people is known in Rus' under the name of "broken fellow." From the third time they say “you” to a friend, at fairs they buy everything that comes into their heads: collars, smoking candles, a stallion, a dress for a nanny, tobacco, pistols, etc., thoughtlessly and easily spend money on revelry and card games, like to lie and, for no reason, "sad" to a person. The source of his income, like that of other landowners, is the serfs.

Such qualities of Nozdryov as impudent lies, boorish attitude towards people, dishonesty, thoughtlessness, are reflected in his fragmentary, quick speech, in the fact that he constantly jumps from one subject to another, in his insulting, abusive, cynical expressions: ”,“ you are a pig for this ”,“ such rubbish ”. He is constantly looking for adventure and does not do housework at all. This is evidenced by the unfinished repairs in the house, empty stalls, a faulty hurdy-gurdy, a lost chaise and the miserable position of his serfs, from whom he knocks out everything that is possible.

Sobakevich Nozdrev gives way to Sobakevich. This hero represents the type of landlords, in whom everything is distinguished by good quality and durability. The character of Sobakevich helps to understand the description of his estate: an awkward house, full-weight and thick logs from which the stables, a barn and a kitchen are built, dense huts of peasants, portraits in rooms that depict "heroes with thick thighs and unheard-of mustaches", a walnut bureau on ridiculous four legs. In a word, everything looks like its owner, whom the author compares with " medium size bear”, emphasizing its animal nature. When describing the image of Sobakevich, the writer widely uses the technique of hyperbolization, it is enough to recall his monstrous appetite.

Landowners like Sobakevich are vicious and cruel feudal lords who never miss their advantage. “Sobakevich’s soul seemed to be covered with such a thick shell that everything that tossed and turned at the bottom of it did not produce any shock on the surface,” says the author. His body became incapable of expressing spiritual movements. In bargaining with Chichikov, it turns out main feature Sobakevich's character is his irrepressible desire for profit.

Plyushkin Completes the gallery of persons with whom Chichikov makes deals, the landowner Plyushkin - "a hole in humanity." Gogol notes that such a phenomenon is rare in Rus', where everything likes to turn around rather than shrink. Acquaintance with this hero is preceded by a landscape, the details of which reveal the soul of the hero. dilapidated wooden buildings, dark old logs on the huts, roofs resembling a sieve, windows without glass, plugged with rags, reveal Plyushkin as a bad owner with a dead soul. But the picture of the garden, although dead and deaf, creates a different impression. When describing it, Gogol used more joyful and lighter tones - trees, “a regular marble sparkling column”, “air”, “cleanliness”, “tidiness” ... And through all this, the life of the owner himself peeps through, whose soul has died away, like nature in the wilderness this garden.

In Plyushkin's house, too, everything speaks of the spiritual decay of his personality: piled up furniture, a broken chair, a dried lemon, a piece of rag, a toothpick ... And he himself looks like an old housekeeper, only gray eyes, like mice, run from under high eyebrows. Everything dies, rots and collapses around Plyushkin. The story of the transformation of an intelligent person into a “hole in humanity”, which the author introduces us to, leaves an indelible impression. Chichikov quickly finds mutual language with Plushkin. Only one thing worries the "patched" gentleman: how not to incur losses when making a purchase of a fortress.

However, in the chapter devoted to the disclosure of Plyushkin's character, there are many details that have positive meaning. The chapter begins with a digression about youth; the author tells the story of the hero's life, light colors predominate in the description of the garden; Plyushkin's eyes had not yet faded. On the wooden face of the hero, one can still see a “glimpsed joy” and a “warm beam”. All this suggests that Plyushkin, unlike other landowners, still has the possibility of a moral rebirth. Plyushkin's soul was once pure, which means it can still be reborn. It is no coincidence that the “patched” gentleman completes the gallery of images of “old-world” landowners.

The author sought not only to tell about the history of Plyushkin, but also to warn readers that anyone can follow the path of this landowner. Gogol believed in spiritual rebirth Plyushkin, as he believed in the strength of Russia and its people. This is confirmed by numerous digressions filled with deep lyricism and poetry.