Gogol dead souls second chapter summary. What was the second volume of Dead Souls about and why did Gogol burn it? Visit to Korobochka

Gogol's work "Dead Souls" was written in the second half of the 19th century. The first volume was published in 1842, the second volume was almost completely destroyed by the author. The third volume was never written. The plot of the work was prompted by Gogol. The poem tells about a middle-aged gentleman, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, traveling around Russia in order to buy the so-called dead souls - peasants who are not alive, but who are still listed as living according to documents. Gogol wanted to show the whole of Russia, the whole Russian soul in its breadth and immensity.

Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" in a summary of the chapters can be read below. In the above version, the main characters are described, the most significant fragments are highlighted, with the help of which you can make a complete picture of the content of this poem. Reading Gogol's "Dead Souls" online will be useful and relevant for grade 9.

Main characters

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov- the protagonist of the poem, a middle-aged collegiate adviser. He travels around Russia in order to buy up dead souls, knows how to find an approach to each person, which he constantly uses.

Other characters

Manilov- landowner, no longer young. At first, you think only pleasant things about him, and after that you don’t know what to think. He does not care about domestic difficulties; lives with his wife and two sons, Themistoclus and Alkid.

box- an elderly woman, a widow. She lives in a small village, runs the household herself, sells products and furs. A stingy woman. She knew the names of all the peasants by heart, she did not keep written records.

Sobakevich- the landowner, in everything he is looking for profit. With its massiveness and clumsiness, it resembled a bear. Agrees to sell dead souls to Chichikov even before he spoke about it.

Nozdryov- a landowner who cannot sit at home for a single day. To love to revel and play cards: hundreds of times he lost to smithereens, but still continued to play; has always been the hero of a story, and he himself is a master of telling fables. His wife died, leaving a child, but Nozdryov did not care about family matters at all.

Plushkin- an unusual person, by whose appearance it is difficult to determine which class he belongs to. Chichikov at first mistook him for an old housekeeper. He lives alone, although earlier life was in full swing on his estate.

Selifan- coachman, Chichikov's servant. He drinks a lot, is often distracted from the road, likes to think about the eternal.

Volume 1

Chapter 1

A chaise with an ordinary, unremarkable cart enters the city of NN. He checked into a hotel, which, as often happens, was poor and dirty. The master's luggage was brought in by Selifan (a short man in a sheepskin coat) and Petrushka (a little 30 years old). The traveler almost immediately went to the inn to find out who held the leading positions in this city. At the same time, the gentleman tried not to talk about himself at all, nevertheless, everyone with whom the gentleman spoke managed to make the most pleasant characterization about him. Along with this, the author very often emphasizes the insignificance of the character.

During dinner, the guest finds out from the servant who is the chairman in the city, who is the governor, how many rich landowners, the visitor did not miss a single detail.

Chichikov meets Manilov and the clumsy Sobakevich, whom he quickly managed to charm with his manners and public demeanor: he could always keep up a conversation on any topic, was polite, attentive and courteous. People who knew him spoke only positively about Chichikov. At the card table, he behaved like an aristocrat and a gentleman, even arguing somehow especially pleasantly, for example, “you deigned to go.”

Chichikov hurried to pay visits to all the officials of this city in order to win them over and testify to his respect.

Chapter 2

Chichikov had been living in the city for more than a week, spending his time reveling and feasting. He made many useful acquaintances for him, was a welcome guest at various receptions. While Chichikov was spending time at the next dinner party, the author introduces the reader to his servants. Petrushka walked in a wide frock coat from the master's shoulder, had a large nose and lips. The character was silent. He loved to read, but he liked the process of reading much more than the subject of reading. Parsley always carried with him "his own special smell", ignoring Chichikov's requests to go to the bathhouse. The author did not describe the coachman Selifan, they say, he belonged to a too low class, and the reader prefers landowners and counts.

Chichikov went to the village to Manilov, who "could lure few with its location." Although Manilov said that the village was only 15 miles from the city, Chichikov had to travel almost twice as far. Manilov at first glance was a prominent man, his features were pleasant, but too sugary. You won’t get a single living word from him, Manilov seemed to live in an imaginary world. Manilov had nothing of his own, nothing of his own. He spoke little, most often thinking about lofty matters. When a peasant or a clerk asked the master about something, he answered: “Yes, not bad,” not caring about what would happen next.

In Manilov's office there was a book that the master had been reading for the second year already, and the bookmark, once left on page 14, remained in place. Not only Manilov, but the house itself suffered from a lack of something special. It was as if something was always missing in the house: the furniture was expensive, and there was not enough upholstery for two armchairs, in the other room there was no furniture at all, but they were always going to put it there. The owner spoke touchingly and tenderly to his wife. She was a match for her husband - a typical pupil of a boarding school for girls. She was taught French, dancing and piano to please and entertain her husband. Often they spoke softly and reverently, like young lovers. It seemed that the spouses did not care about household trifles.

Chichikov and Manilov stood at the door for several minutes, letting each other go forward: “Do yourself a favour, don’t worry like that for me, I’ll go through later”, “don’t bother, please don’t bother. Please come through." As a result, both passed at the same time, sideways, hitting each other. Chichikov agreed with Manilov in everything, who praised the governor, the chief of police, and others.

Chichikov was surprised by the children of Manilov, two sons of six and eight years old, Themistoclus and Alkid. Manilov wanted to show off his children, but Chichikov did not notice any special talents in them. After dinner, Chichikov decided to talk with Manilov about one very important matter - about dead peasants who, according to documents, are still considered alive - about dead souls. In order to “save Manilov from having to pay taxes,” Chichikov asks Manilov to sell him documents for peasants that no longer exist. Manilov was somewhat discouraged, but Chichikov convinced the landowner of the legitimacy of such a deal. Manilov decided to give away the "dead souls" for nothing, after which Chichikov hastily began to gather at Sobakevich's, pleased with his successful acquisition.

Chapter 3

Chichikov rode to Sobakevich in high spirits. Selifan, the coachman, was arguing with his horse, and, carried away by his thoughts, he stopped following the road. The travelers got lost.
The chaise drove off-road for a long time until it hit the fence and rolled over. Chichikov was forced to ask an old woman for lodging for the night, who let them in only after Chichikov spoke about his noble title.

The owner was an elderly woman. She can be called thrifty: there were a lot of old things in the house. The dressed woman was tasteless, but with a claim to elegance. The lady's name was Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna. She did not know any Manilov, from which Chichikov concluded that they had been driven into a decent wilderness.

Chichikov woke up late. His linen had been dried and laundered by Korobochka's fussy worker. Pavel Ivanovich did not particularly stand on ceremony with Korobochka, allowing himself to be rude. Nastasya Filippovna was a collegiate secretary, her husband died long ago, so the whole household was on her. Chichikov did not miss the opportunity to ask about dead souls. He had to persuade Korobochka for a long time, who also bargained. Korobochka knew all the peasants by name, so she did not keep written records.

Chichikov was tired of a long conversation with the hostess, and was rather glad not that he had received less than twenty souls from her, but that this dialogue had ended. Nastasya Filippovna, delighted with the sale, decided to sell Chichikov flour, lard, straw, fluff and honey. To appease the guest, she ordered the maid to bake pancakes and pies, which Chichikov ate with pleasure, but politely refused other purchases.

Nastasya Filippovna sent a little girl with Chichikov to show the way. The chaise had already been repaired and Chichikov went on.

Chapter 4

The chaise drove up to the tavern. The author admits that Chichikov had an excellent appetite: the hero ordered chicken, veal and piglet with sour cream and horseradish. In the tavern, Chichikov asked about the owner, his sons, their wives, and at the same time found out where which landowner lives. In a tavern, Chichikov met Nozdryov, with whom he had previously dined together with the prosecutor. Nozdryov was cheerful and drunk: he again lost at cards. Nozdryov laughed at Chichikov's plans to go to Sobakevich, persuading Pavel Ivanovich to visit him first. Nozdryov was sociable, the soul of the company, a reveler and a talker. His wife died early, leaving two children, whom Nozdryov was absolutely not involved in raising. He could not sit at home for more than a day, his soul demanded feasts and adventures. Nozdryov had an amazing attitude towards acquaintances: the closer he got together with a person, the more stories he told. At the same time, Nozdryov managed not to quarrel with anyone after that.

Nozdryov was very fond of dogs and even kept a wolf. The landowner boasted so much of his possessions that Chichikov got tired of inspecting them, although Nozdryov attributed to his lands even a forest, which could not be his property. At the table, Nozdryov poured out wine for the guests, but added little to himself. In addition to Chichikov, Nozdryov was visited by his son-in-law, in whose presence Pavel Ivanovich did not dare to talk about the true motives of his visit. However, the son-in-law soon got ready to go home, and Chichikov was finally able to ask Nozdryov about the dead souls.

He asked Nozdryov to transfer the dead souls to himself, without revealing his true motives, but Nozdryov's interest from this only intensifies. Chichikov is forced to come up with various stories: allegedly dead souls are needed to gain weight in society or to successfully marry, but Nozdryov feels false, so he allows himself rude remarks about Chichikov. Nozdryov offers Pavel Ivanovich to buy from him a stallion, a mare or a dog, complete with which he will give his soul. Nozdryov did not want to give away dead souls just like that.

The next morning, Nozdryov behaved as if nothing had happened, offering Chichikov to play checkers. If Chichikov wins, then Nozdryov will transfer all the dead souls to him. Both played dishonestly, Chichikov was very exhausted by the game, but the police officer unexpectedly came to Nozdryov, saying that from now on Nozdryov was on trial for beating the landowner. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chichikov hurried to leave Nozdryov's estate.

Chapter 5

Chichikov was glad that he had left Nozdryov empty-handed. Chichikov was distracted from his thoughts by an accident: a horse harnessed to Pavel Ivanovich's britzka got mixed up with a horse from another harness. Chichikov was fascinated by the girl who was sitting in another wagon. He thought about the beautiful stranger for a long time.

The village of Sobakevich seemed huge to Chichikov: gardens, stables, sheds, peasant houses. Everything seems to have been made for centuries. Sobakevich himself seemed to Chichikov like a bear. Everything about Sobakevich was massive and clumsy. Each item was ridiculous, as if saying: "I also look like Sobakevich." Sobakevich spoke disrespectfully and rudely about other people. From him Chichikov learned about Plyushkin, whose peasants were dying like flies.

Sobakevich reacted calmly to the offer of dead souls, even offered to sell them before Chichikov himself spoke about it. The landowner behaved strangely, inflating the price, praising the already dead peasants. Chichikov was unhappy with the deal with Sobakevich. It seemed to Pavel Ivanovich that it was not he who was trying to deceive the landowner, but Sobakevich was trying to deceive him.
Chichikov went to Plyushkin.

Chapter 6

Immersed in his thoughts, Chichikov did not notice that he had entered the village. In the village of Plyushkina, the windows in the houses were without glass, the bread was damp and moldy, the gardens were abandoned. Nowhere was the result of human labor to be seen. Near Plyushkin's house there were many buildings overgrown with green mold.

Chichikov was met by the housekeeper. The master was not at home, the housekeeper invited Chichikov to the chambers. A lot of things were piled up in the rooms, in the heaps it was impossible to understand what exactly was there, everything was covered in dust. By the appearance of the room, it cannot be said that a living person lived here.

A bent-over man, unshaven, in a washed-out dressing gown, entered the chambers. The face was nothing special. If Chichikov met this man on the street, he would give him alms.

This man was the landowner himself. There was a time when Plyushkin was a thrifty owner, and his house was full of life. Now, strong feelings were not reflected in the eyes of the old man, but his forehead betrayed a remarkable mind. Plyushkin's wife died, his daughter ran away with the military, his son went to the city, and the youngest daughter died. The house became empty. Guests rarely dropped in on Plyushkin, and Plyushkin did not want to see the runaway daughter, who sometimes asked her father for money. The landowner himself started talking about the dead peasants, because he was glad to get rid of the dead souls, although after a while suspiciousness appeared in his eyes.

Chichikov refused treats, being under the impression of dirty dishes. Plyushkin decided to bargain, manipulating his plight. Chichikov bought 78 souls from him, forcing Plyushkin to write a receipt. After the deal, Chichikov, as before, hastened to leave. Plyushkin locked the gate behind the guest, walked around his possessions, pantries and kitchen, and then thought about how to thank Chichikov.

Chapter 7

Chichikov had already acquired 400 souls, so he wanted to finish things in this city faster. He reviewed and put in order all the necessary documents. All the peasants of Korobochka were distinguished by strange nicknames, Chichikov was unhappy that their names took up a lot of space on paper, Plyushkin's note was short, Sobakevich's notes were complete and detailed. Chichikov thought about how each person passed away, building guesses in his imagination and playing out entire scenarios.

Chichikov went to court to certify all the documents, but there he was given to understand that without a bribe things would go on for a long time, and Chichikov would still have to stay in the city for a while. Sobakevich, who accompanied Chichikov, convinced the chairman of the legitimacy of the deal, while Chichikov said that he had bought the peasants for withdrawal to the Kherson province.

The chief of police, officials and Chichikov decided to complete the paperwork with dinner and a game of whist. Chichikov was cheerful and told everyone about his lands near Kherson.

Chapter 8

The whole city is talking about Chichikov's purchases: why do Chichikov need peasants? Did the landlords sell so many good peasants to the newcomer, and not thieves and drunkards? Will the peasants change in the new land?
The more rumors there were about Chichikov's wealth, the more they loved him. The ladies of the city of NN considered Chichikov a very attractive person. In general, the ladies of the city of N themselves were presentable, dressed with taste, were strict in morals, and all their intrigues remained secret.

Chichikov found an anonymous love letter that interested him incredibly. At the reception, Pavel Ivanovich could not understand in any way which of the girls had written to him. The traveler was successful with the ladies, and was so carried away by secular talk that he forgot to approach the hostess. The governor was at a reception with her daughter, whose beauty Chichikov was captivated - not a single lady was interested in Chichikov anymore.

At the reception, Chichikov met Nozdryov, who, with his cheeky behavior and drunken conversations, put Chichikov in an uncomfortable position, so Chichikov was forced to leave the reception.

Chapter 9

The author introduces the reader to two ladies, friends, who met early in the morning. They talked about women's little things. Alla Grigorievna was partly a materialist, prone to denial and doubt. The ladies gossiped about the visitor. Sofya Ivanovna, the second woman, is unhappy with Chichikov, because he flirted with many ladies, and Korobochka even let slip about dead souls, adding to her story the story of how Chichikov deceived her by throwing 15 rubles in banknotes. Alla Grigoryevna suggested that, thanks to dead souls, Chichikov wants to impress the governor's daughter in order to steal her from her father's house. The ladies recorded Nozdryov as Chichikov's accomplices.

The city was buzzing: the question of dead souls worried everyone. The ladies discussed more the story of the kidnapping of the girl, supplementing it with all conceivable and inconceivable details, and the men discussed the economic side of the issue. All this led to the fact that Chichikov was not allowed on the threshold and was not invited to dinner anymore. Unfortunately, Chichikov was in the hotel all this time, because he was not lucky enough to get sick.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the city, in their assumptions, reached the point that they told the prosecutor about everything.

Chapter 10

Residents of the city gathered at the police chief. Everyone wondered who Chichikov was, where he came from and whether he was hiding from the law. The postmaster tells the story of Captain Kopeikin.

In this chapter, the story about Captain Kopeikin is included in the text of Dead Souls.

Captain Kopeikin had his arm and leg torn off during a military campaign in the 1920s. Kopeikin decided to ask the king for help. The man was amazed by the beauty of St. Petersburg and the high prices for food and housing. Kopeikin waited for the general's reception for about 4 hours, but he was asked to come later. The audience of Kopeikin and the governor was postponed several times, Kopeikin's faith in justice and the king each time became less and less. The man was running out of money for food, and the capital became disgusting because of pathos and spiritual emptiness. Captain Kopeikin decided to sneak into the reception room of the general in order to get an answer to his question for sure. He decided to stand there until the sovereign looked at him. The general instructed the courier to deliver Kopeikin to a new place, where he would be completely in the care of the state. Kopeikin, delighted, went with the courier, but no one else saw Kopeikin.

All those present admitted that Chichikov could not possibly be Captain Kopeikin, because Chichikov had all his limbs in place. Nozdryov told many different tales and, carried away, said that he personally came up with a plan to kidnap the governor's daughter.

Nozdryov went to visit Chichikov, who was still ill. The landowner told Pavel Ivanovich about the situation in the city and the rumors about Chichikov.

Chapter 11

In the morning, everything did not go according to plan: Chichikov woke up later than planned, the horses were not shod, the wheel was faulty. After a while, everything was ready.

On the way, Chichikov met a funeral procession - the prosecutor died. Further, the reader learns about Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov himself. Parents were nobles who had only one serf family. One day, the father took little Pavel with him to the city to send the child to a school. The father ordered his son to listen to teachers and please the bosses, not to make friends, save money. At the school, Chichikov was distinguished by diligence. From childhood, he understood how to increase money: he sold pies from the market to hungry classmates, trained a mouse to show tricks for a fee, sculpted wax figures.

Chichikov was in good standing. After some time, he moved his family to the city. Chichikov was attracted by a rich life, he actively tried to break into people, but with difficulty got into the state chamber. Chichikov did not hesitate to use people for his own purposes, he was not ashamed of such an attitude. After the incident with one old official, whose daughter Chichikov was even going to marry in order to get a position, Chichikov's career went up sharply. And that official talked for a long time about how Pavel Ivanovich deceived him.

He served in many departments, cunning and cheating everywhere, launched a whole campaign against corruption, although he himself was a bribe-taker. Chichikov took up construction, but a few years later the declared house was never built, but those who supervised the construction had new buildings. Chichikov engaged in smuggling, for which he was put on trial.

He started his career again from the lowest rung. He was engaged in handing over documents for peasants to the Board of Trustees, where he was paid for each peasant. But once Pavel Ivanovich was informed that even if the peasants died, but according to the record they are listed as alive, the money will still be paid. So Chichikov got the idea to buy up the dead in fact, but living according to the documents of the peasants, in order to sell their souls to the council of trustees.

Volume 2

The chapter begins with a description of nature and land belonging to Andrey Tentetnikov, a 33-year-old gentleman who mindlessly spends his time: he woke up late, washed himself for a long time, “he was not a bad person, he was just a smoker of the sky.” After a series of unsuccessful reforms aimed at improving the life of the peasants, he stopped communicating with others, completely dropped his hands, mired in the same infinity of everyday life.

Chichikov comes to Tentetnikov and, using his ability to find an approach to any person, stays with Andrei Ivanovich for a while. Chichikov was now more careful and delicate when it came to dead souls. Chichikov has not yet talked about this with Tentetnikov, but talking about marriage revived Andrei Ivanovich a little.

Chichikov goes to General Betrishchev, a man of majestic appearance, who combined many advantages and many shortcomings. Betrishchev introduces Chichikov to his daughter Ulenka, with whom Tentetnikov is in love. Chichikov joked a lot, with which he was able to achieve the location of the general. I take the opportunity, Chichikov composes a story about an old uncle who is obsessed with dead souls, but the general does not believe him, considering this to be another joke. Chichikov hurries to leave.

Pavel Ivanovich goes to Colonel Koshkarev, but ends up with Pyotr Petukh, who is caught completely naked while hunting for sturgeon. Upon learning that the estate was mortgaged, Chichikov wanted to leave, but here he meets the landowner Platonov, who talks about ways to increase wealth, which Chichikov is inspired by.

Colonel Koshkarev, who divided his lands into plots and manufactories, also had nothing to profit from, so Chichikov, accompanied by Platonov and Konstanzhoglo, goes to Kholobuev, who sells his estate for nothing. Chichikov gives a deposit for the estate, having borrowed the amount from Konstanzhglo and Platonov. In the house, Pavel Ivanovich expected to see empty rooms, but "he was struck by a mixture of poverty with the shiny trinkets of later luxury." Chichikov receives dead souls from his neighbor Leninsyn, having charmed him with the ability to tickle a child. The story is cut off.

It can be assumed that some time has passed since the purchase of the estate. Chichikov comes to the fair to buy fabric for a new suit. Chichikov meets Kholobuev. He is dissatisfied with the deception of Chichikov, because of which he almost lost his inheritance. Denunciations are found on Chichikov about the deception of Kholobuev and dead souls. Chichikov is arrested.

Murazov, a recent acquaintance of Pavel Ivanovich, a farmer who fraudulently amassed a million-dollar fortune, finds Pavel Ivanovich in the basement. Chichikov tears his hair out and mourns the loss of the box with securities: Chichikov was not allowed to dispose of many personal things, including the box, where there was enough money to give a deposit for himself. Murazov motivates Chichikov to live honestly, not to break the law and not to deceive people. It seems that his words were able to touch certain strings in the soul of Pavel Ivanovich. Officials who expect to receive a bribe from Chichikov confuse the case. Chichikov is leaving town.
 

Conclusion

Dead Souls shows a broad and truthful picture of life in Russia in the second half of the 19th century. Along with beautiful nature, picturesque villages, in which the originality of a Russian person is felt, greed, stinginess and a never-ending desire for profit are shown against the backdrop of space and freedom. The arbitrariness of the landowners, the poverty and lack of rights of the peasants, the hedonistic understanding of life, bureaucracy and irresponsibility - all this is depicted in the text of the work, as in a mirror. Meanwhile, Gogol believes in a brighter future, because it was not for nothing that the second volume was conceived as "the moral purification of Chichikov." It is in this work that Gogol's manner of reflecting reality is most clearly visible.

You have read only a brief retelling of "Dead Souls", for a more complete understanding of the work, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the full version.

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Our summary of "Dead Souls" can be used by 9th grade students for a reader's diary. See also the full text of "Dead Souls", analysis of the work, texts of lyrical digressions in it and articles: Gogol - short biography, Gogol - biography, Gogol - chronology of life.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 1 - briefly

The nobleman Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrived in the provincial town of NN, a man not too old, but not quite young either, not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not thin either. Having settled in a city hotel, he asked the servant in detail about local prominent persons, especially wondering how many souls of peasants anyone had. (See the full text of the passage "Chichikov's arrival in the provincial town of NN".)

In the following days, Chichikov made visits to all the chief city officials. He also attended a party at the governor's, where he met the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. (See who Chichikov met when he arrived in the provincial city.)

Dead Souls. Film-play 1960

A very dexterous man in getting around, Chichikov made an "unpleasant" impression on everyone. (See the image of Chichikov - briefly, Chichikov in "Dead Souls", Description of Chichikov.)

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 1 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Chichikov

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 2 - briefly

A few days later, Chichikov moved his visits outside the city and first of all visited the Manilov estate. (See Characteristics of Manilov with quotes.) Sugary Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education, and liked to build fantastic projects, such as building a huge bridge across his pond, from where one could see Moscow during tea drinking. But, mired in dreams, he never put them into practice, distinguished by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Manilov in "Dead Souls", Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)

Accepting Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer: to buy from him for a small sum the recently deceased peasants (who were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit). Manilov was extremely surprised at this, but out of politeness he could not refuse the guest. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Manilov.)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 2 - a summary of the full text of this chapter.

Manilov

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 3 - briefly

From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan drove him in a completely different direction. Caught in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely reached a village - and found lodging for the night at the local landowner Korobochka. (See Characterization of the Quote Box, Box in Dead Souls.)

The widow Korobochka was a rustic and hoarding old woman. (See Description Korobochka, her estate and dinner with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same offer as before to Manilov. The box bulged at first, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to sell the dead people cheap. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to "apply to the prices of other merchants." But her dodgy guest pretended to be a state-owned contractor and promised to buy flour, cereals, lard and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. In anticipation of such a lucrative deal, Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls. (See Chichikov's bargaining scene with Korobochka.)

Chichikov personally drew up the bill of sale for the deceased peasants on stamped paper, which he took out of his travel box, which contained many compartments and partitions. (See Chichikov's casket.)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 3 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 4 - briefly

Leaving Korobochka, Chichikov stopped for lunch at a roadside inn. (See: What did Chichikov eat in the tavern?)

In a tavern, he met the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. (See the text of the passage "Meeting of Nozdrev and Chichikov in a tavern".)

The incorrigible reveler, reveler, liar and cheat Nozdryov (see Nozdryov's Characteristics with quotes) was returning from the fair, having completely lost his cards at it. He invited Chichikov to his estate. Pavel Ivanovich agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him dead souls for free. (See Nozdryov in Dead Souls, Nozdryov's Appearance, Nozdryov's Estate, Nozdryov's House Interior, Chichikov's Dinner at Nozdryov's.)

On his estate, Nozdryov took Chichikov around the stable and kennel for a long time, assuring him that his horses and dogs were worth many thousands of rubles. When the guest started talking about dead souls, Nozdryov offered to play cards on them and immediately took out a deck. Thoroughly suspecting that she was marked, Chichikov refused. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Nozdryov.)

The next morning, Nozdryov suggested playing the dead peasants not at cards, but at checkers, where cheating is impossible. Chichikov agreed, but during the game Nozdryov began to move several checkers at once with the cuffs of his robe in one move. Chichikov protested. Nozdryov in response called two hefty serfs and ordered them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unscathed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to court for an insult inflicted on the landowner Maksimov in a drunken state. (See the text of the passage "Nozdrev and Chichikov play checkers".)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 4 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdrev). An excerpt from the cartoon based on the plot of Gogol's "Dead Souls"

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 5 - briefly

Leaping at full speed from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man who, by nature, was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised wandering in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material benefits. (See Characterization of Sobakevich with quotes, Sobakevich (briefly), Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)

Explaining human actions by one desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and Christ-sellers. (See Sobakevich's attitude towards others.)

In figure and posture, he resembled a medium-sized bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutrient overseas delicacies, dined on simple dishes, but devoured them in huge pieces. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)

Unlike the others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov's request to sell dead souls. However, he broke an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “selected goods”, because they used to be excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov ridiculed this argument, but only after a long bargain did Sobakevich lower the price to two and a half rubles per capita. (See the text of their bargaining scene.)

Sobakevich

While the list of sold peasants was being compiled, Chichikov, annoyed by Sobakevich's stinginess, looked at his back with hatred and mentally cursed him with a "fist". (See Chichikov's relationship to Sobakevich.)

In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let slip that the unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and that this owner has more than a thousand peasants who are dying like flies. Leaving Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 5 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 6 - briefly

Plyushkin's house turned out to be large, but unimaginably dilapidated. At the gate Chichikov noticed a strange, dirty figure dressed in a dressing gown. (See Plyushkin's appearance, Plyushkin's clothes.) At first he mistook her for an old housekeeper, but it was the owner of the estate himself. (See Plushkin characterization with citations.)

In previous years, Plyushkin was a businesslike, thrifty owner. But in his old age, after widowhood and a quarrel with his children, he developed an extraordinary stinginess. Plyushkin's interests and concerns were crushed. Having abandoned important studies, he turned to various trifles. For days on end, this owner of a thousand serf souls walked around his own village, collecting rubbish, like broken shovels and old shoe soles. He put it in a dusty heap in the middle of one of the rooms of his house, vigilantly watching that the servants did not steal anything from it. (See Plyushkin in "Dead Souls", Plyushkin's Manor, Plyushkin's Garden, Plyushkin's House Interior, Plyushkin's Household, Plyushkin's Family, Chichikov's Dinner at Plyushkin's, Plyushkin - a tear in humanity, Quotes confirming Plyushkin's stinginess.)

Seeing the visiting nobleman, Plyushkin at first suspected that he wanted to dine with him for free. For a long time he could not believe that Chichikov was ready to pay money for the dead peasants and then pay state taxes for them until the next revision. But Chichikov managed to convince Plyushkin - and received from him a shopping list of the names of two hundred dead and runaway peasants, compiled from savings on a dirty, stale piece of paper. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Plyushkin.)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 6 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Plushkin

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 7 - briefly

Returning to the provincial town of N, Chichikov took up the final design of the merchant's fortresses in the state chancellery. This chamber was located on the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded like several wagons loaded with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. For speeding up the case, Chichikov had to pay a bribe to the clerk Ivan Antonovich with a long nose, colloquially called a jug snout.

Manilov and Sobakevich arrived at the signing of the deeds themselves, while the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that all the peasants bought by Chichikov were dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about his alleged estate in the Kherson province.

To “splash” the purchase, everyone went to the chief of police. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he had only to blink, passing by a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves carried a snack in great abundance. At a noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, in a quarter of an hour he secretly pissed alone to the bones of a huge sturgeon, and then pretended that it had nothing to do with it.

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 7 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 8 - briefly

Chichikov bought dead souls from the landlords for a penny, but on the paper in the bill of sale it appeared that he had paid about a hundred thousand for all. Such a large purchase caused the liveliest talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire raised him greatly in all eyes. In the opinion of the ladies, he became a real hero, and they even began to find in his appearance something similar to Mars. One emotional person sent him an anonymous romantic letter. (See Letter to Chichikov from an unknown lady.)

At the very end of the ball, Chichikov suddenly suffered a terrible and fatal blow. The drunken Nozdryov, who entered the hall, went straight to him and began to loudly, with laughter, ask how much he had bought dead souls. Confusion arose among those present, and although no one understood anything yet, Chichikov considered it best to leave as soon as possible. (See Nozdryov and Chichikov at the ball.)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 8 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 9 - briefly

Nozdryov's words were at first considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov's buying up the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had been cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest gave the story of Korobochka to a well-known in the city society nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies, the rumor spread to everyone else. (See The conversation of a lady pleasant in every way, and just a pleasant lady.)

The whole city was at a loss: why did Chichikov buy dead souls? In the female half of society prone to frivolous romance, a strange idea arose that he wanted to cover up preparations for the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. The more down-to-earth male officials wondered if there was a strange visitor - the auditor, sent to their province to investigate due to official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conditional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the highest authorities. The bewilderment came to true awe when the governor received two papers from above, saying that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber could be in their area. (See Why, with rumors about Chichikov's purchases, revival and panic swept the city?)

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 9 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - briefly

The city fathers gathered for a meeting with the police chief to decide who Chichikov was and what to do with him. Here the most daring hypotheses were put forward. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled veteran of the war against the French, who did not receive a pension from the authorities for his injury and took revenge on them with the help of a gang of robbers recruited in the Ryazan forests. (See What rumors went about Chichikov? and "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" - read in full.)

Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to speak about dead souls, they decided to send for him. But this famous liar, having come to the meeting, began to confirm all the assumptions at once. He said that Chichikov had previously kept two million counterfeit money and that he even managed to slip away with them from the police who surrounded the house. According to Nozdryov, Chichikov really wanted to kidnap the governor's daughter, prepared horses at all stations and bribed for a secret wedding for 75 rubles a priest - Father Sidor in the village of Trukhmachevka. (See Nozdryov on Chichikov.)

Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away, left in great bewilderment. All these rumors and hypotheses affected the city prosecutor so strongly that, having come home, he suddenly died, having flopped back from his chair. (See Death of a prosecutor in Dead Souls.)

Nozdryov went to Chichikov, who was ill and did not know anything about the city's rumors. Nozdryov "out of friendship" told Pavel Ivanovich: in the city everyone considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shaken, Chichikov decided to leave early in the morning in a hurry.

For more details, see separate articles Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - summary and Gogol "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 11 - briefly

The next day, Chichikov almost escaped from the city of NN. His chaise rolled along the high road, and during this journey Gogol told the readers the story of his hero's life and finally explained for what purpose he acquired dead souls.

Chichikov's parents were nobles, but very poor. As a young boy, he was taken from the village to the city and sent to a school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) Finally, the father gave his son advice to please the bosses and save a penny.

Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly fawned over teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Greed, the desire to break out of the poor into wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest official position, achieved a promotion, promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice reached prominent official posts, but the first time he plundered the money allocated for government construction, and the second time he acted as the patron of a gang of smugglers. On both occasions, he was exposed and narrowly escaped prison. (See Chichikov's service career.)

He had to be satisfied with the position of a court attorney. At that time, loans under the mortgage of landowners' estates to the treasury were spreading. Being engaged in one such case, Chichikov suddenly found out that the dead serfs were listed alive on paper until the next financial audit, which took place in Russia only once every few years. When mortgaging estates, the nobles received from the treasury amounts according to the number of their peasant souls - 200 rubles per person. Chichikov came up with the idea to travel around the provinces, buying up for a penny the dead, but not yet marked as such in the audit, peasant souls, then pawn them in bulk - and so get a rich jackpot ...

Gogol thought to continue the adventures of Chichikov in the second and third volumes of Dead Souls. He completed the first one with a famous passage, where he compared Russia with a troika jumping God knows where. The original interpretation of the meaning of this Gogol's reasoning was given by another great Russian writer - Vasily Shukshin, in the story "Stuck".

For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", chapter 11 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Here is a summary of the 3rd chapter of the work "Dead Souls" by N.V. Gogol.

A very brief summary of "Dead Souls" can be found and the following is quite detailed.
General content by chapter:

Chapter 3 - summary.

Chichikov went to Sobakevich in the most pleasant mood. He did not even notice that Selifan, warmly received by Manilov's people, was drunk. Therefore, the britzka quickly lost its way. The coachman could not remember whether he had driven two or three turns. It started to rain. Chichikov became worried. He finally made out that they had long been lost, and Selifan was drunk as a shoemaker. The chaise swayed from side to side until it finally tipped over completely. Chichikov flopped hands and feet into the mud. Pavel Ivanovich was so angry that he promised Selifan to flog him.

A dog barking was heard from afar. The traveler ordered the horses to be driven. Pretty soon the britzka hit the fence with shafts. Chichikov knocked on the gate and asked for a lodging for the night. The hostess turned out to be a thrifty old woman

from small landowners who cry for crop failures, losses ... and meanwhile they collect a little money in motley bags ...

Chichikov apologized for his intrusion and asked if Sobakevich's estate was far away, to which the old woman replied that she had never heard such a name at all. She named several names of local landowners unfamiliar to Chichikov. The guest asked if there were rich people among them. Hearing that no, Pavel Ivanovich lost all interest in them.

box

Waking up quite late the next morning, Chichikov saw the hostess peeping into his room. Having dressed and looking out the window, the traveler realized that the old woman's village was not small. Behind the lord's garden one could see quite well-ordered peasant huts. Chichikov peered through the crack in the door. Seeing that the hostess was sitting at the tea table, with an affectionate air, he entered her. Starting a conversation, the uninvited guest found out that the name of the hostess was Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. The collegiate secretary had nearly eighty souls. Chichikov began to question the hostess about dead souls. Nastasya Petrovna had eighteen of them. The guest asked if it was possible to buy the dead peasants. The box was at first completely bewildered: is Pavel Ivanovich really going to dig them out of the ground? Chichikov explained that the souls would be registered with him only on paper.

At first the landowner was stubborn: the business seems to be profitable, but it is too new. The old woman, selling dead souls, was afraid of incurring a loss. Finally, with great difficulty, Chichikov persuaded his interlocutor to sell the dead peasants to her for fifteen banknotes. Having dined at Korobochka, Pavel Ivanovich ordered the britzka to be laid down. The yard girl escorted the travelers to the main road.

Very short content (in a nutshell)

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives in the provincial town of NN. He begins to actively get acquainted with all the first persons of the city - the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, chairman of the chamber, etc. Soon, he is invited to the governor's reception, where he also gets acquainted with the landowners. After about a week of acquaintances and receptions, he visits the village of the landowner Manilov. In a conversation, he says that he is interested in the "dead souls" of the peasants, who appear according to the census as still alive. Manilov is surprised, but to please his new friend, he gives them to him for free. Chichikov goes to the next landowner Sobakevich, but loses his way and stops by the landowner Korobochka. He makes her the same offer, Box in doubt, but still decides to sell him his dead souls. Then he meets Nozdryov, who refuses to sell them to him, behaves cheekily, and almost even beats Chichikov for refusing to play checkers with him. Finally, he gets to Sobakevich, who agrees to sell his "dead souls", and also talks about the stingy neighbor - Plyushkin, whose peasants are dying like flies. Chichikov, of course, visits Plyushkin and negotiates with him to sell a large number of souls. The next day, he draws up all the purchased souls, except for the Korobochkins. In the city, everyone thinks that he is a millionaire, because they think that he buys living people. Girls begin to pay attention to him, and he falls in love with the governor's daughter. Nozdryov begins to tell everyone that Chichikov is a swindler, but they do not believe him, but then Korobochka arrives and asks everyone in the city how much dead souls are. Now more people believe that he is a fraud, and even trying to kidnap the governor's daughter. Then the prosecutor suddenly dies, and the inhabitants again think that Chichikov is involved. He quickly leaves, and we find out that he is really a swindler who was going to pawn "dead souls" in the bank, and after receiving the money, hide.

Summary (detailed by chapter)

ChapterI

A gentleman arrived at the hotel in the provincial city of NN in a beautiful britzka. Neither handsome, but not bad, neither fat, nor thin, nor old, but no longer young. His name was Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Nobody noticed his arrival. He had two servants with him - the coachman Selifan and the footman Petrushka. Selifan was short and in a sheepskin coat, while Petrushka was young, looked about thirty, and had a stern face at first glance. As soon as the master moved into the chambers, he immediately went to dinner. They served cabbage soup with puff pastries, sausage with cabbage, and pickles.

While everything was being brought, the guest forced the servant to tell everything about the tavern, its owner, how much income they receive. Then he found out who was the governor in the city, who was the chairman, what were the names of noble landowners, how many servants they had, how far from the city their estates were located, and all that nonsense. After resting in his room, he went to explore the city. He seemed to like everything. And stone houses covered with yellow paint, and signs on them. Many of them bore the name of a tailor named Arshavsky. On the gambling houses was written "And here is the institution."

The next day the guest paid visits. I wanted to express my respect to the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, chairman of the chamber, head of state-owned factories and other city dignitaries. In conversations, he knew how to flatter everyone, and he himself occupied a rather modest position. He said almost nothing about himself, except superficially. He said that he had seen and experienced a lot in his lifetime, had suffered in the service, had enemies, everything was like everyone else. Now he wants, finally, to choose a place to live, and, having arrived in the city, he wanted first of all to testify his respect to the “first” of its inhabitants.

By evening, he was already invited to the governor's reception. There he joined the men, who, like him, were somewhat plump. Then he met the courteous landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. Both invited him to see their estates. Manilov was a man with surprisingly sweet eyes, which he squinted every time. He immediately said that Chichikov simply had to come to his village, which was only fifteen miles from the city outpost. Sobakevich was more reserved and had a clumsy look. He only said dryly that he, too, was inviting a guest to his place.

The next day Chichikov was at the police chief's dinner. In the evening they played whist. There he met the broken landowner Nozdrev, who, after a couple of phrases, switched to "you". And so for several days in a row. The guest almost did not visit the hotel, but only came to spend the night. He knew how to please everyone in the city, and the officials were pleased with his arrival.

ChapterII

After about a week of traveling for dinners and evenings, Chichikov decided to visit his new acquaintances, the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. It was decided to start with Manilov. The purpose of the visit was not just to see the village of the landowner, but also to propose one "serious" business. He took the coachman Selifan with him, and Petrushka was ordered to stay in the room, guarding the suitcases. A few words about these two servants. They were ordinary serfs. Petrusha wore somewhat wide robes, which he got from his master's shoulder. He had large lips and a nose. By nature, he was silent, loved to read and rarely went to the bathhouse, which is why he was recognizable by the ambergris. The coachman Selifan was the opposite of a footman.

On the way to Manilov, Chichikov did not miss the opportunity to get acquainted with the surrounding houses and forests. The Manilov estate stood on a hillock, it was bare all around, only a pine forest could be seen in the distance. A little lower there was a pond and many log huts. The hero counted them about two hundred. The owner greeted him warmly. There was something strange about Manilow. Despite the fact that his eyes were sweet as sugar, after a couple of minutes of conversation with him there was nothing more to talk about. Deathly boredom emanated from him. There are people who love to eat heartily, or are fond of music, greyhounds, this one was not fond of anything. He had been reading one book for two years.

His wife was not far behind him. She was fond of playing the piano, French and knitting every little thing. So, for example, for her husband's birthday, she prepared a beaded case for a toothpick. Their sons were also called strangely: Themistoclus and Alkid. After dinner, the guest said that he wanted to talk to Manilov about a very important matter. Heb went to the office. There Chichikov asked the owner how many dead peasants he had since the last revision. He did not know, but sent the clerk to clarify. Chichikov admitted that he was buying the "dead souls" of peasants, who are listed as alive in the census. Manilov at first thought that the guest was joking, but he was absolutely serious. They agreed that Manilov would give him what he needed even without money, if it did not violate the law in any way. After all, he will not take money for souls that are no longer there. And I don't want to lose a new friend.

ChapterIII

In the cart, Chichikov was already counting his profit. Selifan, meanwhile, took care of the horses. There was thunder, then another, and then it began to rain like buckets. Selifan pulled something against the rain and sped off the horses. He was a little drunk, so he couldn't remember how many turns they made on the road. In addition, they did not know exactly how to get to the village of Sobakevich. As a result, the britzka left the road and drove through the open field. Luckily, they heard the barking of dogs and rolled up to a small house. The hostess herself opened the gate for them, welcomed them cordially, and left them to spend the night.

It was an elderly woman in a cap. To all questions about the surrounding landowners, in particular about Sobakevich, she answered that she did not know who it was. She listed some other names, but Chichikov did not know them. In the morning, the guest assessed the peasant houses with a glance and concluded that everything was in abundance. The hostess's name was Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna. He decided to talk to her about buying up "dead souls." She said that the deal seems to be profitable, but doubtful, she needs to think, ask the price.

Chichikov then got angry and compared her to a mongrel. He said that he was already thinking about buying household products from her, but now he won’t. Although he lied, but the phrase had an effect. Nastasya Petrovna agreed to sign a power of attorney to make a bill of sale. He brought his documents and stamped paper. The deed is done, he and Selifan got ready to go. The box gave them a girl as a conductor, and on that they parted. At the tavern, Chichikov rewarded the girl with a copper penny.

ChapterIV

Chichikov dined at the tavern, the horses rested. We were going to go further in search of Sobakevich's estate. By the way, the neighboring landowners whispered to him that the old woman knew both Manilov and Sobakevich very well. Then two people drove up to the tavern. In one of them Chichikov recognized Nozdryov, a broken landowner whom he had recently met. He immediately rushed to hug him, introduced him to his son-in-law and invited him to his place.

It turned out that he was driving from the fair, where he not only played to the nines, but also drank an unmeasured amount of champagne. But then I met my son-in-law. He took it from there. Nozdryov was from that category of people who make a fuss around themselves. He easily got acquainted with people, switched to "you", immediately sat down to drink with them and play cards. He played cards dishonestly, so he was often beaten. Nozdryov's wife died, leaving two children, whom the reveler did not care about. Wherever Nozdryov visited, there were adventures. Either the gendarmes took him in public, or not unreasonably pushed out by their own friends. And he was from the breed of those who could spoil their neighbor for no reason.

The son-in-law, at the behest of Nozdryov, also went with them. For two hours they examined the village of the landowner, and then went to the estate. At dinner, the host strove to get the guest drunk, but Chichikov managed to pour the drink into a vat of soup. Then he insisted on playing cards, but the guest refused this too. Chichikov spoke to him about his "business", that is, the redemption of the souls of dead peasants, because of which Nozdryov called him a real swindler and ordered not to feed his horses. Chichikov already regretted his arrival, but there was nothing left to do but spend the night here.

In the morning the owner again offered to play cards, this time for "souls". Chichikov refused, but agreed to play checkers. Nozdryov, as always, cheated, so the game had to be interrupted. Because the guest refused to bring the game to the end, Nozdryov called his guys and ordered to beat him. But Chichikov was lucky this time too. A carriage rolled up to the estate, someone in a semi-military frock coat got out of it. It was a police captain who had come to inform the owner that he was on trial for beating the landowner Maksimov. Chichikov did not listen to the end, but sat down in his britzka and ordered Selifan to drive out of here.

ChapterV

Chichikov looked back at the village of Nozdryov all the way and was afraid. Along the way, they met a carriage with two ladies: one is elderly, and the other is young and unusually beautiful. This did not escape Chichikov's eyes, and all the way he thought about the young stranger. However, these thoughts left him as soon as he noticed the village of Sobakevich. The village was quite large, but a little awkward, like the owner himself. In the middle stood a huge house with a mezzanine in the style of military settlements.

Sobakevich received him, as he was supposed to, and led him into the living room, decorated with portraits of generals. When Chichikov tried, as usual, to flatter and start a pleasant conversation, it turned out that Sobakevich could not stand all these chairmen, police chiefs, governors and other swindlers. He considers them fools and Christ-sellers. Of all, he liked the prosecutor the most, and he, according to him, was a pig.

Sobakevich's wife invited him to the table. The table was laid abundantly. As it turned out, the owner loved to eat with all his heart, which distinguished him from the neighboring landowner Plyushkin. When Chichikov asked who this Plyushkin was and where he lived, Sobakevich recommended not to know him. After all, he has eight hundred souls, and eats worse than a shepherd. And yes, people are dropping like flies. Chichikov spoke to the owner about "dead souls." We bargained for a long time, but we came to a consensus. We decided tomorrow in the city to settle matters with the bill of sale, but to keep the deal a secret. Chichikov went to Plyushkin by detours so that Sobakevich would not see him.

ChapterVI

Swaying in his britzka, he reached a log pavement, behind which stretched dilapidated and dilapidated houses. Finally, the master's house appeared, a long and decrepit castle that looked like an invalid. It was evident that the house had endured more than one bad weather, the plaster was crumbling in places, only two of all the windows were open, and the rest were boarded up with shutters. And only the old garden behind the house somehow refreshed this picture.

Soon someone showed up. From the outlines, Chichikov thought it was a housekeeper, since the silhouette had a woman's bonnet and cap, as well as keys in a belt. In the end, it turned out that it was Plyushkin himself. Chichikov could not understand how the landowner of such a large village had turned into such a thing. He was terribly old, dressed in everything dirty and decrepit. If Chichikov had met this man somewhere on the street, he would have thought that he was a beggar. In fact, Plyushkin was incredibly wealthy, and with age he turned into a terrible miser.

When they entered the house, the guest was stunned by the surroundings. There was an incredible mess, chairs piled on top of each other, around the cobwebs and a lot of small pieces of paper, a broken arm of the chair, some kind of liquid in a glass with three flies. In a word, the situation was appalling. Plyushkin had almost a thousand souls at his disposal, and he walked around the village, picked up all sorts of rubbish and dragged it home. But once he was just an economical owner.

The landowner's wife has died. The eldest daughter jumped out to marry a cavalryman and left. Since then Plyushkin cursed her. He himself began to take care of the household. The son went into the army, and the youngest daughter died. When the son lost at cards, the landowner cursed him too, and did not give him a penny. He drove the governess and French teacher away. The eldest daughter somehow tried to establish relations with her father and at least get something from him, but nothing came of it. The merchants who came for the goods also could not agree with him.

Chichikov was even afraid to offer him anything and did not know which way to approach him. Although the owner invited him to sit down, he said that he would not feed him. Then the conversation turned to the high mortality of peasants. This is what Chichikov needed. Then he told about his "case". Together with the fugitives, about two hundred souls were gathered. The old man agreed to give a power of attorney for the bill of sale. With grief in half, a clean piece of paper was found and the deal was finalized. Chichikov refused tea and went to town in good spirits.

ChapterVII

Chichikov, having slept, realized that he had neither more nor less, but already four hundred souls, so it was time to act. He prepared a list of people who were once alive, thought, walked, felt, and then went to the civil chamber. On the way I met Manilov. He embraced him, then handed him a rolled-up paper, and together they went to the office of the chairman, Ivan Antonovich. Despite a good acquaintance, Chichikov nevertheless “shove” him something. Sobakevich was also here.

Chichikov provided a letter from Plyushkin and added that there should be another attorney from the landowner Korobochka. The chairman promised to do everything. Chichikov asked him to put an end to everything as soon as possible, because he wanted to leave the next day. Ivan Antonovich quickly managed, wrote everything down and brought it in where it should be, and he also ordered to take half the duty from Chichikov. After, he offered to drink for the deal. Soon everyone was sitting at the table, a little tipsy, trying to persuade the guest not to leave at all, to stay in the city and get married. After the feast, Selifan and Petrushka put the host to bed, and they themselves went to the tavern.

ChapterVIII

Rumors quickly spread in the city about Chichikov's profit. For some, this raised doubts, since the owner would not sell good peasants, which means either drunkards or thieves. Some thought about the difficulties of moving so many peasants, they were afraid of a rebellion. But for Chichikov, everything worked out in the best way. They began to say that he was a millionaire. The inhabitants of the city liked him anyway, and now they completely fell in love with the guest, so much so that they did not want to let him go.

The ladies idolized him. He liked the local women. They knew how to behave in society and were quite presentable. There was no vulgarity in the conversation. So, for example, instead of “I blew my nose,” they said “I relieved my nose.” Liberties on the part of men were not allowed, and if they met with anyone, it was only secretly. In a word, they could give odds to any metropolitan young lady. Everything was decided at the reception of the governor. There Chichikov saw a blond girl whom he had previously met in a carriage. It turned out that it was the governor's daughter. And immediately all the ladies disappeared.

He stopped looking at anyone and thought only of her. In turn, offended ladies with might and main began to say unflattering things about the guest. The situation was aggravated by the sudden appearance of Nozdryov, who publicly announced that Chichikov was a swindler and that he was hunting for "dead souls." But since everyone knew the absurdity and deceitful nature of Nozdryov, they did not believe him. Chichikov, feeling uncomfortable, left early. While he was tormented by insomnia, another trouble was being prepared for him. Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka arrived in the city and was already interested in how much “dead souls” are now, so as not to sell too cheap.

ChapterIX

The next morning, one "beautiful" lady ran to another lady of the same kind to tell how Chichikov bought "dead souls" from her friend Korobochka. They also have thoughts about Nozdryov. The ladies think that Chichikov started all this to get the governor's daughter, and Nozdryov is his accomplice. The ladies immediately spread the version to other friends and the city begins to discuss this topic. True, men have a different opinion. They believe that Chichikov was still interested in "dead souls."

City officials even begin to believe that Chichikov was sent for some kind of check. And there were sins behind them, so they got scared. During this period, a new governor-general had just been appointed in the province, so this was quite possible. Here, as if on purpose, the governor received two strange papers. One said that a well-known counterfeiter was wanted, who changed names, and the other - about an escaped robber.

Then everyone wondered who this Chichikov really was. After all, none of them really knew. They interviewed the landlords, from whom he bought the souls of the peasants, there was little sense. They tried to learn something from Selifan and Petrushka, also to no avail. Meanwhile, the governor's daughter inherited from her mother. She strictly ordered not to communicate with a dubious guest.

ChapterX

The situation in the city became so tense that many officials began to lose weight from the experience. Everyone decided to meet with the police chief to confer. It was believed that Chichikov was Captain Kopeikin in disguise, who had his leg and arm torn off during the campaign of 1812. When he returned from the front, his father refused to support him. Then Kopeikin decided to turn to the sovereign, went to St. Petersburg.

Due to the absence of the sovereign, the general promises to receive him, but asks to come in a few days. A few days pass, but it is not accepted again. One nobleman assures that this requires the permission of the king. Soon Kopeikin runs out of money, he is poor and starving. Then he again turns to the general, who rudely sees him off and sends him out of St. Petersburg. After some time, a gang of robbers begins to operate in the Ryazan forest. Rumor has it that this is the work of Kopeikin.

After conferring, the officials decide that Chichikov cannot be Kopeikin, because his legs and arms are intact. Nozdryov appears and tells his version. He says that he studied with Chichikov, who was already a counterfeiter then. He also says that he sold him a lot of "dead souls" and that Chichikov really intended to take away the governor's daughter, and he helped him in this. As a result, he lies so much that he himself realizes that he overdid it.

At this time, in the city, from experiences, for no reason, the prosecutor dies. Everyone blames Chichikov, but he does not know anything about this, as he suffers from flux. He is genuinely surprised that no one visits him. Nozdryov comes to him and tells everything about the fact that in the city he is considered a swindler who tried to kidnap the daughter of the governor. And also talks about the death of the prosecutor. After he leaves, Chichikov orders to pack things.

ChapterXI

The next day, Chichikov is going on the road, but for a long time he cannot leave. Now the horses are not shod, then he overslept, then the chaise was not laid. As a result, they leave, but on the way they encounter a funeral procession. They are burying the prosecutor. All the officials go to the procession, and everyone thinks about how to improve relations with the new governor-general. This is followed by a lyrical digression about Russia, its roads and buildings.

The author introduces us to the origin of Chichikov. It turns out that his parents were nobles, but he does not look much like them. From childhood, he was sent to an old relative, where he lived and studied. At parting, his father gave him parting words to always please the authorities and hang out only with the rich. At school, the hero studied mediocre, had no special talents, but was a practical fellow.

When his father died, he mortgaged his father's house and entered the service. There he tried to please the authorities in everything and even looked after the boss's ugly daughter, promised to marry. But as he received a promotion, he did not marry. Further, he changed more than one service and did not stay anywhere for a long time because of his machinations. At one time, he even participated in the capture of smugglers, with whom he himself entered into an agreement.

The idea of ​​​​buying "dead souls" visited him once again, when everything had to be started all over again. According to his plan, "dead souls" had to be mortgaged to the bank, and after receiving an impressive loan, to hide. Further, the author complains about the properties of the hero's nature, while he himself partly justifies him. In the finale, the chaise rushed so quickly along the road. And what Russian does not like to drive fast? The author compares the flying troika with the rushing Russia.

I decided to postpone my visits outside the city and visit my new acquaintance, the landowner Manilov. (See Image of Manilov.) The coachman Selifan harnessed his horses, and Chichikov's chaise sped along the road.

The owner of the estate ran out onto the porch and, scattering in courtesies, greeted the guest. Manilov was one of the people about whom the proverb says: neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan. His face was pleasant enough, but this pleasantness was too sugary; there was something ingratiating in his manners and turns. He did not sin with any strong passions and hobbies, but he liked to spend time in fantastic dreams, which he never tried to put into practice.

Manilov. Artist A. Laptev

Manilov almost did not take care of the household, relying on the clerk, but, looking at his overgrown pond, he often dreamed about how it would be nice to lead an underground passage from the house or build a stone bridge with merchant shops across the pond. In Manilov's office there was always a book, bookmarked on the fourteenth page, which he had been constantly reading for two years. To match Manilov was his wife, brought up in a boarding school, where the three main subjects were French, playing the piano and knitting purses. (See Description of Manilov.)

As usual, Manilov went out of his way to please Chichikov. He did not agree to go through the door ahead of him, called the meeting with him "name days of the heart" and "exemplary happiness", assured that he would gladly give half of his fortune in order to have some of the virtues that his guest has. Manilov first of all asked how Chichikov liked the provincial officials - and he himself admired their extraordinary talents.

Chichikov was invited to the table. The dinner was also attended by two sons of Manilov, 8 and 6 years old, who bore the ancient names Themistoclus and Alkid. (See Chichikov's lunch at Manilov's.)

After dinner, Chichikov said that he would like to talk to Manilov about an important matter. Both of them went into the study, where the owner of the house, in fashionable custom, lit his pipe. A little worried, and even looking back for some reason, Chichikov asked Manilov how many peasants had died since the last tax audit. Manilov himself did not know this, but called the clerk and sent him to make a list of names of the deceased.

Chichikov explained that he would like to buy these dead souls. Hearing such a strange desire, Manilov dropped the pipe from his mouth and remained motionless for some time, gazing at his interlocutor. Then he cautiously inquired whether a deal with dead souls would be inconsistent with civil regulations and further views of Russia?

Chichikov assured that it was not, and pointed out that the treasury would even benefit from this in the form of legal duties. Reassured Manilov, by his courtesy, could not refuse the guest. Having agreed with him to buy the dead, Chichikov hurried to leave, asking for directions to the neighboring landowner.