Dead Souls. The poem, written by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol in 1841, had a grandiose plan. It was supposed to be a work in three parts. The first volume was supposed to introduce readers to a real Russian person, possessing many “gifts and riches” and, at the same time, a huge number of disadvantages. It was this first house that reached the modern reader in full. Since the manuscript of the second volume was burned by the great Russian writer shortly before his death, only some chapters have survived.

The poem “Dead Souls” is the story of Chichikov, who bought up dead serfs in order to run a scam that would bring him a huge amount of money. Narrating the adventures of Mr. Chichikov, the author reflects on problems of a social and philosophical nature. The very title of the poem “Dead Souls” has several meanings.

“Dead souls” are, first of all, dead peasants whom Chichikov buys, following from landowner to landowner. But the situation when the sale and purchase of a person becomes an everyday matter makes living serfs “dead”; they are a commodity in the hands of powerful masters. Gradually, the concept of “dead souls” is transformed, acquiring a new meaning. It becomes clear to the reader that the dead souls are the landowners themselves, people mired in their passions for petty things, “petty inhabitants.” And although all 5 landowners visited by the main character, at first glance, are not similar to each other, they have something in common - worthlessness, emptiness.

"Dead Souls" summary

Chapters 1-6

Chapter 1 of the poem is an exposition. The reader meets Mr. Chichikov, who arrives in the city. The hero stops at a tavern and then pays visits to all available officials. During such visits, Chichikov meets some landowners: Manilov, Sobakevich, Nozdrev. He finds out how many souls each landowner supports, how far away their estates are.

Chapters 2-6 – Chichikov’s journey through the landowners. Main character visited 5 estates, met with five landowners: Manilov, Sobakevich, Nozdryov, Korobochka and Plyushkin. Having traveled 30 miles, instead of the promised 15, Chichikov comes to Manilov. His estate is located in the Jura, among English flower beds. The owner of the estate is very kind, but as it turns out, after a few minutes, he is too kind, too cloying. He does not delve into the affairs of the estate, but lives in illusions, dreams, all day long indulging in thoughts about unrealizable ideas. Chichikov has lunch with the Manilovs, and then informs the owner that he wants to buy from him the dead serfs who are listed as alive. Manilov begins to be frightened, but then, becoming emotional, he happily agrees. Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich.

The coachman Selifan misses the turn, which is why the travelers end up not with Sobakevich, but with Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Korobochka is an elderly landowner, she is very homely. Nothing goes missing in her house, and the peasants have strong huts. For a long time she does not agree to give the dead serfs to Chichikov, she keeps wondering whether she will sell things too cheap, whether they will be useful to her. As a result, having paid fifteen rubles for each “dead soul”, Chichikov moves on.

On the highway, the hero stops to have a snack at a tavern. Here he meets the next landowner - Nozdryov. He returns with his son-in-law from the fair - Nozdryov lost his horses. Wherever Nozdryov appeared, everywhere a story happened to him, he is such a daring hooligan. The landowner takes Chichikov to his home, where the hero tries to persuade Nozdryov to sell him the dead peasants. Nozdryov is not that simple: he gets Chichikov involved in a game of checkers, where the bets are the “dead souls” so desired by Chichikov. As the game progresses, it becomes clear that Nozdryov is openly cheating. When it almost comes to a fight, the buyer of the dead is saved by a sudden visit from the police captain, who reports that Nozdryov is on trial. Chichikov manages to escape. On the road, the traveler's crew accidentally encounters an unfamiliar crew. While the means of transportation are being put in order, Chichikov admires the young, especially pleasant appearance and reflects on the pleasures family life.

Sobakevich, the next landowner, thoroughly feeds the traveler lunch, at the same time discussing all the city officials. All of them, according to Sobakevich, are the lowest people, swindlers and pigs. Having learned that, or rather who, Chichikov wants to buy, Sobakevich is not at all surprised. He bargains and asks Chichikov to leave a deposit.

Chichikov's journey ends with a visit to the last landowner - Plyushkin. The author calls it “the hole of humanity.” Chichikov, seeing Plyushkin, thinks that this is the housekeeper or servant. The owner of the estate is dressed in rags, strange rags. Nothing is thrown away in his house, but on the contrary, even the sole of a shoe will be brought into the house. The room is piled high with rubbish, Plyushkin invites Chichikov to drink a drink, which he himself has re-filtered to remove dirt. Having talked about the obvious benefits of selling dead souls and having concluded a successful deal, Chichikov returns to the city.

Chapters 7-10

The chapters show another layer of society - bureaucracy. Chichikov, having prepared all the lists of peasants, goes to the ward, where Manilov and Sobakevich are already waiting for him. The chairman of the chamber helps to prepare all the documents and signs the bill of sale for Plyushkin. Chichikov informs the officials that he will send all the peasants to the Kherson province. After completing the paperwork, everyone present goes to the next room, where they eat and drink to the newly minted landowner and his future lucky wife.

Chichikov returns to the tavern, exhausted and very tired. The very next day, rumors began to circulate in the city that Chichikov was a millionaire. The ladies began to go crazy, the hero even received a letter with amorous poems from an unknown woman. And most importantly, he is invited to the governor's ball. At the ball, Chichikov enjoys breathtaking success. He moves from one hug to another, from one conversation to another. Women don't take their eyes off him. But Chichikov was interested in only one girl - a sixteen-year-old blonde whom he had once encountered on the road.

She turned out to be the governor's daughter. But such an excellent state of affairs is spoiled by Nozdryov: drunk, in public, he asks the new Kherson landowner how many dead souls he has traded. Society does not take the drunken man's words seriously, but Chichikov becomes noticeably upset, does not maintain a conversation, and makes a mistake in a card game. The next day, Korobochka comes to the city to find out how much dead souls are worth these days. Her arrival provides fertile ground for gossip that divides the city into two parties: male and female.

The men's party is trying to find out why Chichikov bought up dead souls, and the women's party believes that Chichikov wants to steal the governor's daughter. Officials, talking about Chichikov, get confused in riddles. Some believe that he is a maker of counterfeit notes, others that he is Captain Kopeikin. Nozdryov also adds fuel to the fire, confirming every guess with invented details. After these proceedings, the shocked prosecutor comes home and dies.

At this time, Chichikov is sick and does not understand why no one visits him. Fortunately, Nozdryov visits him and tells him who Chichikov is now in the eyes of the city residents. The hero decides to leave urgently, but when leaving the city he encounters a funeral procession. Chapter 11 occupies a special place; the author tells the biography of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. About his childhood, studies, career, service. Chichikov was poor, but had a practical mind, which helped him formulate a plan in his head on how to buy up dead peasants, and then, using the money, secure a calm future for himself.

To the estate of General Betrishchev. Chichikov ordered to report about himself and was taken to Betrishchev’s office. The general struck him with his majestic appearance, courageous face and thick neck - he was one of those picture generals with whom the famous 12th year was so rich.

General Betrishchev had a lot of advantages and a lot of disadvantages. In decisive moments, he could show magnanimity, courage, generosity, intelligence, but he combined with this whims, ambition and pride. He was a champion of enlightenment and loved to show off his knowledge of what others did not know, but he did not like people who knew something that he did not know. Brought up by a semi-foreign upbringing, he wanted to play at the same time the role of a Russian master. From his voice to the slightest body movement, everything about him was powerful, commanding, inspiring, if not respect, then at least timidity.

Gogol. Dead Souls. Volume 2, chapter 2. Audiobook

Chichikov immediately understood what kind of person he was. Respectfully tilting his head to the side and spreading his hands out to fly away, as if preparing to lift a tray with cups with them, he amazingly deftly bent down in front of the general and said: “Having respect for the valor of the men who saved the fatherland on the battlefield, I considered it my duty to introduce myself personally to your Excellency.”

The general liked it. He immediately got into conversation with Chichikov and asked where he served. Chichikov replied that his service flowed in different places, but everywhere - like a ship among the waves, from the intrigues of numerous enemies who even attempted on his life. “Now I’m staying with your neighbor Tentetnikov, who greatly repents of his previous quarrel with your Excellency, for he knows how to appreciate men who saved the fatherland.”

- What about him? But I'm not angry! - said the softened general.

Chichikov immediately told him that Tentetnikov was writing a serious essay.

- Which one?

Chichikov hesitated, not knowing what to answer, and suddenly said:

– A story about the generals of 12, Your Excellency.

Mentally, he almost spat and said to himself: “Lord, what kind of nonsense am I talking about!” But Betrishchev immediately perked up and began to be surprised:

- Why doesn’t Tentetnikov come to me? I could give him a lot of interesting materials.

Just then the door opened and Ulinka entered, striking Chichikov with her cuteness and beauty.

- I recommend you my pampered girl! - said the general. - Ulinka, Pavel Ivanovich just told me that our neighbor Tentetnikov is not at all as stupid a person as we thought. He studies the history of the twelfth year generals.

Ulinka said that she had not previously considered Tentetnikov stupid. She went home, and the general asked Chichikov:

- After all You I hope you're having lunch with me?

Chichikov, contrary to Tentetnikov, did not take offense at the word You. Meanwhile, the valet appeared with a washstand.

-Will you let me dress on my own? – Betrishchev asked Pavel Ivanovich.

- Not only get dressed, but you can do in front of me whatever your Excellency pleases.

The general began to wash himself so that water and soap flew in all directions. Noticing his goodwill, Chichikov decided to move on to the main matter.

“Your Excellency,” he said when the valet left. - I have an uncle, a decrepit old man. He has an estate of three hundred souls, of which I am the only heir. But my uncle is a strange man and does not want to bequeath his estate to me, saying: let the nephew first prove that he is not a spendthrift, but reliable person. Let him first make at least three hundred souls of peasants, then I will give him my three hundred souls.

- Isn’t he a fool? – asked Betrishchev.

- Yes, he’s old and out of his mind. But I came up with this. If you, Your Excellency, hand over all the dead souls of your village to me as if they were alive, I would then present this deed of sale to the old man, and he would give me the inheritance.

The general fell into his chair and laughed so loudly that Ulinka and the valet came running.

- Uncle, uncle! what a fool he will be,” he shouted. - Ha, ha, ha! He will receive the dead instead of the living. After all, he is a donkey! I would give God knows what to see you present him with a bill of sale for them.

- Donkey! – Chichikov confirmed.

- Is he old?

- Eighty years old.

- Are there any more teeth?

“Two teeth in total, Your Excellency,” Chichikov laughed.

- Yes, for such an invention I will give you the dead with land and housing! Take the entire cemetery for yourself!

And the general’s laughter began to reverberate again through the general’s quarters.

[The end of the 2nd chapter of the 2nd volume of “Dead Souls” is missing from Gogol. In the first edition of this book (1855) there is a note: “The reconciliation of General Betrishchev with Tentetnikov is omitted here; dinner with the general and their conversation about the twelfth year; Ulinka's engagement to Tentetnikov; her prayer and crying at her mother’s grave; conversation between the engaged in the garden. Chichikov goes, on behalf of General Betrishchev, to his relatives to notify his daughter’s engagement, and goes to one of these relatives, Colonel Koshkarev.”]

DEAD SOULS

A small chaise with a middle-aged gentleman of good appearance, not fat, but not thin either, drove into the provincial town of NN. The arrival did not make any impression on the inhabitants of the city. The visitor stopped at a local tavern. New visitor during lunch in more detail I asked the servant who used to run this establishment and who now, how much income there was and what the owner was like. Then the visitor found out who was the governor of the city, who was the chairman of the chamber, who was the prosecutor, i.e., “he did not miss a single significant official.”

In addition to the city authorities, the visitor was interested in all the major landowners, as well as the general condition of the region: whether there were any epidemics in the province or widespread famine. After lunch and a long rest, the gentleman wrote down his rank, first and last name on a piece of paper to report to the police. Coming down the stairs, the floor guard read: “Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, landowner, according to his needs.”

Chichikov devoted the next day to visiting all city officials. He even paid his respects to the inspector of the medical board and the city architect.

Pavel Ivanovich showed himself to be a good psychologist, since in almost every house he left the most favorable impressions of himself - “he very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone.” At the same time, Chichikov avoided talking about himself, but if the conversation turned to him, he got off with general phrases and somewhat bookish phrases. The newcomer began to receive invitations to the houses of officials. The first was an invitation to the governor. While getting ready, Chichikov very carefully put himself in order.

During the reception, the city guest managed to show himself as a skilled interlocutor; he successfully complimented the governor’s wife.

The male society was divided into two parts. Thin men hovered behind the ladies and danced, while the fat ones mostly concentrated at the gaming tables. Chichikov joined the latter. Here he met most of his old acquaintances. Pavel Ivanovich also met the rich landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, about whom he immediately made inquiries from the chairman and postmaster. Chichikov quickly charmed both of them and received two invitations to visit.

The next day the visitor went to the police chief, where they played whist from three o'clock in the afternoon until two o'clock in the morning. There Chichikov met Nozdryov, “a broken fellow, who after three or four words began to say you to him.” Chichikov visited all the officials in turn, and the city had a good opinion of him. In any situation he could show himself to be a secular person. Whatever the conversation was about, Chichikov was able to support it. Moreover, “he knew how to dress it all up with some kind of sedateness, he knew how to behave well.”

Everyone was pleased with the arrival of a decent man. Even Sobakevich, who was rarely ever satisfied with his surroundings, recognized Pavel Ivanovich as “a most pleasant person.” This opinion in the city persisted until one strange circumstance led the inhabitants of the city of NN into bewilderment.

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Still from the film “Dead Souls” (1984)

Volume one

The proposed history, as will become clear from what follows, took place somewhat shortly after the “glorious expulsion of the French.” Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives in the provincial town of NN (he is neither old nor too young, neither fat nor thin, rather pleasant in appearance and somewhat round) and checks into a hotel. He makes a lot of questions to the tavern servant - both regarding the owner and income of the tavern, and also exposing his thoroughness: about city officials, the most significant landowners, asks about the state of the region and whether there were “any diseases in their province, epidemic fevers” and other similar things misfortunes.

Having gone on a visit, the visitor reveals extraordinary activity (having visited everyone, from the governor to the inspector of the medical board) and courtesy, for he knows how to say something nice to everyone. He speaks somewhat vaguely about himself (that he “has experienced a lot in his life, endured in the service for the truth, had many enemies who even attempted on his life,” and is now looking for a place to live). At the governor's house party, he manages to gain everyone's favor and, among other things, make acquaintance with the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. In the following days, he dines with the police chief (where he meets the landowner Nozdryov), visits the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the tax farmer and the prosecutor, and goes to Manilov’s estate (which, however, is preceded by a fair author’s digression, where, justifying himself with a love of thoroughness, the author attests in detail to Petrushka, the newcomer’s servant: his passion for “the process of reading itself” and the ability to carry with him a special smell, “resembling a somewhat residential peace”).

Having traveled, as promised, not fifteen, but all thirty miles, Chichikov finds himself in Manilovka, in the arms of a kind owner. Manilov’s house, standing on the south, surrounded by several scattered English flower beds and a gazebo with the inscription “Temple of Solitary Reflection,” could characterize the owner, who was “neither this nor that,” not burdened by any passions, just overly cloying. After Manilov’s confession that Chichikov’s visit is “a May day, the name day of the heart,” and dinner in the company of the hostess and two sons, Themistoclus and Alcides, Chichikov discovers the reason for his visit: he would like to acquire peasants who have died, but have not yet been declared as such in the audit certificate, registering everything in a legal manner, as if for the living (“the law - I am dumb before the law”). The first fear and bewilderment are replaced by the perfect disposition of the kind owner, and, having completed the deal, Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich, and Manilov indulges in dreams about Chichikov’s life in the neighborhood across the river, about the construction of a bridge, about a house with such a gazebo that Moscow can be seen from there, and about their friendship, if the sovereign had known about it, he would have granted them generals. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, much favored by Manilov's servants, in conversations with his horses misses the necessary turn and, with the sound of a downpour, knocks the master over into the mud. In the darkness, they find accommodation for the night with Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a somewhat timid landowner, with whom in the morning Chichikov also begins to sell dead souls. Having explained that he himself would now pay the tax for them, cursing the old woman’s stupidity, promising to buy both hemp and lard, but another time, Chichikov buys souls from her for fifteen rubles, receives a detailed list of them (in which Pyotr Savelyev is especially amazed by Disrespect -Trough) and, having eaten unleavened egg pie, pancakes, pies and other things, departs, leaving the hostess in great concern as to whether she has sold too cheap.

Having reached the main road to the tavern, Chichikov stops to have a snack, which the author provides with a lengthy discussion about the properties of the appetite of middle-class gentlemen. Here Nozdryov meets him, returning from the fair in the chaise of his son-in-law Mizhuev, for he had lost everything on his horses and even his watch chain. Describing the delights of the fair, the drinking qualities of the dragoon officers, a certain Kuvshinnikov, a big fan of “taking advantage of strawberries” and, finally, presenting a puppy, “a real little face,” Nozdryov takes Chichikov (thinking of making money here too) to his home, taking his reluctant son-in-law as well. Having described Nozdryov, “in some respects a historical man” (for everywhere he went, there was history), his possessions, the unpretentiousness of the dinner with an abundance of, however, drinks of dubious quality, the author sends his dazed son-in-law to his wife (Nozdryov admonishes him with abuse and words “fetyuk”), and Chichikov is forced to turn to his subject; but he fails to either beg or buy a soul: Nozdryov offers to exchange them, take them in addition to the stallion, or make a bet in a card game, finally scolds, quarrels, and they part for the night. In the morning, the persuasion resumes, and, having agreed to play checkers, Chichikov notices that Nozdryov is shamelessly cheating. Chichikov, whom the owner and the servants are already attempting to beat, manages to escape due to the appearance of the police captain, who announces that Nozdryov is on trial. On the road, Chichikov’s carriage collides with a certain carriage, and while onlookers come running to separate the tangled horses, Chichikov admires the sixteen-year-old young lady, indulges in speculation about her and dreams of family life. A visit to Sobakevich in his strong estate, like himself, is accompanied by a thorough dinner, a discussion of city officials, who, according to the owner, are all swindlers (one prosecutor is a decent person, “and even that one, to tell the truth, is a pig”), and is married to the guest of interest deal. Not at all frightened by the strangeness of the object, Sobakevich bargains, characterizes the advantageous qualities of each serf, provides Chichikov with a detailed list and forces him to give a deposit.

Chichikov’s path to the neighboring landowner Plyushkin, mentioned by Sobakevich, is interrupted by a conversation with the man who gave Plyushkin an apt, but not very printed nickname, and the author’s lyrical reflection on his former love for unfamiliar places and the indifference that has now appeared. Chichikov at first takes Plyushkin, this “hole in humanity,” for a housekeeper or a beggar whose place is on the porch. His most important feature is his amazing stinginess, and he even carries the old sole of his boot into a pile piled up in the master's chambers. Having shown the profitability of his proposal (namely, that he will take on the taxes for the dead and runaway peasants), Chichikov is completely successful in his enterprise and, having refused tea with crackers, equipped with a letter to the chairman of the chamber, departs in the most cheerful mood.

While Chichikov sleeps in the hotel, the author sadly reflects on the baseness of the objects he depicts. Meanwhile, a satisfied Chichikov, having woken up, composes deeds of sale, studies the lists of acquired peasants, reflects on their expected fates and finally goes to the civil chamber in order to quickly conclude the deal. Met at the hotel gate, Manilov accompanies him. Then follows a description of the official place, Chichikov’s first ordeals and a bribe to a certain jug snout, until he enters the chairman’s apartment, where, by the way, he finds Sobakevich. The chairman agrees to be Plyushkin’s attorney, and at the same time speeds up other transactions. The acquisition of Chichikov is discussed, with land or for withdrawal he bought peasants and in what places. Having found out that the conclusion and to the Kherson province, having discussed the properties of the sold men (here the chairman remembered that the coachman Mikheev seemed to have died, but Sobakevich assured that he was still alive and “became healthier than before”), they finished with champagne and went to the police chief, “father and to a benefactor in the city" (whose habits are immediately outlined), where they drink to the health of the new Kherson landowner, become completely excited, force Chichikov to stay and attempt to marry him.

Chichikov's purchases create a sensation in the city, rumors spread that he is a millionaire. The ladies are crazy about him. Several times approaching to describe the ladies, the author becomes timid and retreats. On the eve of the ball, Chichikov even receives a love letter from the governor, although unsigned. Having, as usual, spent a lot of time on the toilet and being satisfied with the result, Chichikov goes to the ball, where he passes from one embrace to another. The ladies, among whom he is trying to find the sender of the letter, even quarrel, challenging his attention. But when the governor’s wife approaches him, he forgets everything, for she is accompanied by her daughter (“Institute, just released”), a sixteen-year-old blonde whose carriage he encountered on the road. He loses the favor of the ladies because he starts a conversation with a fascinating blonde, scandalously neglecting the others. To top off the troubles, Nozdryov appears and loudly asks how many dead people Chichikov has traded. And although Nozdryov is obviously drunk and the embarrassed society is gradually distracted, Chichikov does not enjoy either whist or the subsequent dinner, and he leaves upset.

About this time, a carriage enters the city with the landowner Korobochka, whose growing anxiety forced her to come in order to find out what the price of dead souls is. The next morning, this news becomes the property of a certain pleasant lady, and she hurries to tell it to another, pleasant in all respects, the story acquires amazing details (Chichikov, armed to the teeth, bursts into Korobochka in the dead of midnight, demands the souls that have died, instills terrible fear - “ the whole village came running, the children were crying, everyone was screaming"). Her friend concludes that the dead souls are just a cover, and Chichikov wants to take away the governor’s daughter. Having discussed the details of this enterprise, Nozdryov’s undoubted participation in it and the qualities of the governor’s daughter, both ladies let the prosecutor know everything and set off to riot the city.

In a short time, the city is seething, adding news about the appointment of a new governor-general, as well as information about the papers received: about a counterfeit banknote maker who showed up in the province, and about a robber who fled from legal prosecution. Trying to understand who Chichikov was, they remember that he was certified very vaguely and even spoke about those who attempted to kill him. The postmaster's statement that Chichikov, in his opinion, is Captain Kopeikin, who took up arms against the injustices of the world and became a robber, is rejected, since from the postmaster's entertaining story it follows that the captain is missing an arm and a leg, but Chichikov is intact. The assumption arises whether Chichikov is Napoleon in disguise, and many begin to find a certain resemblance, especially in profile. Questions of Korobochka, Manilov and Sobakevich do not produce results, and Nozdryov only increases the confusion by declaring that Chichikov is definitely a spy, a maker of false banknotes and had an undoubted intention to take away the governor’s daughter, in which Nozdryov undertook to help him (each of the versions was accompanied by detailed details right down to the name the priest who took up the wedding). All this talk has an enormous effect on the prosecutor; he suffers a blow and dies.

Chichikov himself, sitting in a hotel with a slight cold, is surprised that none of the officials visit him. Having finally gone on a visit, he discovers that the governor does not receive him, and in other places they fearfully shun him. Nozdryov, having visited him at the hotel, amid the general noise he made, partly clarifies the situation, announcing that he agrees to facilitate the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. The next day, Chichikov hurriedly leaves, but is stopped by the funeral procession and forced to contemplate the whole light of officialdom flowing behind the coffin of the prosecutor. The brichka leaves the city, and the open spaces on both sides bring to the author sad and joyful thoughts about Russia, the road, and then only sad ones about his chosen hero. Concluding that to the virtuous hero it’s time to give rest, but, on the contrary, to hide the scoundrel, the author sets out the life story of Pavel Ivanovich, his childhood, training in classes, where he had already shown a practical mind, his relationship with his comrades and the teacher, his service later in the government chamber, some commission for the construction of a government building, where for the first time he gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so profitable places, transfer to the customs service, where, showing honesty and integrity almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with smugglers, went bankrupt, but dodged a criminal trial, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, during the troubles of pledging the peasants, he formed a plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Rus', so that, by buying up dead souls and pawning them in the treasury as if they were alive, he would receive money, perhaps buy a village and provide for future offspring.

Having again complained about the properties of his hero’s nature and partly justified him, having found him the name of “owner, acquirer,” the author is distracted by the urged running of horses, by the similarity of the flying troika with rushing Russia and ends the first volume with the ringing of a bell.

Volume two

It opens with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls “the smoker of the sky.” The story of the stupidity of his pastime is followed by the story of a life inspired by hopes at the very beginning, overshadowed by the pettiness of his service and troubles later; he retires, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the man, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the man is idle, Tentetnikov gives up. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by General Betrishchev’s address, and stops visiting him, although he cannot forget his daughter Ulinka. In a word, without someone who would tell him an invigorating “go ahead!”, he completely turns sour.

Chichikov comes to him, apologizing for a breakdown in the carriage, curiosity and a desire to pay respects. Having won the favor of the owner with his amazing ability to adapt to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him for a while, goes to the general, to whom he weaves a story about a quarrelsome uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead. The poem fails at the laughing general, and we find Chichikov heading to Colonel Koshkarev. Contrary to expectations, he ends up with Pyotr Petrovich Rooster, whom he finds at first completely naked, keen on hunting sturgeon. At Rooster's, not having anything to get hold of, for the estate is mortgaged, he only overeats terribly, meets the bored landowner Platonov and, having encouraged him to travel together across Rus', goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to Platonov's sister. He talks about the methods of management with which he increased the income from the estate tenfold, and Chichikov is terribly inspired.

Very quickly he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who has divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments and has organized a perfect paper production in the mortgaged estate, as it turns out. Having returned, he listens to the curses of the bilious Kostanzhoglo against the factories and manufactories that corrupt the peasant, the peasant’s absurd desire to educate, and his neighbor Khlobuev, who has neglected a sizable estate and is now selling it for next to nothing. Having experienced tenderness and even a craving for honest work, having listened to the story of the tax farmer Murazov, who made forty million in an impeccable way, Chichikov the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, observes the unrest and dissipation of his household in the neighborhood of a governess for children, dressed in fashion wife and other traces of absurd luxury. Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, intending to buy it, and goes to Platonov’s estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who efficiently manages the estate. Then he suddenly appears at their neighbor Lenitsyn, clearly a rogue, wins his sympathy with his ability to skillfully tickle a child and receives dead souls.

After many seizures in the manuscript, Chichikov is found already in the city at a fair, where he buys fabric that is so dear to him, the lingonberry color with a sparkle. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he spoiled, either depriving him, or almost depriving him of his inheritance through some kind of forgery. Khlobuev, who let him go, is taken away by Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and orders him to collect funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are discovered both about the forgery and about dead souls. The tailor brings a new tailcoat. Suddenly a gendarme appears, dragging the smartly dressed Chichikov to the Governor-General, “angry as anger itself.” Here all his atrocities become clear, and he, kissing the general’s boot, is thrown into prison. In a dark closet, Murazov finds Chichikov, tearing his hair and tails of his coat, mourning the loss of a box of papers, with simple virtuous words awakens in him a desire to live honestly and sets off to soften the Governor-General. At that time, officials who want to spoil their wise superiors and get a bribe from Chichikov, deliver a box to him, kidnap an important witness and write many denunciations in order to completely confuse the matter. Unrest breaks out in the province itself, greatly worrying the Governor-General. However, Murazov knows how to feel the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, which the Governor-General, having released Chichikov, is about to use when “the manuscript breaks off.”

Retold

Dear friends! There are many versions of the summary of the unforgettable N. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls". There are very short versions and more detailed ones. We have prepared for you the “golden mean” - the optimal version in terms of volume summary works "Dead Souls". The text of the brief retelling is divided into volumes and by chapter.

Dead Souls - summary by chapter

Volume one of the poem "Dead Souls" (summary)

Chapter first

In his work “Dead Souls” N.V. Gogol describes the events that took place after the expulsion of the French from the state. It all begins with the arrival of collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov to the provincial town of NN. The adviser is checked into the best hotel. Chichikov is a middle-aged man, of average build, pleasant in appearance, slightly round in shape, but this does not spoil him at all. Pavel Ivanovich is very inquisitive, even in some situations he can be too pushy and annoying. He asks the tavern servant about the owner of the tavern, about the owner’s income, about all the city officials, about noble landowners. He is also interested in the state of the region where he arrived.

Having arrived in the city, the collegiate adviser does not sit at home, he visits everyone, from the governor to the inspector of the medical board. Everyone treats Chichikov condescendingly, because he finds a certain approach to each of the people, says certain words that are pleasant for them. They also treat him well, and this even surprises Pavel Ivanovich. For all my professional activity, for all the truth that he simply had to tell people, he experienced many negative actions towards him, even survived an attempt on his life. Now Chichikov was looking for a place where he could live peacefully.

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov attends a house party held by the governor. There he earns everyone's favor and successfully meets the landowners Sobakevich and Manilov. The police chief invites him to dinner. At this dinner, Chichikov meets the landowner Nozdryov. Then he visited the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the tax farmer and the prosecutor. Afterwards he goes to Manilov’s estate. This approach in the work of N.V. Gogol's "Dead Souls" is preceded by a large author's digression. The author attests in great detail to Petrushka, who is the visitor’s servant. Parsley loves to read with passion, he has a special ability to carry with him a special smell, which in essence carries a certain residential peace.

Chapter two

Chichikov goes to Manilovka. However, his journey takes longer than he thought. Chichikov is met on the threshold by the owner of the estate and hugged tightly. The Manilov house stands in the center, and around it there are many flower beds and gazebos. There are signs on the gazebos stating that this is a place for solitude and reflection. All this decoration to some extent characterizes the owner, who is not burdened with any problems, but is too cloying. Manilov admits that Chichikov’s arrival is like a sunny day for him, like the happiest holiday. The gentlemen dine in the company of the mistress of the estate and two sons, Themistoclus and Alcides. Afterwards, Chichikov decides to tell about his true reason for the visit. He wants to buy from the landowner all those peasants who have already died, but no one has yet declared their death in the audit certificate. He wants to register such peasants according to the law, as if they were still alive. The owner of the estate was very surprised by this proposal, but then agreed to the deal. Chichikov goes to Sobakevich, and Manilov, meanwhile, dreams that Chichikov will live next door to him across the river. That he will build a bridge across the river and they will best friends, and the sovereign, having learned about this, would have promoted them to generals.

Chapter Three

On the way to Sobakevich, Chichikov's coachman Selifan, having started a conversation with his horses, misses the required turn. A heavy downpour begins and the coachman drops his master into the mud. They have to look for a place to sleep in the dark. They find him at Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka's. The lady turns out to be a landowner who is afraid of everyone and everything. Chichikov is not wasting his time. He begins trading dead souls with Nastasya Petrovna. Chichikov carefully explains to her that he himself will now pay the tax for them. Cursing the old woman's stupidity, he promises to buy all the hemp and lard from her, but another time. Chichikov buys souls from her and receives a detailed list where they are all listed. In the list, his attention is attracted by Pyotr Savelyev Disregard-Trough. Chichikov, having eaten pies, pancakes, pies, etc., leaves further. The hostess is very worried because more money should have been taken for the souls.

Chapter Four

Chichikov, driving out onto the main road to the tavern, decides to stop for a snack. The author of the work, in order to add something mysterious to this action, begins to think about all those properties of appetite that are inherent in people like our hero. During such a snack, Chichikov meets Nozdryov. He was on his way from the fair. Nozdryov complains that he lost everything at the fair. He also talks about all the delights of the fair, talks about dragoon officers, and also mentions a certain Kuvshinnikov. Nozdryov takes his son-in-law and Chichikov home. Pavel Ivanovich thinks that with the help of Nozdryov he can make some good money. Nozdryov turned out to be a man for those who love history. Wherever he was, no matter what he did, nothing was complete without history. On the table during lunch there were many dishes and a large number of drinks of dubious quality. After lunch, the son-in-law leaves to visit his wife, and Chichikova decides to get down to business. However, it is impossible to either buy or beg souls from Chichikov. The owner of the house offers his conditions: exchange it, take it in addition to something, or make a bet in the game. Insurmountable disagreements arise between the men on this matter, and they go to bed. The next morning their conversation resumes again. They meet at a game of checkers. During the game, Nozdryov tries to cheat, and Chichikov notices this. It turns out that Nozdryov is on trial. Chichikov runs away in view of the arrival of the police captain.

Chapter Five

On the way, Chichikov's carriage crashes into another carriage. All witnesses to what happened are trying to untangle the reins and return the horses to their places. Chichikov, meanwhile, admires the sixteen-year-old young lady and begins to dream about life together with her, about their future family. Sobakevich's estate is a strong structure, in fact, completely matching the owner. The owner treats the guests to lunch. Over the meal they talk about city officials. Sobakevich condemns them because he is sure that all of them, without exception, are scammers. Chichikov tells the owner about his plans. They make a deal. Sobakevich is not at all afraid of such a deal. He haggles for a long time, pointing out the best qualities of each of his former serfs, provides Chichikov with a detailed list and lures him out of a deposit. The bargaining continues for a long time. Chichikov assures Sobakevich that the qualities of the peasants are no longer important because they are lifeless and cannot bring physical benefit to the new owner. Sobakevich begins to hint to his potential buyer that transactions of this kind are illegal and can lead to dire consequences. He even threatens to tell whoever needs to know about this, and Chichikov will face punishment. Finally, they agree on the price, draw up a document, fearing a setup from each other. Sobakevich offers Chichikov to buy a girl-housekeeper for a minimal price, but the guest refuses. However, then, reading the document, Pavel Ivanovich sees that Sobakevich still included a woman - Elizaveta Vorobey. Chichikov leaves Sobakevich's estate. On the way, he asks a peasant in the village which road he needs to take to get to Plyushkin’s estate. People called Plyushkin the patched one behind his back.

The fifth chapter of the work “Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol ends with the author making a lyrical digression about the Russian language. The author emphasizes the power of the Russian language, its richness and diversity. He also talks about such a feature of Russian people as giving nicknames to everyone. Nicknames arise not at the request of their owners, but in connection with some actions, various actions, or a combination of circumstances. Nicknames accompany a person almost until death; they cannot be gotten rid of or bought off. On the territory of Rus' there is not only a huge number of churches and monasteries, but also a countless number of generations, tribes, peoples rushing around the Earth... Not the word of a Briton, not the word of a Frenchman, or even the word of a German can compare with an aptly spoken Russian word. Because only Russian word It can burst out so quickly right from under the heart.

Chapter Six

On the way to the landowner Plyushkin, about whom Sobakevich told, Chichikov meets a man. He starts a conversation with this guy. He gives Plyushkin a clear, but not very printed nickname. The author begins the story about his former love for unfamiliar places, which now do not evoke any feelings in him. Chichikov, seeing Plyushkin, first mistakes him for the housekeeper, and then generally for a beggar. The most surprising thing is that Plyushkin turned out to be a very greedy person. He even carries his old fallen off boot sole into a pile piled up in the master's chambers. Chichikov offers him a deal and points out all its advantages. He assures that now he will take on the taxes for the dead and runaway peasants. After a successful deal, Chichikov refuses tea with crackers. With a letter to the chairman of the chamber, he leaves in good spirits.

Chapter Seven

Chichikov spends the night at the hotel. Having woken up, a satisfied Chichikov studies the lists of acquired peasants and reflects on their supposed fates. Then he goes to the civil chamber to resolve all his cases as quickly as possible. At the hotel gate he meets Manilov. He accompanies him all the way to the ward. Sobakevich is already sitting in the chairman’s apartment at the reception. The chairman, out of the kindness of his soul, agrees to be Plyushkin’s attorney, and thereby, to a large extent, speeds up all other transactions. A discussion began about Chichikov's latest acquisitions. It was important to the chairman whether he bought so many peasants with land or for withdrawal, and to what places he would take them. Chichikov intended to bring the peasants to the Kherson province. At the meeting, all the properties that the sold men possess were also revealed. After all this the champagne was opened. Later, everyone went to the police chief, where they drank to the health of the new Kherson landowner. Everyone's pretty excited. They are even trying to force Chichikov to leave there, on the condition that they will soon find him a worthy wife.

Chapter Eight

Everyone in the city is talking about Chichikov’s purchases, many are even gossiping about him being a millionaire. Girls go crazy for him. Before the governor's ball, Chichikov even receives a mysterious love letter, which even the fan did not deign to sign. Having dressed up for the event, in full readiness, he goes to the ball. There he moves from one embrace to another, twirling first with one and then with the other in a dance. Chichikov tried to find the sender of that nameless letter. There were even a lot of arguments between the girls for his attention. However, his search ends when the governor's wife approaches him. He forgets absolutely everything, because next to him is a sixteen-year-old blonde, it was her crew that he encountered on the way here. With this behavior, he instantly loses the favor of all the ladies. Chichikov is completely immersed in a conversation with a chic and charming blonde, neglecting the attention of other ladies. Suddenly Nozdryov comes to the ball, his appearance promises Pavel Ivanovich huge troubles. Nozdryov asks Chichikov for the whole room and at the top of his voice whether he has sold a lot of dead people. Despite the fact that Nozdryov was pretty drunk, and the entire vacationing society had no time for such statements, Chichikov begins to feel uneasy. And he leaves in complete sadness and confusion.

Chapter Nine

At the same time, due to increasing anxiety, the landowner Korobochkova arrives in the city. She is in a hurry to find out at what price dead souls can be purchased at the present time. The news about the buying and selling of dead souls becomes the property of one pleasant lady, then another. This story acquires even more interesting details. They say that Chichikov, armed to the teeth, breaks into Korobochka in the dead of night, demanding the souls that have died. It instantly instills horror and fear in people. People are even starting to get the idea that dead souls are just a cover. But in fact, Chichikov just wants to take away the governor’s daughter. Having fully discussed the details of this event, Nozdryov’s participation in it and the merits of the governor’s daughter, both ladies tell the prosecutor about everything and are going to start a riot in the city.

Chapter ten briefly

In a fairly short time the city came to life. News continues to appear one after another. News appears about the appointment of a new governor general. New papers appear in the case of counterfeit banknotes and, of course, about an insidious robber who escaped from legal prosecution. Due to the fact that Chichikov spoke little about himself, people have to piece together his image piece by piece. They remember what Chichikov said about the people who attempted to kill his life. In his statement, the postmaster, for example, writes that Chichikov, in his opinion, is a kind of captain Kopeikin. This captain seemed to take up arms against the injustice of the whole world and became a robber. However, this version was rejected by everyone, since it follows from the story that the captain was missing one arm and one leg, but Chichikov was safe and sound. Various assumptions arise. There is even a version that he is Napoleon in disguise. Many begin to see some similarities in them, especially in profile. Questioning the participants in the actions, such as Korobochkin, Manilov and Sobakevich, does not yield results. Nozdryov only increases the already existing confusion of citizens. He declares Chichikov a spy, making false notes and intending to take the governor's daughter away. Such a huge number of versions negatively affects the prosecutor, he has a stroke and dies.

Chapter Eleven

Chichikov, meanwhile, is sitting in his hotel with a slight cold and is sincerely surprised that none of the officials have ever visited him. Soon he himself goes to the governor and realizes that they don’t want him there and won’t accept him. In other places, all people fearfully avoid him. Nozdryov, when visiting Chichikov at the hotel, tells him about everything that happened. He assures Pavel Ivanovich that he agrees to help in the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter.

The very next day Chichikov hastily leaves. However, a funeral procession meets on his way, and he is simply forced to look at all the officials, and at the prosecutor Brichka lying in a coffin. Deciding that it’s time for the hero, who has already done a lot of things, to rest, the author decides to tell the whole story of Pavel Ivanovich’s life. The story is about his childhood, studying at school, where he was able to show all his intelligence and ingenuity. The author also talks about the relationship of the main character with his comrades and teacher, about his service, work in the commission of a government building, subsequent departure to other, not so profitable places, transition to the customs service. All around he made a lot of money, concluding fake contracts, conspiracies, working with smuggling, and so on. During his life, he was even able to avoid a criminal trial, but was forced to resign. He became an attorney. During the troubles about the peasants' pledge, he formed his insidious plan in his head. And only then he began to travel around the spaces of Rus'. He wanted to buy dead souls, put them in the treasury as if they were alive, get money, buy a village and provide for future offspring.

The author partly justifies his hero, calling him a master who acquired a lot, who was able to build such an entertaining chain of actions with his mind. This is how the first volume of N.V.’s work ends. Gogol "Dead Souls".

Volume two of the poem Dead Souls (summary by chapter)

The second volume of the work by N.V. Gogol " Dead Souls "begins with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, nicknamed the smoker of the sky. The author talks about all the uselessness of his pastime. Then comes the story of life, which is full of hope at its very beginning, then overshadowed by the pettiness of the service and subsequent troubles. The hero retires, intending to improve his estate. He dreams of reading a lot of books. But reality does not give the expected results, the man remains idle. Tentetnikov gives up. He cuts off all his acquaintances with his neighbors. He was greatly offended by the treatment of General Betrishchevai. Because of this, she stops visiting him, despite the fact that she cannot forget his daughter Ulinka.

It is to Tentetnikov that Chichikov is heading. He justifies his arrival by the breakdown of the crew, and, of course, he is overcome by the desire to pay his respects. The owner liked Pavel Ivanovich because he had an amazing ability to adapt to anything. Afterwards, Chichikov goes to the general, to whom he tells the story about his absurd uncle and, of course, does not forget to beg dead souls from the owner. The general laughs at Chichikov. Then Chichikov goes to Colonel Koshkarev. However, everything does not go according to his plan, and he ends up with Pyotr Petrovich Rooster. Pavel Ivanovich finds the rooster completely naked, hunting for sturgeon. Pyotr Petrovich's estate was mortgaged, which means purchasing dead souls was simply impossible. Pavel Ivanovich meets the landowner Platonov, persuades him to travel together around Rus' and goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, who is married to Platonov’s sister. He, in turn, tells the guests about farming methods with which they can increase their income several times over. Chichikov is terribly inspired by this idea.

Chichikov visits Colonel Koshkarev, who also mortgaged his estate, while dividing his village into committees, expeditions and departments. Having returned, he listens to the curse of the bilious Kostanzhoglo, addressed to factories and manufactories. Chichikov is touched, his thirst for honest work awakens. After listening to the story about the tax farmer Murazov, who made millions in an impeccable way, he goes to Khlobuev. There he observes the disorder of his household in the vicinity of a governess for the children, a fashionable wife and other signs of luxury. Borrows money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov. Gives a deposit for the estate. He goes to Platonov’s estate, where he meets his brother Vasily and his luxurious farmstead. Then Lenitsyn receives dead souls from their neighbor.

Chichikov is in town at a fair, where he buys lingonberry-colored fabric with a sparkle. He meets with Khlobuev, whom he has annoyed, almost depriving him of his inheritance, through some kind of incitement. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are discovered both about the forgery and about the purchase and sale of dead souls. Then a gendarme appears, taking the smartly dressed Chichikov to the Governor General. All of Chichikov’s atrocities are revealed, he falls at the general’s feet, but this does not save him. Murazov finds Chichikov in a dark closet, tearing his hair and tailcoat. He persuades Pavel Ivanovich to live honestly and goes to soften the Governor-General. Many officials, who want to spoil their superiors and receive a reward from Chichikov, deliver the box to him, kidnap the witness and write denunciations, further confusing the already difficult case. Terrible unrest begins to occur in the province. This worries the Governor General very much. Murazov, being a rather cunning man, gives advice to the general in such a way that he lets Chichikov go. This concludes the second volume of N.V.’s work. Gogol's "Dead Souls" ends.