“Dead Souls” by Gogol in a brief summary

Volume One

The proposed history, as will become clear from the following, occurred somewhat soon after the “glorious expulsion of the French.” In the provincial town of NN comes the college counselor Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov and settles in the hotel. He makes a lot of questions to the tavern servant – both regarding the owner and income of the inn, and exposing the thoroughness in him: about city officials, the most significant landowners, questions about the state of the region and there were no “diseases in their province, general fever” and other similar misfortunes.

After departing from visits, the visitor discovers unusual activity and courtesy, for he knows how to say what is pleasant to everyone. About himself, he speaks somehow vaguely. At the home party at the governor, he manages to gain a general favor and, among other things, reduce his acquaintance with the landlords Manilov and Sobakevich. In the days that follow, he lunches

at the police chief, visits the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the farmer and the prosecutor-and goes to the manilov estate.

Having traveled, against the promised one, not fifteen, but all thirty miles, Chichikov finds himself in Manilovka, in the arms of a gentle master. The house of Manilov, standing on the Jurassic, surrounded by several scattered English beds and arbors with the inscription “Temple of Solitary Reflection”, could characterize the master, who was “neither one thing nor another”, not aggravated by any passions, only excessively pritoren. After Manilov’s confession that Chichikov’s visit is “May Day, the name-day of the heart,” and lunch in the company of the hostess and two sons, Themistoklus and Alcides, Chichikov discovers the reason for his arrival: he would like to acquire peasants who died but not yet declared to be in the revision having issued everything legally, as if on the living. The first fright and bewilderment are replaced by the perfect arrangement of the amiable host, and, having accomplished the transaction, Chichikov

goes to Sobakevich, and Manilov dreams of Chichikov’s life in the neighborhood across the river, about erecting a bridge, about a house with such belvedere that Moscow can be seen from there, and about their friendship, having learned about which the tsar would grant their generals. The coachman Chichikova Selifan, a lot of people courted by the manners of the people of Manilov, in conversations with his horses misses the right turn and, with the noise of the beginning rain, overturns the master in the mud. In the dark they find their lodging at Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a somewhat fearful landowner, in whose morning Chichikov also accepts to trade dead souls. Having explained that he himself now will pay for them, cursing the old woman’s stupidity, promising to buy both hemp and lard, but another time, Chichikov buys her souls for fifteen rubles, gets a detailed list of them and, having eaten a fresh pie with an egg, blink,

Having left on a high road to the tavern, Chichikov stops to have a snack, which the author provides with a lengthy discussion about the properties of the middle-class gentleman’s appetite. Here he is met by Nozdryov, who returns from the fair in his brother-in-law to his brother-in-law, for his horses and even the chain with the clock have all lost. Painting the charms of the fair, the drinking qualities of dragoon officers, a certain Kuvshinnikov, a great lover, “get used to a strawberry” and, finally, presenting a puppy, a “real mordash”, Nozdrev takes Chichikov to him, taking away his abused son-in-law. Describing Nozdryov, “in some respects historical man,” his possession, the unpretentiousness of dinner with an abundance, however, of doubtful quality drinks, the author sends the son-in-law to his wife, and Chichikov forces to turn to his subject; but he can not beg or buy a shower: Nozdryov offers to barter them, take them to the stallion or make a bet in a card game, finally quarrels, quarrels, and they part ways for the night. In the morning, renewed persuasion, and agreeing to play checkers, Chichikov notices that Nozdrev shamelessly deceives. Chichikov, whom the master and the courtyard is already trying to beat, manages to escape because of the appearance of the captain-police officer who declares that Nozdryov is under trial. On the road, Chichikov’s carriage collides with a certain crew, and as the onlookers come around they plant the tangled horses, Chichikov admires the sixteen-year-old lady, gives reason to her account and dreams of family life. Visiting Sobakevich in his strong as he himself, the estate is accompanied by a solid dinner, a discussion of city officials, which, according to the master, all the scammers, and is crowned by a transaction of interest to the guest. Not at all frightened by the oddity of the subject, Sobakevich trades, characterizes the profitable qualities of each serf, supplies Chichikov with a detailed list and forces him to give a puzzle.

Chichikov’s path to neighboring landowner Plyushkin, mentioned by Sobakevich, is interrupted by a conversation with a peasant who gave Plyushkin a well-defined but not too printed nickname, and the author’s lyrical meditation on his former love for unfamiliar places and now indifference. Plyushkina, this “hole on humanity”, Chichikov initially takes for a housekeeper or a beggar, a place in the porch. The most important feature of it is the amazing stinginess, and even the old sole of the boot carries it into a heap, piled up in the master’s chambers. Showing the profitability of his proposal, Chichikov fully manages in his enterprise and, giving up tea with biscuit, equipped with a letter to the chairman of the chamber, leaves in the most gay mood.

While Chichikov is sleeping in the hotel, the author reflects with sadness about the meanness of the objects he paints. Meanwhile, happy Chichikov, waking up, composes merchant fortresses, examines the lists of peasants acquired, reflects on their alleged destinies, and finally leaves for the civil chamber, in order to conclude the case sooner. Met at the gate of the hotel Manilov accompanies him. Then follows the description of the presence site, Chichikov’s first trials and bribes to a pitcher’s jug, until he enters the chairman’s apartment, where he finds Sobakevich as well. The chairman agrees to be Plyushkin’s attorney, and at the same time accelerates other transactions. Discusses the acquisition of Chichikov, with land or on the conclusion he bought the peasants and in what places. Finding out that the conclusion and the province of Kherson, discussing the properties of the sold muzhiks, complete with champagne,

Chichikov’s purchases make a furore in the city, a rumor spreads that he is a millionaire. Ladies are crazy about him. Several times trying to describe the ladies, the author becomes timid and retreats. On the eve of the ball, Governor Chichikov receives even a love letter, although unsigned. Having used as usual a lot of time for the toilet and remained satisfied with the result, Chichikov goes to the ball, where he passes from one embrace to another. Ladies, among whom he tries to find the sender of the letter, even quarrel, challenging his attention. But when the Governor comes to him, he forgets everything, for she is accompanied by her daughter, a sixteen-year-old blonde with whose crew he collided on the road. He loses the disposition of the ladies, for he starts a conversation with a fascinating blonde, scandalously disregarding the rest. To top it off is Nozdrev and loudly asks, how many Chichikov haggled the dead. And although Nozdryov is obviously drunk and the embarrassed society is gradually distracted, Chichikov is not given either a whist or a subsequent supper, and he leaves upset.

About this time in the city enters the tarantas with the landowner Korobochka, the growing anxiety of which forced her to come, yet still find out at what price dead souls. The next morning this news becomes the property of some pleasant lady, and she hurries to tell her another, pleasant in every respect, the story is covered with amazing details. Her friend concludes from the fact that the dead souls are only a cover, and Chichikov wants to take away the governor’s daughter. After discussing the details of this enterprise, the undoubted participation of Nozdrev in it and the quality of the governor’s daughter, both ladies are dedicated to all prosecutors and sent to rebel the city.

In a short time, the city is boiling, and news is added about the appointment of a new governor-general, as well as information about the received papers: about the fake bank accountant who was declared in the province, and about the runaway from lawful persecution of the robber. Trying to understand who Chichikov is, they remember that he was certified very vaguely and even talked about those who attempted his life. The postmaster’s statement that Chichikov, in his opinion, Captain Kopeikin, who took up arms against the injustice of the world and became a robber, is rejected, since from the pretentious postmaster story it follows that the captain lacks arms and legs, and Chichikov is whole. There is an assumption that Chichikov is not disguised as Napoleon, and many begin to find a certain similarity, especially in profile. The questioning of Box, Manilov and Sobakevich do not give results, and Nozdrev only multiplies confusion by announcing that Chichikov was exactly a spy, a doer of false banknotes, and had an undeniable intention to take the governor’s daughter away, in which Nozdryov came to help him. All these perks are extremely effective against the prosecutor, with him a stroke occurs, and he dies.

Chichikov himself, sitting in a hotel with an easy cold, is surprised that none of the officials visit him. At last, having gone on visits, he discovers that the governor does not receive him, but in other places he is frightenedly shunned. Nozdryov, having visited him in the hotel, partly explains the situation among the general noise made by him, declaring that he agrees to help the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. The next day, Chichikov hurries away, but is stopped by a funeral procession and forced to contemplate the whole world of officialdom, which proceeds beyond the coffin of the prosecutor Bricca leaves the city, and the open spaces on both sides bring to the author sad and gratifying thoughts about Russia, the road, and then only sad about his chosen hero. Having concluded that it is time to give a virtuous hero and rest, but, on the contrary, to harness a scoundrel, the author sets out the life story of Pavel Ivanovich, his childhood, training in classes where he has already demonstrated his practical mind, his relations with his friends and a teacher, his service later in the state chamber, some commission for building a public building, where he first let some his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so cereal places, the transition to the service at the customs, where, while showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, burned out, but dodged the criminal court, ene was to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. training in classes where he has already demonstrated his practical mind, his relations with his friends and a teacher, his service later in the state chamber, some commission for building a public building, where he first gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent withdrawal to others, not such grain places, the transition to the service at the customs, where, while showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, burned out, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. training in classes where he has already demonstrated his practical mind, his relations with his friends and a teacher, his service later in the state chamber, some commission for building a public building, where he first gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent withdrawal to others, not such grain places, the transition to the service at the customs, where, while showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, burned out, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. his service later in the state chamber, some commission for building a public building, where for the first time he gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so cereal places, the transition to a service at the customs, where, by showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, burned out, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. his service later in the state chamber, some commission for building a public building, where for the first time he gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so cereal places, the transition to a service at the customs, where, by showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, burned out, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. not so cereal places, the transition to the service at the customs, where, while showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, went bust, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring. not so cereal places, the transition to the service at the customs, where, while showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with the smugglers, went bust, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, at the time of trouble about the pledge of the peasants, he folded the plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Russia in order to buy dead souls and put them into the treasury as living people, to get money, to buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring.

Having once again complained about the nature of his character and partly justified it, seeking him the name of “master, acquirer”, the author is distracted by the urging of horses, the similarity of the flying triple with the rushing Rus and the ringing of the bell completes the first volume.

Volume two

It opens with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls the “sky smoker”. Behind the story of the stupidity of his pastime follows the story of life, inspired by hopes at the very beginning, overshadowed by the pettiness of service and unpleasantness afterwards; he goes into retirement, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the peasant, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the man idles, Tetetnikov drops his hands. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by the appeal of General Betrishchev, stops to go to him, although he can not forget his daughter Ulinka. In short, not having someone who would tell him an invigorating “go ahead!”, He completely sour.

To him, Chichikov arrives, apologizing for his crew breakdown, curiosity and a desire to pay homage. Having gained the master’s position with an amazing ability to adapt himself to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him a little, goes to the general, who is weaving a story about a foolish uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead. On the laughing general, the poem fails, and we find Chichikov going to Colonel Koshkarev. Against the expectation, he gets to Petr Petrovich Rooster, whom he first finds completely naked, enthusiastic about hunting for sturgeon. In the Rooster, not having anything to get hold of, since the estate is laid, he only eats terribly, gets acquainted with the bored landlord Platonov and, having pushed him on a joint trip across Russia, goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to Platon’s sister.

Very quickly he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments, and arranged perfect paper production in the estate, which, as it turns out, was planted. Returning, he listens to the curses of the gallstone Kostanzhoglo factories and manufactories, corrupting the peasant, the villainous desire of the peasant to enlighten his neighbor Khlobuev, who launched a large estate and now descends him for nothing. After experiencing the emotion and even the desire for honest work, after listening to the story about the farmer Murazov, an impeccable way to make forty million, Chichikov, the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, watches the riots and disingenuousness of his farm in the neighborhood with the governess for children, wife and other traces of absurd luxuries. Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, assuming his purchase, and goes to the Platonic estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who is efficiently managing the economy. Then suddenly he is at the neighbor of their Lenitsyn, obviously a rogue, gets his sympathy skill by his skillfully tickle the child and receives dead souls.

After a number of seizures in the manuscript, Chichikov is found already in the city at the fair, where he buys a fabric so sweet for him cranberry with a spark. He encounters Khlobuyev, who, apparently, has podgadil, whether depriving, or almost depriving his inheritance through some forgery. Missed him Khlobuev leads Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and determines to him to withdraw funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations are found on Chichikov and about forgery, and about dead souls. The tailor brings a new suit. Suddenly there is a gendarme, attracting a smart Chichikov to the governor-general, “angry, like the anger himself.” Here all his atrocities are exposed, and he, kneading the general’s boot, is plunged into the prison. In the dark closet, tearing out the hair and tails of a frock coat lamenting the loss of a box of papers, Chichikov finds Murazov, with simple virtuous words, awakens in him the desire to live honestly and is sent to soften the governor-general. At that time, officials wishing to foul their wise bosses and get bribes from Chichikov, deliver him a casket, kidnap an important witness and write a lot of denunciations in order to completely confuse the matter. In the province itself, riots are opening up, greatly caring for the governor-general. However, Murazov is able to grope for the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, by which the governor-general, having released Chichikov, is going to use it as “the manuscript breaks off.” kidnap an important witness and write a lot of denunciations in order to completely confuse the case. In the province itself, riots are opening up, greatly caring for the governor-general. However, Murazov is able to grope for the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, by which the governor-general, having released Chichikov, is going to use it as “the manuscript breaks off.” kidnap an important witness and write a lot of denunciations in order to completely confuse the case. In the province itself, riots are opening up, greatly caring for the governor-general. However, Murazov is able to grope for the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, by which the governor-general, having released Chichikov, is going to use it as “the manuscript breaks off.”