The summary of the poem “Dead Souls” by N. V. Gogol
Chapter 1
In the provincial town of NN comes a certain gentleman who stayed at the hotel and “with extremely subtlety” began to question the servants about the local officials and landlords. Curious lord is a college adviser Paul Ivanovich Chichikov. The next day he visited many city officials, starting with the governor. In conversations with them, Chichikov was extremely polite and always modest when he had to say something about himself. Soon the gentleman happened to be at a governor’s party, where he met several landowners, including Manilov and Sobakevich. The next day Chichikov attended a party at the police chief, where he began to get acquainted with the landowner Nozdrev. All officials spoke of the guest as a “good person.”
Chapter 2
Chichikov goes on an invitation to visit the landowner Manilov. Most of their conversation goes to compliments and compliments, as it is in the character of Manilov. During the lunch, Chichikov
Chapter 3
From Manilov Chichikov hurries to Sobakevich. A heavy rain started on the road, and coachman Selifan, who had been treated by vodka to the manilov’s mess, managed to turn the britle around, so that Chichikov fell into the mud. Fortunately, there was a dog barking nearby, which indicated the proximity of the village. The coachman went to the barking, and soon the brichka stopped at the house of the landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, to which Chichikov was asked to spend the night. From the conversation with her, Pavel Ivanovich realized that he had come far away. In the morning he talked with Korobochka and she also offered a deal with the peasants. The landlord turned out to be a “club tree” and traded for
Chapter 4
From the Box, Chichikov goes to the nearest tavern to give the horses a break, and to refresh themselves. Here he consults the landlady about how to get to the estate of Sobakevich. At this time in the tavern shows Nozdryov with a friend. They argue about the past card game, in which Nozdryov “went to blows”. Nozdryov brags to his Chichikov puppy, and at the same time dissuades Pavel Ivanovich to go to Sobakevich, offering to have fun at his guest. At the end Chichikov agrees to go to Nozdryov with the idea of profit something. The landowner shows the guest a kennel and his possessions, then wines. Chichikov begins to negotiate with Nozdrev about the purchase of dead souls, but he certainly wants to know what they are for the guest. All the explanations of Chichikov are considered a lieutenant by the landowner, since he sees in the guest a great rascal. Then Nozdryov begins to impose, in addition to the dead serfs, a horse, then a thoroughbred dog. Chichikov does not agree, and his friends quarrel, although the guest remains to spend the night with the landowner. In the morning, Nozdrev persuaded Chichikov to play checkers in checkers. As usual, the landlord began to cheat, and when the guest noticed the guest refused the game, he decided to beat him. Fortunately, the captain-police officer appeared in the doorway to take Nozdryov to court on some business. Without waiting for the conversation between the landowner and the police chief to end, Chichikov slipped out of the door and sat down in his brichka. and when the guest who noticed this refused to play, he decided to beat him. Fortunately, the captain-police officer appeared in the doorway to take Nozdryov to court on some business. Without waiting for the conversation between the landowner and the police chief to end, Chichikov slipped out of the door and sat down in his brichka. and when the guest who noticed this refused to play, he decided to beat him. Fortunately, the captain-police officer appeared in the doorway to take Nozdryov to court on some business. Without waiting for the conversation between the landowner and the police chief to end, Chichikov slipped out of the door and sat down in his brichka.
Chapter 5
In a bad mood from a meeting with Nozdryov, Chichikov gets on a britzka to the village of Mikhail Semenovich Sobakevich, in which everything was “in some kind of strong and awkward order.” After a brief conversation, during which Sobakevich cursed all city officials, Chichikov learns about the stingy landlord Plushkin, whom he also intends to visit. Then the conversation is about buying dead souls. Sobakevich turns out to be clever in trade matters, he strives to sell souls at a high price, without going into why they needed the guest. After exhausting bargaining, Chichikov bought a large number of souls and pleased himself with Sobakevich.
Chapter 6
From Sobakevich Chichikov goes to Plyushkin and soon finds himself at his dilapidated, moldy and ivy house. The guest is met by the owner himself, whom Chichikov at first takes for the housekeeper because of an incomprehensible dress-an old, patched robe. Plyushkin zealously complains about life, and Chichikov allegedly out of pity and compassion expresses his readiness to buy dead souls. Without special bargaining, Plyushkin sells all the dead serfs to him. Happy Chichikov returns to the city, to his hotel, where, having supped, he goes to bed.
Chapter 7
Chichikov in the morning is accepted to read the registers of serfs. Before him opens a world completely different from the one familiar to him. The collegiate adviser meditates
On the life of these peasants, showing a rare knowledge of people from the lower classes. Then, after pausing to read the papers, he hurried to the civil chamber to conclude a deed. Before reaching the chamber, he met Manilov, who decided to go along with his friend. In the ward, friends were faced with a not very pleasant conversation with the official Ivan Antonovich “pitcher’s jaw”. However, Chichikov in time “realized what the order”, and slipped the official bribe, which he very cleverly took, as if not noticing. Then Chichikov meets in the ward Sobakevich and draws up a deed for his peasants. The officials, having checked everything with excessive suspicion, issued the necessary papers. After these cases, the landlords, together with Chichikov, went to the police chief to mark the deal.
Chapter 8
Soon the whole city began to talk about Chichikov’s purchases. Everyone decided that he was a millionaire, why “they fell in love more sincerely.” The author again gives an overall picture of city officials, affecting this time the intellectual pursuits of “the powerful of this world.” Soon, Chichikov receives an anonymous invitation from some lady to the ball at the governor and, intrigued, decides to go there. Here the guest is occupied by the ladies’ conversations, so Chichikov at first forgets to show his respect to the hostess. But the governor herself finds Chichikov and introduces him to her daughter, whose appearance somewhat knocked the guest out of balance, made her timid and distracted. This order annoyed all the other ladies. Suddenly, a drunken Nozdryov appeared at the ball, who began to pester Chichikov with questions, incidentally telling everyone that NN’s guest was trying to buy from him, landowner, dead souls. Fortunately, Nozdrev was soon removed from the hall, and Chichikov hoped that these words would attribute the usual falsity of the absurd landowner. Completely upset, Chichikov curses balls for himself.
Chapter 9
The author acquaints the reader with “a lady who is pleasant in all respects,” whose name at first prefers not to give in order to avoid rumors. This lady is discussing with another, “just a pleasant lady” complaint Boxes, which was all afraid that Chichikov paid her less than it was supposed to. In the end, the ladies agree that the mysterious guest came to take away the governor’s daughter, and the story with the purchase of dead souls was invented for diverting his eyes. Of course, after a while the whole city only said that it was about dead souls and the governor’s daughter. As the city was waiting for the appointment of a new governor-general, the officials were frightened: what would happen when rumors of the purchase of the dead serfs reached that point? In Chichikov, they are ready to see both the robber and the inspector.
Chapter 10
Finally baffled officials realized that they can not guess who Chichikov really is. So they decided to discuss this issue together, with the help of a police officer. During the discussion, the postmaster makes an amazing “discovery.” He begins to assert that Chichikov is none other than Captain Kopeikin. Further, the author, as if from the words of the postmaster, sets out the story of Captain Kopeikin, the hero of the war of 1812. Returning from the war invalid, Kopeikin settled in St. Petersburg, but soon realized that the local life he can not afford. Then he went to the official, whom he was advised to agree on, in order to receive the state allowance. However, the deal with the resolution on the allowance was delayed until the hungry officer made a scandal in the reception of the official, for which he was arrested. According to rumors, The captain then headed the bandit gang. After hearing the postmaster, officials, however, doubted that Chichikov – this is Kopeikin. Meanwhile, rumors about Chichikov’s personality have multiplied. About these gossip unsuspecting Chichikov learned from Nozdrev, who praised the one for resourcefulness and penetration. Chichikov realized that it was time to leave the city.
Chapter 11
Quickly leave the city at Chichikov does not work, because the britzka, as it turned out, needs repair. Finally, the britzka is ready, and the collegiate councilor starts the journey. Next follows the lyrical digression of the author, who, behind the description of the road, talks about the greatness and destinies of Rus. Then the author undertakes to tell the biography of his hero. Despite the noble origin of Chichikov, life first looked him in the face of “sour-nenyutno.” Everything changed after the father gave “valuable instruction” to please the authorities and save a penny. Having received the price of obsequiousness for his first position, Pavel Ivanovich overcame the first, most difficult threshold, and then began to advance more successfully. His career, however, was repeatedly broken by envious persons, then fighters with bribery. Chichikov always made plans how to get rich again and find a decent place. His last plan was to buy dead souls, and this plan, apparently, was a success. The author completes the first volume with a lyrical description of Rus in the form of an “unobligated triplet”.
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