The life path of Chichikov (based on Gogol's poem "Dead Souls"). Chichikov's life path Chichikov's main life principles

Fulfilling his task of “showing at least one side of all of Russia,” Gogol creates the image of an entrepreneur-adventurer, almost unknown in Russian literature before him. Gogol was one of the first to notice that the modern age is the age of mercantile relations, when material wealth becomes the measure of all values in human life. In Russia at that time, a type of a new person appeared - an acquirer, the goal of whose life aspirations was money. The rich tradition of a picaresque novel, centered on a hero of low birth, a swindler and a deceiver, seeking to profit from his adventures, gave the writer the opportunity to create an artistic image that reflects Russian reality in the first third of the 19th century.

In contrast to the virtuous character of classic novels, as well as the hero of romantic and secular stories, Chichikov did not possess either nobility of character or nobility of origin. Defining the type of hero with whom the author had to go hand in hand for a long time, he calls him a "scoundrel." The word "scoundrel" has several meanings. It also denotes a person of low origin, a native of the mob, and one who is ready for anything to achieve the goal. Thus, the central figure of Gogol's poem is not a tall hero, but an anti-hero. The result of the upbringing that the tall hero received was honor. Chichikov, on the other hand, follows the path of "anti-education", the result of which is "antiquity". Instead of a high code of morality, he learns the art of living amid adversity and misfortune.

Chichikov's life experience, acquired by him back in his father's house, taught him to believe his happiness in material prosperity - this undoubted reality, and not in honor - an empty appearance. Parting words to his son upon entering the school, the father gives him precious instructions, which Pavlusha will follow all his life. First of all, the father advises the son to "please teachers and bosses."

Then the father, seeing no use in friendship, advises him not to associate with his comrades, or, for that matter, to associate with those who are richer, so that they can be useful on occasion. Not to treat or treat anyone, but to behave in such a way that he was treated - another wish of the father to his son. And, finally, the most valuable advice is to "save and save a penny most of all: this thing is the most reliable thing in the world." “A comrade or friend will cheat you and, in trouble, will be the first to betray you, but a penny will not betray you, no matter what trouble you are in. You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny.

Already the first steps of the independent life of the Gogol hero revealed in him a practical mind and the ability for selflessness for the sake of accumulating money. Not having spent a single penny of the half a ruble of copper received from his father on delicacies, he made an increment to it in the same year. His ingenuity and enterprise in the ways of extracting money are striking. He molded a bullfinch out of wax, painted it and sold it very profitably. I bought edibles at the market and sat next to those who were richer, seducing them with gingerbread or a roll. When they felt hungry, he took money from them, according to their appetite. Finding amazing patience, he spent two months with the mouse, teaching it to get up and go to bed on orders, so that later it could be sold at a profit. The proceeds from these speculations, he sewed into a bag and began to save another.

Inventiveness in relation to ways of extracting money will become his hallmark in the future. If he himself had not participated in the enterprise with the journey of Spanish rams across the border, no one would have been able to carry out such a thing. The idea of buying up dead souls that came into his head was so unusual that he did not doubt its success, if only because no one would have believed in the possibility of such an enterprise.

“In relation to the authorities, he behaved even smarter,” says the author. His obedience in the school was unparalleled.

Immediately after the lesson, he served the teacher treuh, and on the way home he caught his eye three times, constantly taking off his hat. All this helped him to be in school

And an excellent score, upon completion of it, receive an excellent certificate and "a book with golden letters for exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior."

But then a misfortune happened with the teacher, who distinguished Pavlusha from others and set him as an example to the rest of the students. Former students, clever and witty, whom this teacher did not like, suspecting of rebelliousness and arrogant behavior, raised the funds necessary to help him. Only Chichikov refused to help his teacher, regretting the money he had accumulated. “He cheated, he cheated a lot ...,” the teacher will say, having learned about the act of his beloved student. These words will accompany Pavel Ivanovich all his life.

The next one whom Pavel Ivanovich deftly circles around his finger in order to get a higher position is the stern clerk under whom he served. Having achieved nothing by pleasing his impregnable boss, Chichikov deftly uses his ugly daughter, pretending to be in love with her. However, having received a new position, he forgets about the wedding and immediately moves to another apartment. Unscrupulousness and even cynicism are found in these actions of the hero, who is ready to use any means for the sake of career success.

The service for Chichikov was a bread town, at the expense of which he could feed himself with the help of bribes and embezzlement. When the persecution of bribes began, he was not afraid and turned them to his advantage, discovering "directly Russian ingenuity." By arranging everything in such a way that clerks and secretaries took bribes and shared them with him as with a head clerk, Chichikov retained his reputation as an honest and incorruptible person.

And the scam with Brabant lace, conceived by Chichikov, when he served at the customs, gave him the opportunity to accumulate in one year such capital that he would not have earned in twenty years of zealous service. Exposed by his comrade, he sincerely wondered why it was he who had suffered. After all, no one yawns in the position, everyone acquires. In his view, the position exists in order to profit.

However, he was not a miser or a miser who loved money for the sake of money and denied himself everything for the sake of hoarding alone. Ahead of him he imagined life in all pleasures, with all prosperity, carriages, a well-arranged house, delicious dinners. He even thought about marriage and took care of his future offspring. For the sake of this, he was ready to endure all sorts of restrictions and hardships, to conquer everything, to overcome everything.

Thoughts about a possible marriage, like everything else, in the mind of Pavel Ivanovich were accompanied by material calculations. Having met by chance on the way to Sobakevich a girl he didn’t know, who later turned out to be the governor’s daughter, who struck him with her youth and freshness, he thought that she could be a tasty morsel if they gave her “a thousand two hundred dowry.”

The irresistible strength of Chichikov's character is amazing, his ability not to get lost under the crushing blows of fate, his willingness to start all over again, arm himself with patience, limit himself again in everything, and again lead a difficult life. He expressed his philosophical attitude to the vicissitudes of fate with the words of proverbs: “Hooked - dragged, broke - do not ask. Crying grief does not help, you need to do the job. Readiness for any adventures for the sake of money makes Chichikov truly a “hero of a penny”, a “knight of profit”.

This capital should become the basis of prosperity for himself and his offspring. Chichikov, who sells nothing and buys nothing, is not worried about the lack of logic in his desire to build his well-being from scratch.

The image of the new man created by Gogol, who appeared in Russian reality, is not a virtuous person capable of selfless deeds for the sake of lofty ideals, but a cunning rogue performing his tricks in a deceiving and deceived world. It is like a mirror that reflects the unfavorable state of the social and spiritual life of the nation. This trouble, imprinted in the character of the central character, ultimately made his existence possible.

N. V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" was written in the late 40s of the XIX century. In this work, Gogol depicts the society of Russia of that time, all the shortcomings of autocratic-feudal Russia. The main character of the poem is the nobleman Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. He came out of the pillar or personal nobles - this is not known to us. He received a modest education, but due to his "excellent" abilities, he was promoted, although he did not sit in one place for a long time.

The parents of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov belonged to a bankrupt

Nobility and lived far from the city in their abandoned estate. Chichikov spent all his childhood at home - "he did not go anywhere and did not go anywhere." His life was very dull and imperceptible. His father, a sick man, always told him: "Do not lie, obey your elders and carry virtue in your heart."

And so nine years passed. One spring morning, on an old horse, his father takes Pavlusha to the city to study in classes. From here begins the independent life of our hero.

Before leaving, Pavel Ivanovich's father gave him guidance for life. They became the “prayer” of his life: “Look, Pavlusha, study, don’t be a fool and don’t hang out, but most of all please teachers and bosses. Don’t hang out with your comrades, they won’t teach you good things, and if it’s already gone to that, then hang out with those who are richer, so that on occasion they can be useful to you. Take care and save a penny, it will not give out, no matter what trouble you are in. You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny. Chichikov never forgot these instructions of his father in his life, he followed them everywhere and always, they became the goal and stimulus of his worthless life, for only self-interest, money and selfishness entered the heart of this man from childhood.

From the next day, Pavlusha began to go to school. He did not have special abilities for any of the sciences, but he turned out to have completely different abilities, from the practical side. From the very first day, he began to fulfill his father’s instructions: he was friends only with the rich, he was the first favorite, “he sat so quietly in the lessons that no one could sit like that even for a minute - teachers loved him very much for this. With a call, he jumped up, gave the teacher a briefcase, and then met him five times in the corridor, greeted him and bowed low.

From the very first days, Chichikov was also interested in the material issue. He starts saving money. Either he makes a figurine out of wax and sells it profitably either at the market or among his comrades, then he buys gingerbread and waits for his comrades to tighten their stomachs, and then “tear off four skins” for him. He put the money in a bag. When they accumulated up to five rubles, Chichikov sewed it together and began to save it in another.

When our hero left the school, he immediately set to work. He worked day and night, slept on tables in the office rooms, dined with the watchmen, but at the same time he always kept neatness.

Chichikov was noticed by the authorities, and he was sent to one old assistant under the leadership. All the time, Pavel Ivanovich pleased his mentor and became his “son”. He promised to marry the clerk's daughter. The old official gave a recommendation to Chichikov, and he also received the rank of officer. This was exactly what Pavel Ivanovich needed. He stopped going to his "patron" and did not think about marrying his daughter. Chichikov became a famous official. In the service, he took bribes, and the treasury did not go unnoticed by our hero - he got there too. Now he walked very fashionably and richly dressed. But suddenly, in place of the former head-mattress, a new military man was sent, Strict, an enemy of bribe-takers and everything that is called untruth. He quickly sorted things out, and Chichikov was expelled from the service.

After some time, Chichikov enters the customs service. There he also “robs” people and the state, but at the same time he works very well. The authorities say about him: "He is a devil, not a man."

When checking cases at customs, many shortcomings were found. Many officials were arrested. Seeing this, Chichikov leaves the service himself. “He has ten thousand money left, a small chaise, two serfs,” - all that Pavel Ivanovich managed to “put together” with such efforts for himself.

Time has passed. Chichikov again lives in "beggarly conditions, walks in one frock coat and wears dirty shirts." Once he was lucky, and he gets a job as an attorney, where he again conducts his scams and hides.

Pavel Ivanovich is on the road again. So she brings him to the scene of the novel. Here Chichikov decided to play another business: he wants to buy dead serfs from the landowners, dead souls, who are listed on the revision

fairy tale alive.

After getting to know the city, its official fathers, attending all kinds of dinners and balls, Chichikov sets off on a journey through the landlords in order to carry out his plan to buy dead souls.

The first of the landowners, Chichikov, visits Manilov, a sugary, sentimental man who always dreams of various fables. Then he visits the dull-headed landowner Korobochka, Nozdrev - a reckless and reveler, Sobakevich - a strong owner, Plyushkin - a miser and a morally dead person. In all these houses, Chichikov behaves differently, acquiring dead souls by any means. Manilov simply gives them to our hero "out of love and respect for him." The box sells souls only because it is afraid of the evil spirits that our businessman scared it with. Sobakevich also sells dead peasants, but not out of fear, but because of his own benefit. And Plyushkin sells the peasants "afraid for every penny." Only Pavel Ivanovich does not acquire anything from Nozdryov, but instead almost falls into the hands of a drunken landowner, then, for the same reason, he hastily leaves the city of N.

That's all we know about the life of our hero. After reading Gogol's poem, we can say about its main character as a low and vile person, dodgy and unscrupulous. Yes, it's not ideal to follow. But ... Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a typical representative of a new type of bourgeois businessman in serf Russia in the first half of the 19th century.

Only Chichikov himself cannot be blamed for his behavior (although it largely depends on the person himself). Time itself, the course of history, plays a significant role here.

N.V. Gogol showed in "Dead Souls" the face of Russia of that time when the nobility as a class is degrading, when new people come to the first place in life - businessmen-purchasers, people whose thoughts are low, in whose heart there is nothing human left, except for profit, personal gain.

In his poem, the writer exposes feudal Russia (Chichikov, landowners, officials), whose life is measured only by money, where the dead are bought, where the living are sold. And all this is ruled by "dead souls" - people without souls and hearts. “Where are you rushing, Russia-troika, what are you striving for if you are dead and only the dead live with you?” - Gogol asks his readers. Gogol wrote his poem, trying to revive Russia and protect it from Chichikov and his ilk.

Plan:

Character traits.
Acquisition and entrepreneurship.
adaptability to life.
Resourcefulness and deceit.
Caution and prudence.
Ability to deal with and communicate with people.
Perseverance in achieving the goal.
Gogol's skill in portraying Chichikov.
1. Chichikov in the poem is like a living person (his portrait and manners).
2. Contrast is the main image technique.
3. General author's characteristic.
The reasons for the character of Chichikov.
1. Conditions for the formation and growth of capitalist relations.
2. Upbringing and education in these conditions.
3. Chichikov is a type of business owner.

The main theme of Gogol's "Dead Souls" is the theme of the paths of Russia's historical development. Gogol, with the keen eye of an artist, noticed that in Russian society in the middle of the 19th century money was beginning to play a decisive role: businessmen were trying to establish themselves in society, to become independent, relying on capital, and on the verge of two eras - capitalism and feudalism - such businessmen were a common phenomenon.

Chichikov is the central character of the poem “Dead Souls”, the whole action of the poem takes place around him, all its characters are connected with him. Gogol himself wrote: “For whatever you say, if this thought (of buying dead souls) had not occurred to Chichikov, this poem would not have come into being *.

In contrast to the images of landlords and officials, the image of Chichikov is given in development: we know about the origin and upbringing of the hero, the beginning of his activities and the subsequent events of his life. Chichikov is a person who differs in many of his features from the local nobility. By origin, he is a nobleman, but the estate is not the source of his existence. “The origin of our hero is dark and modest,” writes Gogol and gives a picture of his childhood and teaching. For the rest of his life, Chichikov remembered his father's advice. Most of all, save and save a penny. “You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny,” his father told him. Chichikov set acquisition as the goal of his life. Already at school, he showed extreme resourcefulness in terms of acquiring a penny: he traded gingerbread and rolls, trained a mouse and sold it profitably. And soon he sews 5 rubles into a bag and begins to save another. Thus began his entrepreneurial life.

Chichikov showed considerable ability in terms of dealing with superiors. At the school, he tried to be a model of obedience and politeness, deftly knew how to gain confidence and evoked commendable reviews with respectfulness and humble behavior.

After graduating from his studies, he enters the state ward, where he pleases the boss in every possible way and even takes care of his daughter. And soon he himself receives the position of an assistant and begins to take bribes.

Chichikov has an exciting effect on the pictures of a wealthy life that he has to face. He is seized by the desire to become the owner of capital, which will bring with it "life in all contentment." Chichikov patiently and persistently overcomes official barriers. “Everything turned out to be in him that is necessary for this world: both pleasantness in turns and actions, and glibness in business affairs. With such means, he obtained in a short time what is called a grain place, and took advantage of it in an excellent way. Resourcefulness and swindle become its characteristic features. Having become a member of the “commission for the construction of some kind of state-owned, but very capital structure”, he acquires a good cook and an excellent pair of horses, wears thin, Dutch linen shirts, gets out from under the healthy laws of abstinence: the unexpected exposure of the scam with the construction of a state-owned building dispelled the blissful Chichikov's condition, everything turned out to be irretrievably lost, this upset Chichikov, but did not shake him. He decided to restart his career and finds an even more profitable customs service. He takes on very profitable operations: with a herd of Spanish sheep, he performs an operation with Barbant lace and in a short time makes a fortune. Money flows into his hands. “God knows, to what enormous figure the blessed sums would not grow, if some difficult beast did not run across everything.” The newly exposed and exiled Chichikov becomes an attorney, and here the thought of searching for dead souls comes to him. And most importantly, it’s good, he says, - that “the subject will seem incredible to everyone, no one will believe it.”

The writer reveals the image of Chichikov gradually, as stories about his adventures. In each chapter we learn something new about him. He comes to the provincial city to carry out reconnaissance and ensure the success of the planned enterprise. In the city of N, he is extremely cautious and strictly prudent. He asked the tavern servant about the city officials, about the landowners closest to the city, about the state of the region, about epidemic diseases. Not a single day is wasted by the active Pavel Ivanovich. He establishes friendly relations with the dignitaries of the city, makes acquaintance with the landowners and, thanks to his exceptional courtesy, forms a flattering opinion of himself. Even the rude Sobakevich said: "A pleasant man."

The ability to deal with people and skillful conversation are Chichikov's tried and tested means in all fraudulent operations. He knows who to talk to. He talks to Manilov in a sugary-polite tone, saying that "a pleasant conversation is better than a great meal." Without difficulty, he obtains dead souls from him for free, and even leaves the costs of registration of the deed to the owner. He does not stand on ceremony at all in a conversation with the club-headed Korobochka, intimidates with shouts and gives only 15 rubles for all the dead, lying that he will come for flour, cereals and other food.

He carries on a casual, cheeky conversation with the broken little Nozdryov and deftly extricates himself from all offers of exchange. Chichikov cautiously talks to the kulak landowner Sobakevich, calls the dead peasants non-existent and forces Sobakevich to greatly reduce the price he asked.

Respectfully polite Chichikov with Plyushkin, he says that he decided to help him and show his personal respect. He deftly pretended to be a compassionate person and received from him 78 souls for only 32 kopecks each.

Meetings with the landowners show Chichikov's exceptional perseverance in achieving his goal, the ease of reincarnation, unusual resourcefulness and energy, hiding the prudence of a predatory nature behind external softness and grace.

And now Chichikov is again among the city officials. He charms everyone with "the pleasantness of secular treatment", "some kind of compliment, very decent, to the governor's wife." All the ladies of the city are crazy about him. However, Nozdrev destroys all his plans. “Well, come on,” he thought to himself, “there is nothing more to delay, you need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

So, “our hero is all there. What is he like!” - concludes Gogol. Chichikov appears before the readers alive. We see both the appearance and the inner world of Chichikov. At first glance, there is something indefinite in him, this is “the gentleman is not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, not too thin; one cannot say that he is old, but it is not so that he is too young.” We see a sedate, courteous, well-dressed, always neat and clean, shaved and smoothed man, but in what a blatant contradiction is his appearance with his inner world! Gogol masterfully, in one phrase, gives him a complete description: “It is most fair to call him the owner-acquirer,” and then the author speaks of him simply and sharply: “Scoundrel.”

Such a character, like that of Chichikov, could arise only in the conditions of the formation of capitalist relations, when entrepreneurs, for the sake of profit and enrichment, put everything at stake. Chichikov is a type of bourgeois businessman-purchaser who does not disdain any means for his enrichment.

Even Vissarion Grigoryevich Belinsky noted the broad typicality of Chichikov. “The same Chichikovs,” he wrote, “only in a different dress: in France and England they do not buy dead souls, but bribe living souls in free parliamentary elections!”

Terrible, disgusting is this knight of the “money bag”, who builds his well-being on the misfortunes of a large number of people: mass epidemics, natural disasters, wars - everything that sows death and death, all this plays into the hands of Chichikov.

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov ... The famous hero of the poem by N.V. Gogol, famous for centuries for serving the “penny”, was her slave, ready for any “enterprises” and meanness for the sake of profit. What are the main life principles of Chichikov? And who had a hand in their formation? Of course, father. As in The Captain's Daughter, Grinev Sr. urged his son to "cherish honor from a young age," so in "Dead Souls" the father also instructed Pavlusha, only he did not say anything about honor, or duty, or dignity. He did not speak because he had his own views on life.

The first important point of my father's instruction was "do not be a fool and do not hang out," but "please teachers and bosses." So did Pavlusha. And at school, the boy shone not with knowledge, but with diligence. But if diligence and tidiness did not help, he used another life principle of the priest: “Don’t hang around with your comrades, they won’t teach you good; and if it comes to that, then get along with those who are richer, so that on occasion they can be useful to you.

And Chichikov’s most important rule was his father’s instruction to save and save a penny: “A comrade or friend will cheat on you and in trouble will be the first to betray you, but a penny will not give out, no matter what trouble you are in. You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny.

Even at the school, one of the main goals in his life was the accumulation of capital for further existence: “Even as a child, he already knew how to deny himself everything. He didn’t spend a penny of the fifty given by his father, on the contrary, in the same year he already made increments to it ... ”But growing up, gaining wisdom, he begins to save not only for his happy life, but for the joyful life of future children. So the acquisition of "dead souls", no matter how strange it may sound, is largely for the happiness of descendants.

After graduating from college, Pavel Ivanovich "took the civil path." Going towards his goal - enrichment - Chichikov changed several places of service: the state chamber, the commission for the construction of a state building, customs. And everywhere the hero considered it possible to break any moral law: he was the only one who did not give money to a sick teacher, deceived a girl, pretending to be in love, for the sake of a “bread town”, plundered government property, took bribes. And how our "philosopher" figuratively defined his career failures: "suffered in the service"!