In the novel Dead Souls, the image of Chichikov occupies a central place. This hero knows how to manipulate people. He is artistic, smart and has the ability to see in people their weaknesses. Gogol portrayed a person with a prudently chilled character, common sense and an unusually pragmatic mentality, creating the image of Chichikov. An essay on this topic is a description and analysis of one of the most interesting characters in Russian literature.
About the novel
Gogol called his work a poem, thereby emphasizing the significance of this creation. The author's goal was to expose the vices of society. The reality of Russian life, witnessed by the writer, had so many deep, ineradicable flaws that his satirical gaze could not remain indifferent.
The title of the book has a double meaning. Dead souls are a subject of sale for the enterprising Chichikov. But this is also the unspiritual way of life of the Russian landowner, who, being in idle melancholy, has long since lost all sorts of values ​​and beliefs.
There is a version that the idea of ​​the novel-poem was suggested to Gogol by A.S. Pushkin himself, who, cherishing the dream of creating a book about Russia for a long time, zealously seized on it. And he was immensely happy throughout the time it took to write a novel, which later became one of the greatest in literature.
Idea
This work is perceived primarily as a satire on feudal Russia. There are good reasons for this approach. However, Gogol’s novel is not limited to a satirical depiction of Russian reality; the author, creating and developing the idea of ​​the necrosis of the souls of landowners and officials, calls: “Be not dead souls, be alive.”
Many faces
But what is the image of Chichikov? An essay about this character is not just a characterization of an adventurer-businessman who, striving for wealth from childhood, decided to cash in on peasants who were alive only on paper. Such a creative task involves examining this character against the background of Russian realities at the beginning of the 19th century and creating his psychological portrait. A biography is also curious, which has formed a peculiar character. And finally, in order to write an essay on the theme “The Image of Chichikov”, you must carefully re-read those chapters of the novel in which the protagonist conducts conversations with other characters. After all, there are as many of them in the novel as there are Chichikovs. The buyer of dead souls is not just two-faced, he has many faces. His artistry and knowledge of the human soul borders on fraud. But for all his greed and cynicism, there is a certain charm in him, which, however, all Gogol's heroes possess.
Biography
He grew up without proper parental attention. He had no friends, no friends. Father instructed Pavlush to "save a penny." And he succeeded already from a young age. Such education played a significant role in the formation of personality. About a man with an atypical character for the Russian mentality , you can write the essay “Dead Souls. The image of Chichikov. " However, it should be remembered that Gogol did not make him a negative hero. And, setting aside a whole chapter to describe the childhood and youth of this character, the author writes about him with gentle irony. And perhaps, thanks to the subtle Gogol's humor, this cute adventurer does not arouse the hostility of the reader. Rather, regret. After all, if a person in childhood from all the necessary educational process receives only the edification of a careful and accumulative attitude to money, then in adulthood he will hardly be concerned about issues of a spiritual and moral nature. Pavlush is restless and extremely inquisitive. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a scoundrel who does not want and does not know how to think about anything except money and profit.
Chichikov and other characters
The image of Chichikov is central, but not the main one in the novel. An essay on any topic based on the poem Dead Souls is inextricably linked with other characters. In the images of Russia, landlord life and the road as one of the two main troubles of the country lies the idea of ​​the work of Nikolai Gogol. Rather, the image of Chichikov serves as a kind of literary device. A short essay about this hero is an analysis of his meetings with Manilov, Sobakevich, Korobochka, Nozdryov, as well as episodic conversations with other characters.
Chichikov, dreaming of family life
It's amazing how skillfully he can rebuild. He knows the subtle art of flattery, thanks to which almost every interlocutor does not notice the catch. Chichikov is not trying to coarse rudely. He transforms like a professional actor. But in communication with Manilov it is easier for him to play than with other landowners. After all, Chichikov does not need money for the sake of money. He cherishes the dream of quiet family happiness. And observing the "sugared" idyll of the Manilovs, he not only does not forget about his "lofty goals", but is even more inspired. The first deal is completed. And before his eyes - a picture of family happiness, about which he had dreamed for so long.
Stingy
Chichikov knows how to flatter, but he does it exactly as much as the situation requires. He accidentally skidded to the Box. He is not talking so courteously with her. It should be said that this landowner is the exact opposite of Manilov’s idle daydreaming. And in it there is some similarity with what the image of Chichikov possesses. The work on the work “Dead Souls” is also an analysis of the author’s characteristic style. Gogol preferred to supplement the images of heroes with a description of the things that belong to them.
Here, the similarity of characters so dissimilar at first glance is suddenly revealed. Chichikov and Box. It would seem that they have in common? The dresser of the skuperdyayka-landowner and the box of the adventurer Chichikov are the things that unite them. The box weeps for crop failure and losses, keeps its head to one side, and meanwhile it gains a little money and hides it in drawers of the chest of drawers. Chichikov, in the box, also seems to have nothing but papers. However, there is a hidden compartment in this thing in which he stores money. In order to write a full-fledged essay “Dead Souls. The image of Chichikov ”, it is necessary to pay attention to the smallest details and symbols with which the narrative is filled.
Chichikov and Nozdrev
The essay on the theme “The Image of Chichikov” should be supplemented with a comparative analysis of the hero with the classic type of Russian man. Nozdryov, being an unbridled personality leading a wild life, is opposed to Chichikov. This landowner has irrepressible energy and is in constant motion. Abuses strong drinks. Moreover, it is extremely scandalous. He lives as he wants. And acts according to minute desires. He has no restrictions in this regard. And a completely different image of Chichikov in the poem. Gogol's work is entirely symbols, hints and antitheses. Nozdrev appears in the novel as if in order to further enhance the impression of Chichikov’s judicious, purposeful disposition. These characters are two extremes.
Other images
Who died in life? The landowners who meet on the way Chichikova. They have a different temperament, dissimilar characters, but they are united by mental necrosis. In communicating with each of them, the hero plays a role. With Sobakevich, he behaves in a straightforward manner. With Plyushkin portrayed as a simpleton. And this is the complexity and versatility that the image of Chichikov, the “penny knight” possesses. An essay on this topic should reveal not only the peculiarities of the specific character of the hero, but also how the author was able, with the help of this hero, to uncover the meager spiritual and moral world of the landlord estate.