One of the most important in the work of Gogol is the image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls". The summary of the work you hopefully remember. We offer you an analysis of this image, which gives the key to understanding the whole poem.
The work is an artistic study of public life, the modern writer, its root problems. The main place in compositional terms is occupied by the image of two worlds - the landowner and the bureaucratic. However, it is precisely the tragic fate of the people that is the ideological core of the work.
The writer, mercilessly scourging the public order existing in the country, was firmly convinced that a glorious future had been prepared for the Russian land. He believed in its coming flowering. Nikolai Vasilievich this conviction arose from a lively sense of the huge creative potential that lurks in the bowels of the Russian people.
The image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" is presented as the personification of that great that the people can only do, that important historical work that, as the author believed, his compatriots can do. The image of Russia rises above all the images and paintings painted in the work. He is fanned by the love of the author, who devoted his life, his work to the service of his native country.
Characterizing the image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" briefly, it is necessary to say a few words about the "masters of life." After all, Gogol did not accidentally introduce them to his work.
The exposure of the "masters of life"
Gogol passionately believed that Russia had a better future. Therefore, in his work, he denounces those people who have chained with rusty chains the development of the creative potential of the people, nation. Nikolai Vasilievich mercilessly debunks the nobles, "masters of life." The images created by him indicate that people like Chichikov, Plyushkin, Sobakevich, Manilov are not able to create spiritual values. They are consumers without creative energy. Landowners, excluded from the sphere of living life, useful activity, are carriers of inertness and stagnation. Chichikov, who launched his adventure, does not suffer from inertia. Nevertheless, the activity of this hero is not aimed at a good cause, but at achieving selfish goals. He is alienated from the interests of the state. All these heroes are opposed to the image of Russia in the work "Dead Souls".
Approval of Progress
The forms of life, which are affirmed by all of the above characters, sharply contradict the needs and demands of the country's historical development. To illustrate this idea, the author draws a magnificent image of Russia in the poem Dead Souls. This country, according to Gogol, has tremendous power. The image of Russia in the novel "Dead Souls" is an embodiment of the main idea of the poem, which is to deny social stagnation, social enslavement, and to confirm progress.
Opinion on the poem of V. G. Belinsky
The famous critic V. G. Belinsky emphasized that the contradiction of the deep substantial principle of Russian life and its social forms is the main idea of Dead Souls. The critic understood by the phrase “substantial principle” the rich giftedness of the people, their eternal desire for freedom. Nikolai Vasilievich firmly believed that great historical achievements were coming to his native country. Aspiration for the future, the rise of vital energy - all this embodies the image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls". The country rushes into immense distance, like a three-bird. Other states and nations shy away from it, squinting, and give it a way.
Pictures of native nature
The lyrical statements of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol are filled with high pathetic. He speaks of admiration about Russia. One after another, Gogol paints pictures of his native nature that sweep before a traveler, riding fast horses on an autumn road.
The author did not accidentally contrast the stagnation of landowners with the image of Russia in the poem Dead Souls. Chapter 11 is very important for understanding this image. It painted Russia, which is rapidly moving forward. This expresses the author’s faith in the future of his country, his people.
Reflections on the Russian people
Among the most insightful pages are Gogol's lyrical reflections on the energetic, lively character of a hardworking nation. They are warmed by the flame of patriotism. Nikolai Vasilievich was well aware that the creative talents and inventive mind of the Russian people would become a powerful force only when his compatriots were free.
Gogol, drawing a revelry on the pier, rises to the glorification of folk life. The living power of the Russian people is also emphasized in the desire of the peasants to get rid of oppression. The escape from the landlords, the murder of assessor Drobyakin, the ironic mockery of the people over the "orders" - protests that are mentioned in the poem, although fluently, but persistently. Singing the national character and the Russian people, Nikolai Vasilievich never stoops to vanity.
The characters representing Russia are quite diverse. This is Pelagia, a young girl, and nameless, runaway or deceased, workers of Plyushkin and Sobakevich, who do not act in the poem, but are only mentioned in passing. Before the reader passes a whole gallery of characters. All of them represent a multi-color image of Russia.
Craftsmanship, natural ingenuity, a wide range of souls, sensitivity to a well-aimed, striking word, heroic daring - in all this, as well as in many other things, Nikolai Vasilyevich manifests the true soul of the Russian people. The acuity and strength of his mind affected, according to Gogol, in the accuracy and briskness of the Russian word. Nikolay Vasilievich writes about this in the fifth chapter. The integrity and depth of the popular feeling resulted in the sincerity of the Russian song, as the author mentions in the eleventh chapter. In chapter seven, Gogol says that the generosity and breadth of the soul manifested itself in the unbridled fun with which the public holidays are held.
Evaluation of the poem by Herzen
The patriotic pathos of Dead Souls was highly praised by Herzen. He rightly noted that this work is an amazing book. Herzen wrote that this is a "bitter rebuke of modern Russia", but not hopeless.
Contradictions reflected in the poem
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol fervently believed that Russia had a great future. Nevertheless, the writer clearly understood the path by which the country goes to prosperity, glory and power. He asks: "Russia, where are you rushing?" However, there is no answer. Nikolai Vasilievich did not see ways to overcome the contradiction that had formed between the heyday of Russia, the rise of its national genius and the state of state oppression. Gogol cannot find someone who would be able to steer Russia forward, to direct him into a high life. And this reveals the contradictions inherent in the writer.
What was VG concerned about? Belinsky
Gogol in his denunciation reflected the protest of the people against the feudal system that existed at that time. His scourging satire grew precisely on this ground. It was directed against government rulers, rulers of serf souls, "knights" of profit. Nevertheless, the writer, who had high hopes for enlightenment, did not come to the conclusion that the revolutionary struggle was expedient. In addition, the work contains statements about a husband who is gifted with divine valor, as well as about the selfless and generous Russian girl. In other words, a religious motive arises in him. V.G. Belinsky, who was very interested in the image of Russia in Gogol's poem Dead Souls, was seriously concerned about these places of the work.
Dead Souls is a revolutionary work
Nikolai Vasilievich wrote the second volume of his novel, experiencing a deep spiritual crisis. In the life of Russia during this period, tendencies characteristic of bourgeois development began to appear. The writer wholeheartedly hated the so-called kingdom of dead souls. However, Gogol peered with horror at the face of the bourgeois West. Capitalism scared the writer. He could not accept the idea of socialism, opposed the revolutionary struggle. However, possessing a powerful gift, Nikolai Vasilievich created, in fact, a revolutionary work.
Gogol is a patriot
The lyric pages dedicated to Russia, the Russian people are perhaps the best in Dead Souls. Chernyshevsky, speaking of the high patriotism of Nikolai Vasilyevich, wrote that Gogol considered himself a man who should serve the fatherland, and not art. The image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" indicates that the future of the country, indeed, worried the writer. Of course, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a true patriot.