The attitude of Chichikov to Nozdrev. Analysis of the episode "Chichikov at Nozdrev"

Chichikov and Nozdrev are the heroes of the poem Dead Souls by N. V. Gogol. The author published it in 1842. He originally planned a three-volume work. In 1842, the first volume saw the light. However, the second one, almost ready, was destroyed by the writer himself (several chapters from it were preserved in drafts). The third was not even started; only some information is available about it. Therefore, we will consider the relationship of Chichikov to Nozdrev only on the basis of the first volume of the work. Let's start by exploring these characters.

Who are Chichikov and Nozdrev?

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov - a former official, and now a fraudster. This retired college adviser bought up “dead souls” (that is, written evidence of deceased peasants) in order to mortgage them as living people, get a loan from a bank and gain influence in society. He watches himself, dresses smartly. Chichikov even after a dusty and long journey manages to look as if he had just visited a barber and a tailor.

Nozdrev is a 35-year-old youthful "talker, revel, scorcher." This is the third landowner in the work with which Chichikov decided to start a bargain about dead souls. Let's try to answer the question about how Chichikov related to Nozdrev. To do this, trace the entire history of their relationship.

Acquaintance of Chichikov with Nozdrev

In the first chapter of the work, they get to know each other during lunch with the prosecutor. Then the characters accidentally collide in a tavern (fourth chapter). Chichikov goes from Korobochka to Sobakevich. In turn, Nozdrev, together with Mezhuyev, his son-in-law, returns from the fair, where he lost and drank everything, including the crew. The landowner immediately lures into his estate the Gogol swindler. It is clear that Chichikov wanted from the landowner Nozdrev why he agreed to go with him — he was interested in “dead souls”.

Having delivered the guests, the landowner immediately begins to show the economy. Nozdrev begins with the stable, then talks about the wolf cub that lives with him and eats only raw meat. Then the landowner goes to the pond. Here, according to his stories, there are huge pikes that only two fishermen can pull out together. This is followed by a kennel showing where Nozdrev looks like a “father of a family” among dogs. After that, the guests set off for the field, where, of course, they catch hands with the Rusaks. It is clear that Chichikov’s attitude to the landowner Nozdrev after all this boasting is unlikely to be positive. After all, this hero is very perceptive.

Drink and its consequences

The landowner is not very concerned about lunch. Only at 5 o’clock do guests sit down at the table. He explains that food is not the main thing in his life. But Nozdrev has a lot of drinks, and he doesn’t have enough available and invents his own incredible “compositions” (champagne and burgunion together, brandy, giving sivuha, “with the taste of cream”). At the same time, the landowner spares himself. Chichikov, noticing this, quietly pours out his glasses.

Nevertheless, the owner who "spared" himself the next morning comes to him in one dressing gown and with a pipe in his mouth. He assures, as a homing hero follows, that "the squadron spent the night in his mouth." It doesn’t matter whether there is a hangover or not. The only important thing is that a decent reveler must certainly suffer from it. What was Nozdrev’s attitude towards Chichikov? It is best disclosed by a quarrel that occurred during the bidding.

Quarrel Chichikova with Nozdrev

The author is also interested in the motive of this false hangover in another way. During the bargain that happened the night before, Nozdrev quarreled heavily with Chichikov. The fact is that he refused to play cards for "dead souls", and also to buy a stallion of real "Arab blood", and to get souls "in addition." Nozdrev’s attitude to Chichikov’s proposal, therefore, requires justification. However, the landowner's evening cockiness cannot be attributed to alcohol, just as the morning peace can be explained by the forgetfulness of drunkenness. Nozdrev in his actions is guided by only one spiritual quality: borderlessness, bordering on unconsciousness.

Checkers game for the soul

The landowner does not plan, does not conceive anything, he simply does not know what measure. Chichikov, agreeing (very rashly) to play checkers for the souls (since checkers are not spotted), almost becomes a victim of the revelry of Nozdrev. The souls at stake are estimated at 100 rubles. The landowner shifts 3 checkers at once with his sleeve and thus holds one of them into the ladies. Chichikov had no choice but to mix the pieces.

A soul game emphasizes the essence of both heroes, and not just reveals how Chichikov treated the landowner Nozdrev. The latter asks for souls 100 rubles, and Chichikov wants to reduce the price to 50. The attitude of Nozdrev to Chichikov’s proposal is as follows: he asks to include a gold signet or some puppy in the same amount. This landowner, being an incorrigible player, does not play at all for the sake of winning - he is interested in the process itself. Nozdreva annoys and annoys losing. The final game is predictable and familiar - it is a conflict that turns into a fight.

Chichikov's Flight

Chichikov at the same time thinks primarily not about physical pain, but about the fact that yard people will witness this unpleasant scene. But the reputation should be maintained by all possible means. The hero resolves the conflict, threatening his image, in the usual way - flees. Subsequently, when the whole city becomes aware of the purchase of "dead souls," he does the same. Chichikov’s attitude to Nozdrev, their cheating deal is a parody of entrepreneurial activity. It complements the characteristics of both characters, demonstrating the vulgarity and baseness of the gentlemen of the "middle arm".

It seems that the reprisal against Chichikov is inevitable. The landowner screams in excitement: "Beat him!" The guest is saved only by the appearance of the police captain, a formidable man with a huge mustache.

The scene at the governor's ball and the visit of Nozdrev

Chichikov hopes that he will no longer see Nozdrev. However, these heroes have to meet twice more. One of the meetings takes place at the governor's ball (chapter eight). In this scene, the buyer of "dead souls" was almost ruined. Nozdrev, suddenly encountering him, screams in all his voice that this is a "Kherson landowner" who "sells dead souls." This raises many incredible rumors. When, having become completely confused in various versions, the officials of the city of NN call upon Nozdrev, he, not at all embarrassed by the inconsistency of all these opinions, confirms them all (chapter nine). Chichikov allegedly bought dead souls worth several thousand, he was a forger and a spy, tried to take away the daughter of the governor, and Pop Sidor was supposed to marry the young for 75 rubles. Nozdrev even confirms that Chichikov is Napoleon.

In the tenth chapter, the landowner himself reports these rumors to Chichikov, whom he visits without an invitation. Nozdryov, having again forgotten about his insult, offers him help in “abducting” the governor’s daughter, and for only 3,000 rubles.

The inner world of Nozdrev

This landowner, like other heroes of Gogol's poem, as if transfers the outlines of his own soul to the outlines of everyday life. Everything is stupidly arranged at his house. Wooden goats stand in the middle of the dining room, there are no papers and books in the office, supposedly Turkish daggers hang on the wall (Chichikov sees on one of them the name of the master - Savely Sibiryakov). Nozdrev calls the organ his favorite barrel organ.

Gogol compares the landowner's corrupted and frustrated soul with this spoiled barrel organ, which played not without pleasantness, but something went wrong in the middle, since the mazurka ended with the song "Malbrug went on a campaign," which, in turn, ended with some acquaintance a waltz. Already the landowner had stopped turning it for a long time, but there was one lively pipe in this barrel organ, which didn’t want to calm down, and whistled for a long time. Of course, in the confused, crippled souls of the heroes of Gogol, these “God’s pipes” are sometimes noteworthy, sometimes whistling on their own and confusing well-thought-out, impeccably and logically planned scams.

As Chichikov reveals himself in a relationship with Nozdryov

Chichikov’s attitude towards Nozdrev reveals the inner world of Gogol’s con man. Running away from the landowner, who is making another “story,” the hunter for “dead souls” cannot understand why he went to the estate, why he trusted him “like a child, like a fool”. However, it was no coincidence that he was seduced by this landowner: by nature, he is also an adventurer who, in order to achieve selfish goals without a twinge of conscience, can step over all moral laws. Finishing revealing the topic “Attitude of Chichikov to Nozdrev,” we note that to deceive, deceive and even shed a tear while the first is capable of no less than the second.