The image of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is perhaps the most successful of the Gogol cartoons. The life story of only this character, who plays the main role in the poem "Dead Souls", is disclosed by the author in great detail. To engage in such an artistic and comprehensive study of the writer made the novelty of the character for which he took.
Many features of the landowners of that time combines Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. The characterization of the hero would not have been complete without a description in the eleventh chapter of the conditions in which his formation took place.
Pavel Ivanovich inherited a little copper from the impoverished nobleman and instructed to study well and cater to everyone, and save and save money. The absence in the will of high words about duty, honor and dignity, he took literally. And life itself soon confirmed that these concepts did not lead to anything good (in his understanding). In the school of knowledge, behavior, respectfulness, Pavlushi was only approved and praised by the teachers, who set the boy as an example to other students. Having entered the treasury chamber after studying, he continues to please his boss, to show signs of attention to his daughter. The same behavior is characteristic of him in any setting. Chichikov quickly comprehended: to please a person, you need to talk with him about his interests, about topics close to him. Such behavior helps him to remain his own person in any society. Gradually Pavel Ivanovich drowns out the still living soul, tries not to hear the quiet voice of conscience, builds his happiness on someone else's misfortune. And all this for their own benefit. The tools that Chichikov skillfully and actively uses are fraud and deception, theft from the treasury, insult, and bribery. Constant accumulation, acquisition become the meaning of life for the protagonist. And at the same time, money for Chichikov is not needed for their own sake. They serve as a means of achieving a good, prosperous life for his family. The image of Chichikov differs sharply from other characters with determination and strength of character. He achieves his goal by any means, while showing unusual resourcefulness, resourcefulness, perseverance.
Chichikov in the poem "Dead Souls" is not like everyone and his activity, activity, enterprise. Manilov’s wandering in the clouds and Korobochka’s naivety are not characteristic of him. He can not be compared with the miser Plyushkin, but also the careless waste of Nozdryov is also not for him. The enterprise of this hero is far from the businesslikeness of Sobakevich. All these qualities testify to the clear superiority of Pavel Ivanovich over other characters in the poem.
The image of Chichikov is incredibly multifaceted. It is very difficult for people like him to immediately unravel, to understand what they really are. Chichikov managed to please most of the city's residents as soon as he appeared in it. He managed to present himself as a secular, developed and decent person. During a conversation, he finds an individual key to everyone in whom he is interested. His ostentatious benevolence is only a means to profitably use the high location of the right people. It costs nothing for Chichikov to reincarnate, change his behavior and at the same time not forget about his own goals. His ability to adapt to everyone is simply amazing. When Pavel Ivanovich bargains with Manilov, he shows delicacy, sensitivity and courtesy. But with the Box, on the contrary, it behaves assertively, rudely, impatiently. He understands that Plyushkina is very easy to persuade, one must speak with Sobakevich in a businesslike manner. The energy of the protagonist is tireless, but it is aimed at low actions.
The image of Chichikov - this is the example of a trader and businessman, a person of a new type, whom Gogol defined as a vile, vile, "dead soul".