Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls

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Nikolai Gogol’s greatest creation, Dead Souls, was written in the second half of the 19th century. The first volume was published in 1842, while the second volume was almost completely destroyed by the author himself. Unfortunately, the third volume was never written. The plot of this work was suggested to Gogol by Alexander Pushkin himself. The poem tells the story of the journey of a middle-aged gentleman, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, across Russia, with the aim of acquiring the so-called “dead souls”—peasants who are listed as alive in documents but are actually already deceased. Gogol sought to show the entire breadth and immensity of the Russian soul and the Russian state.

The idea of acquiring “dead souls” is a key element of the plot. At that time, peasants were recorded in documents based on a census (revision), and between censuses, landowners continued to pay taxes for those who had already died. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, taking advantage of this legal loophole, conceived a scam: he planned to buy these “dead souls” at a low price, mortgage them with the Guardianship Council as if they were alive, and receive a large sum of money for it. This purchase was not a whim but a part of his carefully planned fraudulent scheme.

A brief summary of the poem Dead Souls by chapters is presented below. This version describes the main characters and highlights the most significant fragments that allow for a complete understanding of the content of this work.

Setting and Time

The novel’s plot unfolds after 1813 (“soon after the glorious victory over the French”) in the Russian hinterland, in an unnamed provincial town.

Main Characters and Other Figures

• Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov — a middle-aged gentleman, the purpose of his journey is to buy “dead souls” for a fraudulent scheme.
• Manilov — a landowner, excessively sweet and indifferent to business, living in a world of illusions.
• Korobochka — an elderly widow, a stingy and thrifty woman who haggles over every soul.
• Sobakevich — a landowner, outwardly resembles a bear, extracts maximum profit from any situation.
• Nozdryov — a landowner, leads a dissolute life, a gambler, a master of telling tall tales.
• Plyushkin — an unusual personality, an old miser whose estate is in decay.
• Selifan — Chichikov’s coachman, prone to drunkenness and philosophical reflections.
• Petrushka — Chichikov’s servant, a silent lover of reading (not for content) and dislikes washing.

Volume 1

Chapter 1

A nondescript carriage arrives in the town of NN with its passenger, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. He settles in a hotel with his servants, Selifan and Petrushka. Chichikov immediately goes to the tavern to find out who holds the leading positions and who are the wealthy landowners in the city. He quickly connects with Manilov and Sobakevich, charming everyone with his manners, politeness, and ability to sustain a conversation. Chichikov pays visits to all the city officials to ingratiate himself with them.

Chapter 2

Chichikov spends time in the city’s social life. The author introduces his servants. Chichikov then sets off for Manilov’s village. The landowner makes a pleasant impression, but his excessive sweetness and lack of individuality quickly become apparent. Manilov lives in a world of illusions with his wife and two sons (Themistoclus and Alcides), and his household is in disarray. Chichikov proposes to buy the “dead souls”—peasants who died after the last census—from Manilov. The astonished Manilov eventually agrees to give away the souls for free.

Chapter 3

On the way to Sobakevich, the coachman Selifan goes astray, and Chichikov has to ask for lodging from an elderly widow, Nastasia Petrovna Korobochka. She turns out to be thrifty and stingy. Chichikov has to persuade Korobochka for a long time to sell him the “dead souls.” Korobochka haggles and fails to understand her own profit, for which Chichikov calls her a “blockhead.” In the end, the deal is made, and Chichikov leaves, taking some pies but refusing other offered goods (flour, lard).

Chapter 4

At the tavern, Chichikov meets Nozdryov, with whom he had previously dined at the prosecutor’s. Nozdryov is cheerful, drunk, and has just lost at cards. He is intrusive, loves feasts, is verbose, and constantly tells tall tales. Nozdryov offers Chichikov to exchange the “dead souls” for a stallion or a dog, and then proposes to play checkers for all the souls. During the game, both behave dishonestly. Suddenly, a police captain arrives to arrest Nozdryov for assaulting a landowner. Chichikov takes advantage of the moment and hastily leaves the estate.

Chapter 5

On the way to Sobakevich, Chichikov’s carriage collides with another, and he is enchanted by the beautiful girl—the governor’s daughter. Arriving at Sobakevich’s estate, Chichikov sees that everything there is as massive and clumsy as the host himself. Sobakevich speaks rudely of other people. He meets the proposal to buy “dead souls” calmly and expresses his own desire to sell them, but then begins to inflate the price, praising the already deceased peasants. Chichikov is dissatisfied but concludes the deal and heads to Plyushkin’s.

Chapter 6

Chichikov enters Plyushkin’s village, where desolation reigns: houses are dilapidated, gardens are abandoned, and there is no sign of life. Plyushkin himself, whom Chichikov initially mistakes for an old housekeeper, turns out to be a miser. His house was once full of life, but after his wife’s death and his children’s flight, Plyushkin fell into such avarice that everything in his estate fell apart. He is glad to get rid of the “dead souls,” for whom he has to pay taxes. Chichikov easily acquires 78 souls.

Chapter 7

Chichikov prepares to leave the city, toiling over the paperwork. In the court, where he goes to certify the documents, he receives a hint for a bribe, but Sobakevich’s authority helps speed up the process. Chichikov claims to have bought the souls for resettlement in the Kherson province. The paperwork is concluded with a joint meal and a card game with the officials.

Chapter 8

The city is stirred up by rumors about Chichikov’s purchase of peasants. The more rumors circulate, the more attractive he becomes in the eyes of the local ladies. At a lavish reception, Chichikov receives a love letter and is enchanted by the governor’s daughter. The evening is spoiled by the appearance of Nozdryov, whose inappropriate speeches force Chichikov to retreat.

Chapter 9

Two friends, Alla Grigorievna and Sofya Ivanovna, discuss Chichikov. Soon, Korobochka arrives, who blurts out about the sale of “dead souls” and her suspicions regarding fake banknotes. The ladies conclude that Chichikov is a swindler and the abductor of the governor’s daughter. The rumors escalate, and the whole city is buzzing. Chichikov falls ill and does not leave the hotel. The story, full of conjectures and fabrications, reaches the prosecutor’s desk.

Chapter 10

Local society gathers at the police chief’s house, discussing who Chichikov really is. The postmaster tells the “Tale of Captain Kopeikin”—a participant in military campaigns who lost an arm and a leg and went to St. Petersburg to ask the sovereign for help, but was deceived and disappeared. Everyone agrees that Chichikov cannot be Kopeikin. In the midst of the discussion, Nozdryov declares that he himself had developed a plan to abduct the governor’s daughter. Nozdryov visits Chichikov and tells him about the rumors circulating in the city.

Chapter 11

A funeral procession takes place: the prosecutor has died. The narrative shifts to the biography of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. His noble father instructed him to obey the authorities and “save every penny.” At school, Chichikov was diligent and, from an early age, demonstrated an ability to multiply his capital. He succeeded in civil service, but abandoned a bride, the daughter of an elderly official, for a position. Later, despite being a proclaimed anti-corruption fighter, he was involved in construction scams and then exposed for smuggling, leaving him ruined. Working as a petty clerk, he learned that money was paid even for deceased peasants if they were listed as alive. Thus, his scheme of buying “dead souls” was born.

Volume 2

Volume 2 is unfinished.

Beginning of Volume 2

Chichikov visits the landowner Andrei Tentetnikov (33 years old), who carelessly wastes his time. Chichikov skillfully finds an approach to him and somewhat revives him with talks of a possible marriage. Then Chichikov goes to General Betrishchev and meets his daughter Ulenka, with whom Tentetnikov is in love. Chichikov tells the general the story of the eccentric uncle who collects “dead souls,” but the general takes it as a joke. Chichikov meets the landowner Pyotr Petukh, whose estate is mortgaged. He meets the landowner Platonov, who shares the secrets of multiplying wealth. Chichikov visits Colonel Koshkaryov, but the latter has divided his lands into plots and manufactories. Chichikov, accompanied by Platonov and Konstanzhoglo, goes to Kholobuev, who is ready to sell his estate for a pittance. Chichikov makes a deposit, but is soon arrested.

End of Volume 2 (Fragments)

Some time passes. Chichikov runs into the enraged Kholobuev at the fair. Denunciations are filed against Chichikov regarding his fraud and the “dead souls” scheme. Chichikov is arrested. In prison, he is visited by Murazov, who appeals to Chichikov’s conscience, urging him to pursue an honest path. Chichikov manages to leave the inhospitable city.

Resolution of the Story

• Chichikov, having avoided exposure, hastily leaves the confines of the town of NN.
• Korobochka, arriving in the city, inadvertently reveals Chichikov’s secret, blabbing about the strange transactions.
• Nozdryov brings even more chaos by offering his help in abducting the governor’s daughter.
• The City Prosecutor, learning about Chichikov’s dark deeds, is horrified and dies from shock, realizing his own naivety.

Conclusion

Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls is a broad and realistic picture of life in 19th-century Russia, reflecting greed, stinginess, the arbitrariness of landowners, bureaucracy, and irresponsibility. Gogol shows the vices of society with merciless truthfulness. Yet, the writer does not lose faith in a bright future, as evidenced by the conception of the second volume of Dead Souls, which was supposed to be the “moral purification of Chichikov.”