The image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls": artistic analysis. Images of landlords in the work of N. Gogol

In 1835, on the advice of Pushkin, Gogol decided to write a grandiose work of art about Russia. Six years later the book was published and had the title "Dead Souls". In it, in allegorical form, the entire nation was depicted with its anxieties and hopes. The hero of this book is an entrepreneur-adventurer, a man of a new formation. But still the image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" became the main one.

Unfinished romance

The book became the most significant work of Gogol. In it, he reflected all aspects of Russian life. But, according to some reports, the brilliant novel was never completed. It was written during a period of creative crisis. According to the writer's plans, the sequel should not have a satirical overtones. In it, Gogol planned to depict an ideal picture of Russian life. But the writer's intentions were not fated to come true. And the ideal image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" could not be seen by the reader.

Images in the novel

The aim of the work was to display the vices of Russian society. Gogol decided to create an unsightly image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls" using images of typical representatives of that time. Collective images of steel and dreamy idle Manilov, and skuperdyayka Box, and rowdy-nerd Nozdrev, and sullen Sobakevich. Finally, one of the most common types of Russian landowners was the pathologically greedy Plyushkin. All these characters have become elements, without which it is impossible to imagine the full image of Russia in the poem "Dead Souls".

Vestiges of the past

It is only necessary to look more closely at the heroes of the Gogol's poem, and it becomes clear that they all are once positive characters. Zakostenelost in society and simple in social life contributed to the degradation of these individuals.

Immorality and ignorance have led to the fact that Plyushkin's frugality has turned into stinginess bordering on insanity, Korobochka's economic life is impassable stupidity. In the image of Sobakevich there are features of a hero who, under the influence of incessant accumulation, have transformed into suspicion and rudeness. Manilov is a good-natured romantic, whose carelessness, however, has turned him into an empty, stupid person. Yes, and the heroic daring of Nozdrev was distorted in the atmosphere of a gray ignorant existence. In the novel he is portrayed as an unscrupulous liar, a slacker and a boor.

All these characters represent a lifeless image of Russia in Dead Souls. But they did not become negative heroes in Gogol's work. They are degraded personalities that were once positive. To return to this former quality could only their cardinal changes in the social life of Russia.

Chichikov and Russia

In "Dead Souls" there are no main characters. Although the novel is about the adventures of the enterprising Chichikov, the center of the plot is Russian society, personified by the sad images of the landlords. The new capitalist tendencies, which began to appear, were subjected to a pejorative evaluation of the writer. The adventurist spirit and energy of the buyer of dead souls showed their inconsistency against the backdrop of Russian realities. Every now and then he lost his way. The great Russian road carried it twice to the wrong places. But he did not despair and continued to go to the intended goal. However, it was not achieved, in which there is also some symbolism.

Live Russia and the dead souls who have temporarily settled in it, such is the idea of an unfinished work. The stationary and gloomy world of the landlords was opposed by the author to the active image of Chichikov in the completed part. And already at the end of it it becomes clear that the character traveling along the roads of Russia in search of dead souls is not her new hero. Chichikov and others like him will not be able to change this country. Who is capable of this? The answer was to be contained in subsequent volumes that Gogol could not create. It was in them that he intended to portray the coveted image of the homeland and the people, whom he loved, despite the terrible vices, above all else.

Laughter through tears

The satire of Gogol is accompanied by bitter arguments. A characteristic feature of this writer's talent was the ability to combine the comic with tragedy. In the transformation of society an important role can be played by exposing the vices that prevail among his representatives, especially if done masterfully. Gogol believed in this. He described with an unusually subtle irony the usual provincial town and houses, almost lost in the fields.

He did not ignore even such seemingly trivial things as signs at stations with ridiculous inscriptions, small trees, called in the local newspaper by shady broad-leaved trees. All these were components of the image of Russia. But the main thing in them was the road. To her, Gogol had a special relationship. It was on the way that he created part of the genius poem.

The road had him to creative discoveries. She inspired the writer. In the artistic sense, the road, like no other image, complements so vividly the picture of Russian life.

Criticism

"Russia in Dead Souls" is an essay that is often written in literature lessons. To perform such a creative task, you should study the critical articles devoted to the work of Nikolai Gogol.

Belinsky believed that "Dead Souls" require study. To appreciate the artistic meaning from the first time is beyond the power even of a thinking person. The poem should be re-read. In order to write a full-length work on the work of Gogol, it is worth reading Belinsky's article "Chichikov's Descent, or Dead Souls."