Nikolay Gogol and his book "Dead souls" /part 4/

The satirical contrast between the claims and the capabilities of the hero is manifested especially clearly in Manilov's speech. He dreams of having someone next door to talk about "such a science," which is like stirring your soul to give you, so to speak, such an upsurge. " But his own language, in which abundant words and expressions are abundant, clearly shows that he not only has no idea of any science, but is not even able to formulate a simple phrase. Void - this is the main quality of this Gogolet hero. Manilov is such a mollusk mass that he does not even leave a certain idea of his physical image in the minds of others.

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Everything in its physical appearance is colorless, impersonal, extremely "sweetened". Manilov's "Wonderfulness" is expressed in the excellent evaluations he gives to all and to all acquaintances. He has no real approach and no sense of the real qualities of the people. He is the only hero of "Dead Souls," who experienced a moral shock in learning the extraordinary and terrible mission of Chichikov, but that's just for a moment. Then the "beautiful" landlord sinks back into his sweet dreams again. Manilov's inability to distinguish good and evil, ugly and beautiful, real and false is a common human being. At the same time, it is a feature, quite specific in social-historical terms. Gogol emphasizes that manipulation as a phenomenon thrives, above all, in conditions of heavy class oppression, which provides the minority with an opportunity for irresponsible idle existence. It is quite differently depicted in the Crown, the only female image in the poem.

It is a characteristic "steppe" landlord growing out of the influence of any civilization, building its concepts of life and relationships with people according to ancient customs and according to their personal interests. Gogol emphasizes first and foremost a solid mastery of his feelings, despite the fact that his estate is small. It has a very strong feeling of disturbing peace. As soon as Chichikov comes in and starts to make some very clear conversations. Thoughts and feelings of Corrosion are not complicated. Creeping empiricism is characteristic of them. It flies precisely for the fact that seems to be closest to its intentions and desires, and seeks to gain some benefit. The crook is a good-natured parasite, glued to the body of the peasant peasants, who in a little but surely increases his welfare. It is no coincidence that the name of this landmark ("crap" in Russian means "box"). It responds to the aspiration and to the continuous accumulation of money. Everything in it is sheltered, indoors, sorted by its value, especially money. This harmonizes with the spiritual and the appearance. The crockery is extremely limited, superstitious. Imagins and the world are formed by what they see in their own village. His simplicity is evident with the arrival of Chichikov, whom he is kindly called Familiar.

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part 1

part 2

part 3