The bureaucratic world in dead souls. Officials in Gogol's poem "Dead Souls

Gogol, a contemporary of Pushkin, created his works in the historical conditions prevailing in our country after the unsuccessful performance of the Decembrists in 1825. Thanks to the new socio-political situation, the workers of literature and social thought were faced with tasks that were deeply reflected in the work of Nikolai Vasilyevich. Developing principles in his work, this author became one of the most significant representatives of this trend in Russian literature. According to Belinsky, it was Gogol who was able to look for the first time directly and boldly at Russian reality.

In this article we will describe the image of officials in the poem "Dead Souls".

The collective image of officials

In the notes of Nikolai Vasilyevich, referring to the first volume of the novel, there is the following remark: "The dead insensibility of life." This, according to the author, is the collective image of officials in the poem. It should be noted the difference in the image of them and the landowners. The landowners in the work are individualized, but the officials, on the contrary, are impersonal. It is possible to compose only a collective portrait of them, from which the postmaster, the police chief, the prosecutor and the governor stand out slightly.

Names and surnames of officials

It should be noted that all persons who make up the collective image of officials in the poem "Dead Souls" do not have surnames, and names are often called in grotesque and comic contexts, sometimes duplicated (Ivan Antonovich, Ivan Andreevich). Of these, some are highlighted only for a short time, after which they disappear into the crowd of others. The subject of Gogol's satire was not positions and personalities, but social vices, the social environment, which is the main object of the depiction in the poem.

It should be noted the grotesque beginning in the image of Ivan Antonovich, his comic, rude nickname (Pitcher Snout), at the same time referring to the world of animals and inanimate things. The department is ironically described as "the temple of Themis". This place is important for Gogol. The department is often depicted in Petersburg stories, in which it appears as an antiworld, a kind of hell in miniature.

The most important episodes in the portrayal of officials

The image of officials in the poem "Dead Souls" can be traced back to the following episodes. This is primarily the governor's "house party" described in the first chapter; then - a ball at the governor's (eighth chapter), as well as breakfast at the chief of police (tenth). In general, in the 7-10th chapters, it is the bureaucracy that is highlighted as a psychological and social phenomenon.

Traditional motives in the image of officials

You can find many traditional motives characteristic of Russian satirical comedies in the "bureaucratic" plots of Nikolai Vasilyevich. These techniques and motives date back to Griboyedov and Fonvizin. The officials of the provincial town are also very reminiscent of their "colleagues" from the abuses, arbitrariness, inactivity. Bribery, honor, bureaucracy are social evil, traditionally ridiculed. Suffice it to recall the story described in "The Overcoat" with a "significant person", the fear of the auditor and the desire to bribe him in the work of the same name and the bribe given to Ivan Antonovich in the 7th chapter of the poem "Dead Souls". The images of the chief of police, "benefactor" and "father", who visited the guest house and the shops, as if they were in his storeroom, are very characteristic; the chairman of the civil chamber, who not only exempted his friends from bribes, but also from the need to pay for the paperwork of his friends; Ivan Antonovich, who did nothing without "gratitude."

Compositional construction of the poem

The poem itself is based on the adventures of an official (Chichikov) who buys up dead souls. This image is impersonal: the author practically does not talk about Chichikov himself.

The first volume of the work, according to Gogol's plan, shows various negative aspects of the life of Russia at that time - both bureaucratic and landlord. The entire provincial society is part of the "dead world".

The exposition is given in the first chapter, in which a portrait of one provincial town is drawn. Everywhere desolation, disorder, dirt, which emphasizes the indifference of local authorities to the needs of residents. Then, after Chichikov visited the landowners, chapters 7 through 10 describe a collective portrait of the bureaucracy of the then Russia. In several episodes, various images of officials are given in the poem "Dead Souls". The chapters show how the author characterizes this social class.

What do officials have in common with landowners?

However, the worst thing is that such officials are no exception. These are typical representatives of the bureaucratic system in Russia. Corruption and bureaucracy reign in their midst.

Registration of deeds

Together with Chichikov, who returned to the city, we are transferred to the court chamber, where this hero will have to issue a bill of sale (7th chapter). The characterization of the images of officials in the poem "Dead Souls" is given in this episode in a very detailed way. Ironically, Gogol uses a high symbol - a temple in which the "priests of Themis", impartial and incorruptible, serve. However, first of all, the desolation and dirt in this "temple" are striking. The "unattractive appearance" of Themis is explained by the fact that she receives visitors in a simple way, "in a dressing gown."

However, this simplicity actually turns out to be an outright disregard for the laws. Nobody is going to do business, and the "priests of Themis" (officials) only care about how to take tribute from visitors, that is, bribes. And they really do do well at that.

There is a rush with papers, vanity, but all this serves only one purpose - to confuse the petitioners so that they cannot do without help, kindly provided for a fee, of course. Chichikov, this rogue and connoisseur of behind-the-scenes affairs, nevertheless had to use her to get into the presence.

He got access to the required person only after he openly offered a bribe to Ivan Antonovich. How much of a legalized phenomenon she has become in the life of the bureaucracy of Russia, we understand when the main character finally gets to the chairman of the chamber, who accepts him as his old acquaintance.

Conversation with the chairman

The heroes, after courteous phrases, get down to business, and here the chairman says that his friends "should not pay". The bribe here, it turns out, is so obligatory that only close friends of officials can do without it.

Another noteworthy detail from the life of the city bureaucracy is revealed in a conversation with the chairman. The analysis of the image of an official in the poem "Dead Souls" is very interesting in this episode. It turns out that even for such an unusual activity, which was described in the judicial chamber, by no means all representatives of this class consider it necessary to go to service. As an "idle person" the prosecutor sits at home. All matters for him are decided by the solicitor, who in the work is called "the first grabber."

Ball at the Governor's

In the scene described by Gogol on (8th chapter), we see a review of dead souls. Gossip and balls become for people a form of poor mental and social life. The image of officials in the poem "Dead Souls", a short description of which we are compiling, can be supplemented in this episode with the following details. At the level of discussion of fashionable styles and colors of material, officials have ideas about beauty, and solidity is determined by how a person ties a tie and blows his nose. There is not and cannot be real culture, morality here, since the norms of behavior depend entirely on ideas about how it should be. That is why Chichikov was initially received so cordially: he knows how to react sensitively to the requests of this public.

This is, in brief, the image of officials in the poem "Dead Souls". We did not describe the summary of the work itself. We hope you remember him. The characteristics presented by us can be supplemented based on the content of the poem. The topic "The image of officials in the poem" Dead Souls "is very interesting. Quotes from the work, which can be found in the text, referring to the chapters indicated by us, will help you complement this characteristic.

Who did not become first of all
man, that bad citizen.
V.G. Belinsky

In his poem, Gogol mercilessly castigates officials with the light of satire. They are like a collection of strange and unpleasant insects put together by the author. Not a very attractive image, but are the officials themselves pleasant? If you remember that all these "statesmen" are in the service; if we remember that Gogol described the province (where the picture of the state is most typical); if we remember that Gogol was very criticized (which most clearly shows the veracity of the poem, despite all the grotesque) for his work, it becomes truly scary for Russia, for the form in which it existed. Let's take a closer look at this eerie collection.

Russia has always been divided by contemporary critics into two parts: the peasantry, the people, and the landowners and officials. To this we should add a third layer, which was still emerging at that time; its representative is Chichikov. He is like a pale grebe growing on the bodies of landowners crumbling into oblivion. But was the landlord and bureaucratic layer really doomed? After all, the state existed, and it seems to be not bad ...

What is urban society? In his description, Gogol used one, but a very vivid image: officials “... flashed and ran apart and in heaps here and there, like flies rushed ... and air squadrons ... owners ... not to eat, but just to show themselves ... "With one comparison, Gogol immediately shows the great Emptiness, the Emptiness with a capital letter, reigning in the minds and souls of officials.

What are the landlords and officials separately? Let's start with the "statesmen" who are in the service, personifying state power; on which the life of the people depends.

Prosecutor. His "silence" and "seriousness", taken by everyone as a sign of great intelligence, is just evidence that he simply has nothing to say. It is evident that he is the biggest bribe-taker: the news of "dead souls" and the excitement associated with it shake him so much that he, unable to withstand the enormous, all-consuming fear ... dies.

Here is the chairman of the chamber. He is a "very" judicious "amiable person." Everything! This is where his characterization ends. Nothing has been said about the hobbies or inclinations of this person - there is simply nothing to talk about!

The postmaster is not much better than the rest. Only for the duration of the card game is his face depicted with a "thinking physiognomy". The rest of the time he is "spoken". But nothing is said about the content of the speeches. Obviously unnecessary.

One should not think that there are important differences between landlords and officials. Both are endowed with power that brings money.

Chichikov consistently visits four landowners in the poem. A visit to Manilov shows the highest degree of emptiness and worthlessness. Manilov, about whom it can be said that his hobby - dreams - turned into a "profession", brought his economy to such a state in which everything collapses from airy decay and precariousness. One can guess about the further fate of Mani's dexterity and estate: they will be laid if they do not fall apart earlier.

Korobochka and Plyushkin. These are two aspects of the same phenomenon: meaningless and greedy hoarding. This greed is brought to the point of absurdity: Korobochka and Plyushkin differ only in the size of the smallest and most useless object, brought into the house, into chests, generally “inside”. Both Korobochka and Plyushkin have a complete closeness and isolation from the world, in one it is expressed in a blank fence and chain dogs, in a headless sitting at home; the other - in misanthropism, hatred for all potential wasteful, as a result - for all people. Plyushkin's farm - already ruined remains; Korobochki's economy is a "fortress", ready to grow moldy and fall inside itself.

Sobakevich is a strong owner. It seems that it is his farm - strong, though uncouth, oak - that will hold out the longest. The peasants live relatively satisfyingly ... Although we do not know if this is so - we know about Sobakevich's peasants only from their dwellings - gray, but strong huts. One can guess that Sobakevich keeps his peasants in strict discipline. Who can guarantee that in some lean year the peasants will not rebel and sweep away Sobakevich with his family and estate? The Russian revolt will be all the more senseless and merciless because the peasants from Manilovki, Vshivy Spesy and other villages will surely join it.

And now - Chichikov, by position - an official, by intentions - a landowner, by nature - a crafty slave, humiliating himself before the right person. “By adapting, people want to preserve themselves, and at the same time they lose themselves,” said Russian essay writer M.I. Prishvin. This is very similar to Chichikov. Looking at the masks under which Chichikov is hiding, one can barely see his true face as a scoundrel and opportunist. But the failures that follow him are an inevitable consequence of his machinations against people.

As for the situation in which such ugly personalities appeared, they formed it, adjusted it to themselves. The environment, musty and dark, made more and more officials and landowners to serve it. Only the revolution could break this vicious circle, and in the end it took place after 1861 and 1905.

So where is the future of Russia, which will eventually rise and blossom? It is already clear that these are neither landowners, nor Chichikov, the latter does not even have his own clear face, he is rather an exception; nor officials who have crushed the power and the law. The people, the Russian people, who will rise up, finally feeling freedom, of which the intelligentsia is a part, and a part of really tenacious business people, this is Russia, we and our future.

Officialdom in Nikolai Gogol's poem "Dead Souls"

Approximate text of the essay

In tsarist Russia in the 30-40s of the 19th century, not only serfdom, but also an extensive bureaucratic bureaucratic apparatus was a real disaster for the people. Called to stand guard over law and order, representatives of the administrative authorities thought only about their own material welfare, robbing the treasury, extorting bribes, mocking people with no rights. Thus, the topic of exposing the bureaucratic world was very relevant for Russian literature. Gogol repeatedly addressed her in such works as "The Inspector General", "The Overcoat", "Notes of a Madman". She found expression in the poem "Dead Souls", where, starting from the seventh chapter, the bureaucracy is in the center of the author's attention. Despite the absence of detailed and detailed images similar to the heroes of the landowners, the picture of bureaucratic life in Gogol's poem is striking in its breadth.

With two or three masterful strokes, the writer paints wonderful miniature portraits. This is the governor, embroidering on tulle, and the prosecutor with very black thick eyebrows, and the short postmaster, wit and philosopher, and many others. These sketched faces are remembered for their characteristic funny details that are filled with deep meaning. Indeed, why is the head of an entire province characterized as a kind-hearted man who sometimes embroiders on tulle? Probably because there is nothing to say about him as a leader. From this it is easy to draw a conclusion about how negligent and dishonest the governor is to his official duties, to his civic duty. The same can be said about his subordinates. Gogol makes extensive use of the technique of characterizing the hero by other characters in the poem. For example, when a witness was needed to register the purchase of serfs, Sobakevich tells Chichikov that the prosecutor, as an idle person, is probably sitting at home. But this is one of the most significant officials in the city, who must administer justice, enforce the rule of law. The characterization of the prosecutor in the poem is enhanced by the description of his death and funeral. He did nothing but mindlessly signing papers, as he left all the solutions to the solicitor, "the world's first grabber." Obviously, the reason for his death was rumors about the sale of "dead souls", since it was he who was responsible for all the illegal affairs that took place in the city. Bitter Gogolian irony is heard in meditations about the meaning of the life of the prosecutor: "... why he died, or why he lived, God alone knows." Even Chichikov, looking at the funeral of the prosecutor, involuntarily comes to the idea that the only thing that the deceased can remember is with thick black eyebrows.

The writer gives a close-up the typical image of the official Ivan Antonovich Pitcher snout. Taking advantage of his position, he extorts bribes from visitors. It is ridiculous to read how Chichikov put a "piece of paper" in front of Ivan Antonovich, "which he did not notice at all and immediately covered it with a book." But it is sad to know what a hopeless situation Russian citizens are in, who are dependent on dishonest, greedy people representing the state power. This idea is emphasized by Gogol's comparison of the civil chamber official with Virgil. At first glance, it is unacceptable. But the nasty official, like the Roman poet in The Divine Comedy, leads Chichikov through all circles of bureaucratic hell. This means that this comparison reinforces the impression of the evil that pervades the entire administrative system of tsarist Russia.

Gogol gives in the poem a peculiar classification of the bureaucracy, dividing the representatives of this class into lower, thin and fat. The writer gives a sarcastic characterization of each of these groups. The lower ones are, according to Gogol's definition, nondescript clerks and secretaries, as a rule, bitter drunkards. By "thin" the author means the middle stratum, and "fat" is the provincial nobility, which firmly holds on to their places and deftly derives considerable income from their high position.

Gogol is inexhaustible in his choice of surprisingly accurate and apt comparisons. So, he likens officials to a squadron of flies that swoop down on tidbits of refined sugar. The poem also characterizes the provincial officials in their usual activities: playing cards, drinking, lunches, dinners, gossip Gogol writes that "meanness, completely disinterested, pure meanness" flourishes in the society of these public servants. Their quarrels do not end with a duel, because "they were all civilian officials." Gogol portrays this class as thieves, bribe-takers, loafers and swindlers who are bound to each other by mutual guarantee. That is why officials feel so uncomfortable when Chichikov's scam was revealed, because each of them remembered their sins. If they try to detain Chichikov for his fraud, then he can accuse them of dishonesty.A comic situation arises when people in power help the swindler in his illegal machinations and are afraid of him.

Gogol in the poem pushes the boundaries of the district town, introducing into it "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin". It tells no longer about local abuses, but about the arbitrariness and lawlessness that are committed by the highest Petersburg officials, that is, the government itself. The contrast between the unheard-of luxury of Petersburg and the miserable beggarly position of Kopeikin, who shed blood for his fatherland, lost an arm and a leg, is striking. But, despite his injuries and military merit, this war hero is not even entitled to his pension. A desperate disabled person tries to find help in the capital, but his attempt breaks down on the cold indifference of a high-ranking dignitary. This disgusting image of a soulless St. Petersburg nobleman completes the characterization of the world of officials. All of them, from the petty provincial secretary to the representative of the highest administrative authority, are dishonest, mercenary, cruel people, indifferent to the fate of the country and the people. It is to this conclusion that the wonderful poem "Dead Souls" by N. V. Gogol leads the reader.

Officialdom is a special social stratum, a "link" between the people and the authorities. This is a special world that lives by its own laws, guided by its own moral principles and concepts. The topic of exposing the depravity and limitations of this class is topical at all times. Gogol dedicated a number of works to her, using the techniques of satire, humor, and subtle irony.

Arriving in the provincial town of N, Chichikov pays visits to the dignitaries of the city in accordance with etiquette, which prescribes first to visit the most significant persons. The first in this “list” was the mayor, to whom “the hearts of citizens trembled in excess of gratitude,” the last - the city architect. Chichikov acts according to the principle: "Do not have money, have good people for conversion."

What was the provincial city, for the welfare of which the mayor so "cared"? On the streets - "skinny lighting", and the house of the "father" of the city is like a "bright comet" against the background of a dark sky. In the park, the trees "took a bad start"; in the province - crop failures, high prices, and in a brightly lit house - a ball for officials and their families. What about the people gathered here? - Nothing. Before us are "black tailcoats": no names, no faces. Why are they here? - Show yourself, make the necessary acquaintances, have a good time.

However, "tailcoats" are not uniform. "Fat" (they know how to handle things better) and "thin" (people who are not adapted to life). "Fat" buy real estate, writing in the name of his wife, "thin", however, let everything accumulated "down the wind".

Chichikov goes to make the bill of sale. The “white house” opens to his gaze, which speaks of the purity of “the souls of the positions placed in it”. The image of the priests of Themis is limited to a few characteristics: "wide nape", "a lot of paper." The voices are hoarse among the lower ranks, stately - among the chiefs. Officials are more or less enlightened people: some have read Karamzin, and some "have not read anything at all."

Chichikov and Manilov "move" from one table to another: from the simple curiosity of young people - to Ivan Antonovich Kuvshinnyi snout, full of arrogance and vanity, who creates the appearance of work in order to receive the due reward. Finally, the chairman of the chamber, shining like the sun, completes the deal, which should be noted, which is being carried out with the light hand of the police chief - a "benefactor" in the city, who receives twice as much income against all his predecessors.

The extensive bureaucratic apparatus in pre-revolutionary Russia was a true disaster for the people. Therefore, it is natural that the attention that the satirist-writer pays to him, sharply criticizing bribery, servility, emptiness and vulgarity, a low cultural level, and the unworthy attitude of bureaucrats towards their fellow citizens.

In Dead Souls, the theme of serfdom is intertwined with the theme of bureaucracy, bureaucratic arbitrariness and lawlessness. The keepers of order in the poem are in many ways related to the landowners. Gogol draws the attention of readers to this already in the first chapter of Dead Souls. Arguing about thin and fat gentlemen, the author of the poem comes to the conclusion: “Finally, the fat one, having served God and the sovereign, having earned universal respect, leaves the service ... and becomes a landowner, a glorious Russian master, hospitable person, and lives and lives well ...” This is evil satire on robber officials and on the "hospitable" Russian bar.
Both the owners of the estates and the provincial officials are at the lowest level of culture and education. As we remember, Manilov has already opened the same book on page fourteen for two years. The officials "were also more or less enlightened people: some had read Karamzin, some Moskovskie Vedomosti, who had not even read anything at all."
Landowners and officials do not burden themselves with worries about state affairs. Both are alien to the concept of civic duty. Both of them live idly.
In his notes to the first volume of Dead Souls, Gogol wrote: “The idea of ​​a city. The resulting emptiness to the highest degree. Empty talk. Gossip that has gone beyond limits ... All this arose out of idleness and took on the expression of an extremely funny ... "
Witnesses were required when making the purchase of serfs. “Send it now to the prosecutor,” says Sobakevich, “he is an idle man and, probably, sits at home: the solicitor Zolotukha, the first grabber in the world, does everything for him. Inspector of the medical board, he is also an idle person and, probably, at home, if he did not go somewhere to play cards ... "
In the society of officials "meanness, completely disinterested, pure meanness" flourishes. Ladies are quarreling, and their husbands are also quarreling: "Of course, there was no duel between them, because they were all civilian officials, but on the other hand he tried to spoil one another, where possible, which, as you know, is sometimes harder than any duel."
The rulers of the city are unanimous only in their desire to live widely at the expense of "the sums of their dearly beloved fatherland." Officials rob both the state and the petitioners. Embezzlement, bribery, and robbery of the population are everyday and completely natural phenomena. The chief of police “has only to blink, passing by the fish row or cellar,” as on his table there are balychs and excellent wines. No request is considered without a bribe. The chairman of the chamber warns Chichikov: "... don't give anything to officials to anyone ... My friends don't have to pay." The only exception is for friends (but Chichikov still, just in case, did not break the unwritten law and gave a bribe to Ivan Antonovich).
The police keep the city in constant fear. When society began to talk about a possible revolt of Chichikov's peasants, the chief of police noticed that “in disgust of him (the revolt) there is the power of the police captain, that the police captain, although he himself did not go, but only went to their place of one cap, but one cap will drive the peasants to their very place of residence ”.
There is no significant difference in the actions and views of officials, in their way of life. Gogol creates, as it were, a group portrait of people bound together by mutual responsibility.
When Chichikov's scam was revealed, the officials were confused, and everyone “suddenly found in themselves ... sins”. Hence their indecision: is Chichikov the kind of person “who needs to be detained and seized as an ill-intentioned person, or is he the kind of person who can seize and detain them all as ill-intentioned”. The tragic situation in which the “owners of the city” found themselves was created as a result of their criminal activities. Gogol laughs, laughs angrily and mercilessly. People in positions of power help the swindler in his dirty, criminal machinations and are afraid of him.
Arbitrariness and lawlessness are created not only by the authorities of the provincial city, but also by top officials, the government itself. Gogol also touched upon this very dangerous topic in “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin”.
Captain Kopeikin, a hero and invalid of the Patriotic War of 1812, goes to the capital to ask for help. He is amazed by the luxury of Petersburg, the splendor of the chambers and the cold indifference of the dignitary to the manor of the invalid. The captain's insistent legitimate requests for help were unsuccessful. The enraged nobleman expelled him from Petersburg.
Gogol completes his characterization of the world of bureaucrats with the image of a soulless dignitary introduced in The Tale of Captain Kopeikin. All of them, starting from Ivan Antonovich "the pitcher's snout", a petty official of a provincial town, and ending with a nobleman, reveal the same pattern: swindlers, soulless people stand guard over the rule of law.
The ending of "The Tale ..." is significant. Captain Kopeikin did not accept the cruelty and insult. In the Ryazan forests, “a gang of robbers appeared, and the chieftain of this gang was, sir, no one else ...” like Captain Kopeikin.
With “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin,” Gogol reminded the dignitaries of the anger of the oppressed people, of the possibility of openly opposing the authorities.
“Ah,” you will say after reading about the life of the city of NN, “don't we ourselves know that there is a lot of despicable and stupid things in life! Why does the author show us this again? " However, I think that Gogol wanted to show this “despicable and stupid” not with the aim of irritating the reader. He wanted to fix the person, to make life better. And he believed that only by reflecting, as in a mirror, all social and human vices, one can fight them. I believe that the brilliant poem "Dead Souls" is the best confirmation of this.

An essay on literature on the topic: Images of officials in N. V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls"

Other compositions:

1. In the comedy The Inspector General and in the poem Dead Souls, Gogol turned to important social themes. They talk about the life of entire estates - the district bureaucracy, the local nobility. In the author's field of vision "all Russia". Places where events take place are generalized and typed: Read More ......
2. The realm of officials is engulfed in the same dead sleep as the estates. Talking about the habits of city dwellers, Gogol makes a remark that allows us to attribute the symbolic meaning of the name - “Dead Souls” - to the city as well: “Everyone ... has long ceased all acquaintances and knew only as Read More ......
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5. Based on the plot suggested by Pushkin, Gogol writes a work where, in his words, “there would have been more than one thing to laugh at”. Soon Gogol realizes that the thing he is creating does not fit any definition of a literary genre. Following Pushkin's example - Read More ......
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8. At the beginning of his work on the poem, N. V. Gogol wrote to V. A. Zhukovsky: “What a huge, what an original plot! What a diverse bunch! All Russia will appear in him. " This is how Gogol himself defined the scope of his work - the whole of Russia. And the writer was able to show in Read More ......