Summary
The novel begins with the arrival of a government official named Chichikov in a small Russian town identified only as "N." He is a mysterious figure, and his motives for traveling to the town are unclear. He moves into a small, simple room at a local hotel. He says very little about himself or his past to anyone in town but immediately attempts to ingratiate himself with local officials and nobles. He attends a gathering thrown by the governor and makes conversation with various people. He meets many people, among them landowners Nozdriov, Manilov, and Sobakevich. He seems comfortable conversing about numerous subjects ranging from alcohol to billiards. Everyone takes a liking to Chichikov and finds him to be charming. He is invited to visit the estates of both Manilov and Sobakevich.
Chichikov continues to attend various parties. Then he decides to meet up with two of the landowners he spoke to the previous evening, Manilov and Sobakevich. He decides to go to Manilov first and tells his driver Selifan to take him to that estate. They arrive and find Manilov waiting for them. Manilov takes Chichikov inside. The narrator says that Manilov is very unremarkable, noting that there is nothing unpleasant about him but also that he seems to have no defining characteristics.
The narrator adds that Manilov is not an effective landowner, frequently envisioning projects that he cannot even begin and almost never surveying his farm. His house is missing a number of important items, indicating that he does not put a great deal of care into its upkeep or functioning. Chichikov says complementary things about Manilov's town, governor, and wife, among others. Manilov is moved by these appeals to his sympathy and shows Chichikov around his home.
Chichikov learns that many of Manilov's serfs have recently died, and he becomes very interested in this information. Chichikov requests to buy the names of Manilov's dead peasants. Manilov is confused by this and Chichikov explains he is looking to buy the names of peasants who have died but are still listed as being alive in the census. He does so as a means of taking advantage of Russia's inefficient bureaucracy, thus revealing the reason he came to town in the first place. Chichikov tries to explain the matter and Manilov accepts his explanation without really understanding him. Manilov then gives him the souls for free, much to Chichikov's delight. Chichkov leaves abruptly after getting what he came for and sets off for Sobakevich. Manilov remains confused.
On the way to Sobakevich, Chichikov chastises Selifan for driving the carriage while drunk. They get turned around in a rainstorm and are forced to stay the night in another village. Selifan sets off to find shelter and they come upon an estate. It belongs to a widow by the name of Korobochka. They talk for a little while and Chichikov discovers that some of Korobochka's serfs have died. He takes an interest in the matter and begins attempting to persuade her to give him a list of the dead peasants' names.
Chichikov details the advantages of selling the names of these dead peasants, noting that she would no longer have to pay a costly poll tax for them. She begins to consider his offer, despite being baffled by his reasons for wanting the names. They haggle over the price for a bit, as she becomes determined to make a good sum on her names. Chichikov grows frustrated and angrily bangs a chair on the floor and mentions the devil, frightening Korobochka. She agrees to his terms after he persists. He leaves her home, satisfied by his manipulation.
Analysis
These initial chapters effectively establish Chichikov as a character and explore the theme of adaptability. They highlight the way in which he is able to adjust the way he talks to suit the people around him. If another person is interested in legal procedures, then he will talk about that at length. Likewise, if he thinks someone is susceptible to compliments, he will shower them with praise, as he does with Manilov. These moments show how Chichikov wields his ability to adapt in social situations, but also show his failings as an individual. What becomes apparent in his meetings with Manilov and Korobochka is that he says whatever he needs to get what he wants, but has no central identity. His conversational skill has contributed to his complete lack of morals or personality, as everything he says is centered on self-interest and ingratiation.
Gossip is also an important theme in this section of the book. Chichikov attends several social functions in town and flatters many officials with his smooth talking. Subsequently he becomes known around town as a person of good character, establishing a reputation for himself. This impression is based solely on his social posturing and crafted comments and actually has very little to do with him being a truly good person. Here, Gogol seems to reveal the way in which information established through small-town gossip does not have a strong foundation in reality. Relatedly, Chichikov's ability to manipulate people into thinking positively of him further demonstrates how meaningless these rumors are.
Greed is another prominent theme in these chapters. Chichikov sets off to speak with Manilov in the second chapter. He learns that some of Manilov's serfs have died recently and asks if he can buy a list of their names. He is overcome with joy when Manilov says he will just give him the list, nearly springing up out of his seat. Then he forcefully coerces Korobochka into selling her list of names, yelling at her and slamming a chair down on her floor. These instances demonstrate how warped by greed Chichikov has become. He is so consumed with his mission to acquire dead souls and profit from them that he is cruel to a widow and gives false praise to a vain man. The harmful effects of greed are highlighted in the way Chichikov has no stable personality outside of his goals.
Serfdom is another key theme in this part of the book. Serfs are treated in a dehumanizing fashion. The landowners, both Manilov and Korobochka, reduce them to their names and their ability to work their estate effectively. Their deaths are described only briefly, in the same manner as inclement weather or a bad crop. With these moments, Gogol seems to highlight how serfs were being dehumanized even before their names were being put to use in Chichikov's schemes. The serfs who are alive are not given a great deal more autonomy or fair treatment than their dead counterparts.
These early chapters establish Chichikov's conniving nature and set up some of its major themes. His arrival in town highlights his capability with charming people and his capacity to adjust his personality to fit in. His later visit to Manilov and accidental stay with Korobochka reveal how relentlessly he plans to pursue the purchase of these dead souls. What becomes increasingly clear by the third chapter is that Chichikov, unlike a more traditional hero, has no real moral compass; instead he drifts from prospect to prospect, trying to make his fortune and secure a better future.
