Summary
The second part of the book begins with Chichikov traveling to another village and meeting a landowner by the name of Tentetnikov. The narrator gives Tentetnikov a lengthy introduction, describing his childhood ambition and eventual lapse into laziness. Chichikov charms him right away, telling him that he approves of his laid-back approach to life and work. Chichikov becomes part of Tentetnikov's household and begins to come up with ways of using his newfound position to his advantage.
Hoping to help Tentetnikov find a wife, he travels to the neighboring estate of General Betrishchev, who is a close neighbor. He makes an attempt to make a good impression on Betrishchev by telling him that Tentetnikov feels sorry for speaking to him disrespectfully at an earlier date. They talk for some time and eventually, Chichikov also makes an attempt to get access to Betrishchev's dead souls. At the same time, he succeeds in securing the hand of Betrishchev's daughter, Ulinka, for Tentetnikov. He leaves to spread this news to another neighbor, Colonel Koshkarev.
Chichikov travels to Koshkarev but gets turned around along the way. He ends up speaking with a man named Petukh, who invites him to dinner. They are joined by another man named Platonov, who the narrator describes as very handsome. Chichikov compliments Platonov about various things and the two become friends. They make plans to travel to Koshkarev's estate together. Along the way, Platonov says that they should visit the estate of his brother-in-law, Kostanzhoglo.
Chichikov meets Kostanzhoglo and is immediately struck by how productive his property is. They spend a long time talking about various financial matters. Kostanzhoglo tells Chichikov he can show him how to be a great businessman. Chichikov initially turns him down. He meets with Koshkarev briefly and they have an unsatisfactory conversation at his house. Chichikov proves unable to buy dead souls from Koshkarev, who is unconvinced by his pitch. He comes back to Kostanzhoglo and expresses interest in purchasing land and effectively running it. Kostanzhoglo makes various points about how to observe work and how to get the most out of serfs.
With a sizable loan from Platonov and Kostanzhoglo, Chichikov sets out to purchase land. Platonov and Kostanzhoglo accompany him on his journey. He is able to buy an estate from a man by the name of Khlobuev. Khobluev makes note of the relative lack of fertility in the land, but Chichikov appears unconcerned. Along the way, he runs into Platonov's brother Vassili. Chichikov assists Vassili in resolving a conflict over property with his neighbor, Lenitsyn. In doing so, Chichikov is able to secure the purchase of Lenitsyn's dead souls.
The conclusion of the book picks up much later, as there are a number of sections missing in the manuscript. Chichikov has become embroiled in a scheme. He has forged the will of Khobluev's aunt, in an attempt to claim her fortune and take it from her intended recipients. This lands him in jail. He faces serious charges for his crimes and becomes increasingly panicked about the tenuousness of his future. Desperate to save himself, he makes contact with a businessman by the name of Murazov.
He tells Murazov what he has done and begs for forgiveness. Muzarov sets him up with a good but famously corrupt lawyer. The lawyer is able to help him avoid being charged. Chichikov leaves town and the novel closes in the middle of the prince of the province making a speech. He says that every person in Russia must hold onto their duties and be aware of what is expected of them, as that is the only way for Russia to succeed in the future.
Analysis
Adaptation is also a significant theme in this part of the book, as Chichikov is able to secure the affection of both Platonov and Tetnetnikov by speaking highly of them. He flatters Tetnetnikov by saying he appreciates his outlook on life and charms Platonov by saying he is handsome. In both cases, Chichikov merely reflects back the quality that these men most value about themselves and is able to get them to like him. Once again, this subtle exchange reveals the danger of Chichikov's adaptability. His subtle manipulation of the people indicates his lack of morality. He will say anything to get what he wants; people like Platonov and Tetnetnikov are simply too foolish to see his words for what they are.
Serfdom appears as another prominent theme in this final section of the book. Kostanzhoglo gives a lengthy speech about how to run an efficient estate to Chichikov when he asks for advice. As this speech progresses, it becomes apparent that Kostanzhoglo believes that serfs aren't really people, as he makes most of his money by not only exploiting but outright cheating the workers on his land. In one instance, he mentions selling cloth and wells to his workers, knowing that he could purchase it cheaply and then make a profit off of their need for it. He rails against educating the members of the lower class. While Chichikov sits in awe of Kostanzhoglo, what becomes more apparent as he talks is that he is yet another landowner who does not actually view the people who work for him as humans. Instead, like Chichikov, he views their struggles as an opportunity to secure a quick payday. This view is indicative of how almost all of the characters in the book treat serfs dismissively and cruelly.
Greed is a key theme in this part of the book. Chichikov becomes involved in numerous schemes. He uses the conversation with Betrishchev about his daughter to inquire about Betrishchev's dead souls. Similarly, he takes the same opportunity with Lenitsyn, purchasing his dead souls after settling the property dispute. Finally, at the novel's end, he attempts to forge a will. What these escalating schemes reveal is the way in which greed has corrupted Chichikov. His self-interest leads him to a series of increasingly desperate attempts to acquire wealth and status. His jailing at the novel's end shows how foolish these efforts were, as his plans once again crumbled under close, legal scrutiny.
The future of Russia is once again a major theme in this section of the book. At the novel's end, the prince gives an impassioned speech taking a firm stance against corruption. He reminds everyone that in order for the system to function, everyone must remember their duty, respect authority, and not take bribes. He says that Russia's fate as a country is at stake. The prince's speech is indicative of a cautious hopefulness about this future on the part of the narrator and Gogol. Where the first part ended with the fast-moving carriage careening toward an unknown destination, this speech points in a different direction. The prince seems to suggest that if everyone can do their part for the collective and uphold the core tenets of their various positions, Russia will prosper. In this way, the book closes on a note of cautious hope for the future.
If the novel's first section is modeled after hell, then this section is purgatory. While incomplete—the text is missing several significant sections that Gogol either threw away or burned—this second part of the book explores the idea of moving away from greed and corruption. Chichikov comes to a kind of spiritual awakening, as he swears to step away from his life as a conman and find another path. While Gogol never published a third installment of the book, one can reasonably assume that Chichikov might have begun a slow path to redemption from where he is left here.
