The value of details for I. Ivanovitch
Writing about I. Ivanovitch, who “…writes this inscription on the paper of seeds: “These melons were eaten on such and such a date.” If there was a guest present, then it says, “Such and such a person assisted.”, Gogol shows the hero’s meticulousness, paying excessive attention at those things that are not worthy in his life at all, instead of focusing on more important things, such as relations with his friend, for example.
I. Ivanovitch’s “kindness”
Describing, how fine and good is I. Ivanovitch, the author writes that his hero is always ready to help the poor, but when an old lady, panhandling, comes to him, he not only refuses to help her, but answers: “Well, go with God’s blessing, …Why do you stand there? I’m not beating you.” The author laughs at the hero. I. I. always wants to seem perfect: in the manner of speaking, in his look, in his relations with others. But he is so fine only in words, but his real essence is not so good.
The “championship” between the heroes
Here we see the author’s mockery of wretched and miserable views of the protagonists, their comic desires to always overtake each other, when, in order to forestall Ivan Nikiforovitch, Ivan Ivanovitch determined to enter a complaint against him before the district judge of Mirgorod.
