Dead Souls - Week 1 / Chapters 1 - 3

[Gem , Moderator]

We open this read by meeting our "hero", Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, as he tours the town of N and local officials. He flatters the men he meets, keeping his own information to himself, and humbling himself by referring to himself as a worm. He attends parties, plays cards, and begins to make inquiries about how many serfs the men own.

Later Chichikov visits Manilov and dines with the family. Afterward, the men talk and Chichikov brings up his desire to purchase any dead serfs (dead souls) from Manilov. Manilov is doubtful and concerned that this scheme might not be above board. Once reassured by Chichikov, Manilov refuses payment for the dead souls.

Chichikov departs but did not notice his coachman had been drinking which causes him to get lost and overturn the coach, all while it's storming. They make their way to shelter, property owned by the widow Korobochka. The following morning Chichikov approaches her regarding purchasing her dead souls.
____________________________________________________
A few footnotes from my translation:

When introducing Chichikov (in Chapter 1) - "Chichikov is a Collegiate Councilor, the sixth of fourteen civil rants in the Russian table of ranks established by Peter the Great in 1722 (the first rank is the highest). Thus in addition to being neither too fat nor too thin, Chichikov is neither too high nor too in rank."

When we meet Manilov and Sobakevich - Many of the last names Gogol assigns to his characters have thematic significance: Manilov is based on the Russian word meaning "to beckon, lure, attract"; Sobakevich is derived from sobaka (dog), and Nozdrev gets his name from nozdria (nostril).

In Chapter 3 we see this again when Chichikov inquires from the widow, "What landowners are there around here, then?" She replies, "Bobrov, Svinin, Kanapatiev, Kharpakin, Trepakin, Pleshakov." - Bobrov from "beaver"; Svinnin from "pig"; Kanapatiev suggest "caulk"; Kharpakin suggests "snore"; Trepakin from "peasant dance"; and Pleshakov from "bald spot."
____________________________________________________
Throughout this week's reading, we hear a lot about "rank," the upper and the lower classes. At one point the author apologizes to the reader, "... the author is quite conscience-stricken about taking up the time of his reader for so long with people of a low class, knowing by experience how unwilling they are to be introduced to the low strata of society." What do you make of this?

I also found it interesting, as in the example above, that intermixed with the story we find the author speaking directly to the reader. Did you find this useful or distracting?

How do you feel about the detailed descriptions of inanimate objects that seem to be superfluous, for example, the description of the inside of Chichikov's traveling chest? What may be the purpose of such attention on seemingly superfluous matters? Do you think that some of these details will become important later?

In both instances of Chichikov's request to purchase dead souls we see some resistance from those who own (and are continuing to pay taxes on) said dead souls. He argues that he is relieving them of the tax burden and does eventually convinces both Manilova and Korobochka, even though the widow Korobochka exacerbates him. Do you think the resistance is because the idea is not something they ever heard of before or might there be another reason for the push back?

[Jenny]

I almost skipped this read, but after finishing the first three chapters, I’m hooked. I was expecting a somber, serious Russian novel and instead found a book satirizing Russian class structure.

Gem, you mentioned the narrative style. It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly. I’m curious if the narrator ends up being part of the story or just the teller of the story. In chapter one, they observe the guests at the governor’s party and compare them to flies: “..everywhere, flitting and flashing, were to be seen black coats—even as on a hot summer’s day flies revolve around a sugar loaf” but they get even more harsh, “….parading up and down the sugar loaf, of rubbing both their hindquarters and their fore against one another, of cleaning their bodies under the wings, (etc)”. Although the narrator seems to be gently laughing at the crowd, it is pretty harsh to compare them to flies—a nasty insect associated with waste and spoilage.

I don’t know what to make of Chichikov. And Collegiate Councilor sounds like a made-up profession. But there is a mystery here and I want to discover more.

[Gem , Moderator]

Jenny wrote: "I almost skipped this read, but after finishing the first three chapters, I’m hooked..."

I'm glad, I'm enjoying it too. I can't wait to see what becomes of his schemes.

[Rafael]

Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."

I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrator do this too. This feature is quite interesting.

[Gem , Moderator]

Rafael wrote: "Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."

I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrator do this too...."

I just read the summary of that book, it looks interesting.

[Jenny]

Rafael wrote: "I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrator do this too...."

I just read the review of Dom Casmurro. Looks interesting. So many books and so little time!

[Deborah, Moderator]

The third chapter is what captured me. I was finding the extremely long sentences a bit distracting. I did expect this to be a more serious work than it appears. Also I can’t help but wonder if getting lost in the storm and the carriage tipping over aren’t foreshadowing of the outcome of his schemes.

[Brian E]

⊱✿Gem✿⊰ wrote: "Rafael wrote: "Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."
I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrat..."

The Goodreads group Never Too Late to Read Classics will be reading Dom Casmurro in October of this year.
I plan to give it a try - it is a mere 176 pages.

[Gem , Moderator]

Brian wrote: "⊱✿Gem✿⊰ wrote: "Rafael wrote: "Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."
I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago ..."

Thanks! I'm a member over there... great group. That being the case I'll read that in October.

[Bigollo]

This tradition to directly address the reader in Russian literature begins at least as early as with Aleksandr Pushkin (of whom, Gogol was a big fan, bty).
In the second stanza of Eugene Onegin, AP starts a long, one-way conversation with us:

“Ludmila’s and Ruslan’s adherents!

(Ruslan and Ludmila is the first long Pushkin’s poem; in the original text, the word for ‘adherents’ is actually – ‘friends’)

Without a foreword’s interference,
May I present, as we set sail,
The hero of my current tale:
Onegin, my good friend and brother,
Was born beside the Neva’s span,
Where maybe, reader, you began,
Or sparkled in one way or other…”

[Gem , Moderator]

Bigollo wrote: "This tradition to directly address the reader in Russian literature begins at least as early as with Aleksandr Pushkin (of whom, Gogol was a big fan, bty).
In the second stanza of Eugene Onegin, AP..."

Great information, thanks!

[Robin P, Moderator]

The traveling aspect of the book reminds me of Pickwick, as does the satirical tone. Other Russian works of the period reflect the detailed bureaucracy of the time, with each rank having its title, uniform, etc.

It's understandable that people balk at Chichikov's offer, as it makes no sense, and they assume there must be a catch. We are wondering also.

[Bonnie]

There's a sense of humor reading it, sometimes a lighthearted tone to the descriptions.

[Lori, Moderator]

I'm enjoying it too. I love Gogol's humor! Looking forward to seeing what he does with the "dead souls."

[Jenny]

Brian wrote: "The Goodreads group Never Too Late to Read Classics will be reading..."

Thanks, Brian. I have joined this group.

[Zuly]

Jenny wrote: "I almost skipped this read, but after finishing the first three chapters, I’m hooked. I was expecting a somber, serious Russian novel and instead found a book satirizing Russian class structure.
G..."

I agree. Most (all?) Russian novels are about the soul, the dark night of the soul, the survival of the soul, loss of faith, violence, redemption--all matters of the soul. So I was expecting something dark and solemn, too. Maybe this novel is breaking away from that darkness in part to demonstrate that dead souls can be taxed and bartered for and possibly are not so sacred after all. Yet, he is going to show how the living serf owners are soul-less and caught up with materialism over meaning and purpose and a life well lived. So maybe we'll see that this novel is a story about the cultural, collective soul of the landowners.

[Brian E]

So far so good. I too want to see why Chichikov wants Dead Souls.
After reading the chapters I was wondering what a Collegiate Councillor did and just discovered that my paperback edition lists it as the 6th highest rank out of the 14 official levels of Russian civil service positions established by Peter the Great. Still not sure what the rank does, though its presumably various duties.

[Suki]

I've really been enjoying all the descriptions of the people. My favorite was the "seller of hot punch with a red copper samovar and a face as red as the samovar, so that from a distance one might have thought there were two samovars in the window, if one samovar had not had a pitch-black beard". That gave me a chuckle, and I also liked the way Gogol described Chichikov, by telling us everything that he was not, instead of what he was.

Regarding the initial reluctance of Manilova and the widow Korobochka being reluctant to sell their "dead souls" to Chichikov, I am thinking that they are either worried about getting into trouble for breaking some law that they are not aware of, or they realize that he is working some money-making angle that they have missed.

[Suki]

Bigollo wrote: "This tradition to directly address the reader in Russian literature begins at least as early as with Aleksandr Pushkin (of whom, Gogol was a big fan, bty).
In the second stanza of Eugene Onegin, AP..."

I'm reading Eugene Onegin at the same time as I am reading Dead Souls. The author speaking directly to me doesn't bother me; I read a lot, and always appreciate a different approach if it's well done.

[Suki]

Rafael wrote: "Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."

I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrator do this too...."

I read Dom Casmurro a while ago at the suggestion of a friend in Brazil and quite enjoyed it.

[Lori, Moderator]

Suki wrote: "I've really been enjoying all the descriptions of the people. My favorite was the "seller of hot punch with a red copper samovar and a face as red as the samovar, so that from a distance one might ..."

I loved the "samovar" description too!

[Rafael]

Suki wrote: "Rafael wrote: "Jenny wrote: "It is strange to have the narrator address me, the reader, as the reader, directly."

I read a brazilian novel, Dom Casmurro, some days ago that the narrat..."

Good to know, Suki. It is really a good book. I guess that it is the most known brazilian novel in Brazil.