Dead Souls (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Nikolai Gogol
- First Published: 1842
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social satire
- Time of Work: Early nineteenth century
- Setting: Russia
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire
- Subjects: Nineteenth century, Wills, Russia or Russian people, Feudalism, Swindling or swindlers, Taxation
- Locales: Russia
Characters Discussed
Pavel Ivanovitch Tchitchikov (PAH-vehl ih-VAH-nuh-vihch CHEET- chee-kof), an adventurer of early nineteenth century Russia. He buys “dead souls,” that is, the names of serfs who have died since the last census but who still continue to cost their owners taxes until they can be written off in the next census. Using their names, he plans to get from his uncle’s estate the money refused him in the old man’s will by mortgaging his own “estate,” with its dead souls, to the Trustee Committee. To find dead souls, he rides from village to village...
[The entire page is 1021 words long]
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