In the years 1830-1840, a number of works on the life of Petersburg were written. Composed by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The series "Petersburg Stories" consists of small, but quite interesting stories. They are called “Nose,” “Nevsky Prospect,” “Overcoat, Notes of a Madman,” and “Portrait.” The main motive in these works is a description of the image of a “little man,” almost crushed by the surrounding reality.
The first work from a wonderful cycle
How does the story of the popular cycle of Nikolai Vasilyevich begin? Or where to start the summary? Gogol, whose Petersburg Stories consists of several works, placed the story Nevsky Prospekt in the first place in this series. It describes the adventures of two young people who, fanning along Nevsky Prospekt, decided to hit on the young beauties.
One of them was called Piskarev. He was an artist and a romantic. Therefore, seeing a certain brunette who immediately liked him, he decided to follow her to the door of her house. But when I saw the lady to the place of residence, I realized that this was an ordinary brothel. The artist leaves this place in embarrassment and disappointment.
The decision of the artist or bullying sweetheart?
What is further narrated by the work of Nikolai Vasilievich, its summary? Gogol, whose Petersburg Stories became quite famous, claims that the events described in the story Nevsky Prospekt actually happened. Time passed, but the artist realized that he could not forget the beautiful stranger. He decides to pull her out of the abyss of debauchery and marry her. To do this, he again returns to the house where the courtesan lives, and tells her about his intentions.
But, unfortunately, the seventeen-year-old beauty did not appreciate Piskarev's high impulses. Moreover, she laughed at the way he painted their life together. The artist is insanely upset; he returns to his home and locks himself there alone. A whole week passed before his lifeless body was found in the apartment. Unable to withstand disappointment, he cut his throat. His funeral took place at the Okhta cemetery. And no one noticed his friend there, Lieutenant Pirogov, with whom he walked along the avenue.
The Adventures of Pirogov, or Another Unhappy Love
What will the famous St. Petersburg story tell the reader further? Gogol very vividly described the adventure of the lieutenant, who left Nevskaya Square, following the beautiful blonde. He brought the beauty to the house of Schiller, who turned out to be the husband of this stranger. Having run into spouse’s rude behavior on the first evening, the lieutenant does not lose hope and returns there the next day. He wants to hit on the beautiful woman, Schiller's wife.
Some time passed, and one day the husband returned home and found his wife dancing and kissing with Pirogov. Then he was drunk and angry, using the help of his no less tipsy comrades, tore the lieutenant. Pirogov, having jumped out of Schiller's dwelling, was full of intentions to take revenge, but, having calmed down a little, changed his mind. This concludes the story itself and its summary.
Gogol, whose Petersburg Stories consists of several works, presents to the reader the following story, it is called The Nose.
The story of the missing part of the body
One day, waking up in the morning, Major Kovalev, going to the mirror, found that his nose was missing. He begins a thorough search for his missing body part. He even meets him on the street dressed as a real state adviser. The nose did not want to talk to his master, and he had to go to the police station.
After some time, the loss was returned, but the nose did not want to grow into place. Not even the doctor helped. Tired and desperate, Major Kovalev went to bed, and the next morning he discovered the loss in the right place. So the next Petersburg story ends.
Gogol, continuing the theme of the "little man," further writes a short story called "The Overcoat."
Akaky Akakievich, or Another "little character"
Bashmachkin was an unremarkable man. His job was to rewrite a variety of papers. He received great pleasure from this, often even took them to his house, where, having a quick snack, he diligently continued to work. His colleagues at work constantly mocked him. Who will push and who just laugh. Akaki endured all ridicule meekly.
Once he realized that his overcoat had long been demolished, and turned to the tailor, who said that there was no point in repairing it. Need to sew a new greatcoat. And for this it was necessary to pay eighty rubles. Bashmachkin began to save absolutely everything and literally raved about a new purchase. And finally got his way. The new overcoat delights others. Everyone praises the purchase. And Akaki Akakievich is infinitely happy.
But once, having met hooligans on the street, Bashmachkin loses his overcoat. He was robbed. The unfortunate Akaki begins the search for his new clothes, turning to various authorities. But nowhere to find the truth, he dies from the fever that gripped him. After this event, rumors spread around the city that some dead man was wandering the streets and ripping off all his greatcoats. And someone even recognized him as Bashmachkin.
"Notes of a Madman," a summary. Gogol, Petersburg Stories
Once Aksentiy Poprishchin, going to work, unexpectedly heard a conversation of two little dogs, one of which belonged to the daughter of the head of the department where he worked. Dogs walked with their hostesses. He was so surprised that he even followed them. And the next day he meets the daughter of his director, already in the service. He falls in love with a beauty and secretly penetrates her house. There he intended to talk with a little dog, but she refused.
Then Aksenty went to the dwelling, where the second dog lived, and stole a heap of small pieces of paper from the corner where she slept. It turned out that it was a correspondence of small animals. From it he learned a lot of interesting facts. And, most importantly, the daughter of his boss has a lover. Gradually Axentius brings himself unhappy love to madness. He begins to present himself as a very important and even secret heir to the throne.
And another story from the series "Petersburg Tales" - "Portrait".
How to spoil a person’s money
The story begins with a description of the poor artist, who even had nothing to pay for the apartment. But suddenly he became rich and completely changed. He became arrogant and abrupt in conversations with some people who were poorer than him. Once, upon seeing the canvas of one of his former comrades, the artist realizes how far behind art he is.
He is immersed in work, but nothing comes of it. Then he begins to buy up all the famous masterpieces and destroys them in bouts of anger and envy. Bringing himself to a fever, he dies. This concludes the well-known cycle of works written by N.V. Gogol. The Petersburg Stories in brief only convey the main meaning of the stories. They are most interesting, of course, in the full edition.