In the poem Dead Souls, N. Gogol depicted a gallery of Russian landowners. Each of them embodies negative moral qualities. Moreover, the new hero turns out to be worse than the previous one, and we become witnesses to what extreme the impoverishment of the human soul can reach. The image of Plyushkin closes the series. In the poem Dead Souls, according to the apt definition of the author, he appears as a "hole in humanity."
First impression
“Paid” - such a definition is given to the master by one of the peasants, whom Chichikov asked for directions to Plyushkin. And it is completely justified, one only has to look at this representative of the local nobility. Get to know him better.
Having passed through a large village, striking with wretchedness and poverty, Chichikov was at the manor house. This ancient castle was a little like the place where people live. The garden was also neglected, although the number and nature of the buildings indicated that there was once a strong, prosperous economy. With such a description of the manor’s estate, the characterization of Plyushkin begins in the poem Dead Souls.
Acquaintance with the landowner
Entering the courtyard, Chichikov noticed how someone: either a peasant or a woman - swears with a charioteer. The hero decided that this was a housekeeper, and asked if the owner was at home. Surprised at the appearance of a stranger here, this “certain creature” escorted the guest into the house. Once in a bright room, Chichikov marveled at the disorder that reigned in her. It seemed that unnecessary things and garbage from all around were demolished here. As it becomes known, Plyushkin really collected everything that came to hand on the street: a bucket forgotten by a man, and fragments of a broken shard, and an unnecessary feather. Looking closely at the key keeper, the hero found a man in her and was completely stunned to find out that this was the master. After the description of the house, the author of the work “Dead Souls” passes to the image of the landowner.
Gogol paints a portrait of Plyushkin as follows: he was dressed in a worn, tattered and dirty robe that adorned some rags on his neck. His eyes were constantly in motion, as if looking out for something. This testified to the suspicion and constant wariness of the hero. In general, if Chichikov did not know that he was facing one of the richest landowners of the province, he would have taken him for a beggar. In fact, the first feeling that this person evokes in the reader is pity, bordering on contempt.
Life story
The image of Plyushkin in the poem Dead Souls differs from others in that it is the only landowner with a biography. In the old days, he had a family, often hosted guests. He was considered a thrifty owner, who had plenty of everything. Then the wife died. Soon, the eldest daughter fled with the officer, and instead of serving, the son entered the regiment. Plyushkin of both children deprived of his blessing and money, and every day he became stingier. In the end, he focused on one of his wealth, and after the death of his youngest daughter, all the feelings he had in him finally gave way to greed and suspicion. He rotted bread in his barns, and he regretted even the usual gift to his grandchildren (over time, he forgave his daughter and took her home). This is how Gogol portrays this hero in the poem Dead Souls. The image of Plyushkin complements the bargaining scene.
Good deal
When Chichikov began the conversation, Plyushkin was disappointed about how difficult it was to receive guests today: he had already dined, and it was unprofitable to heat the stove. However, the guest immediately got down to business and found out that the landowner would have a hundred and twenty souls unaccounted for. He offered to sell them and said that he incurs all costs. Hearing that it was possible to benefit from the peasants who no longer existed, Plyushkin, who had begun to bargain, did not go into details and ask how legal this was. Having received the money, he carefully brought it to the bureau and, satisfied with the successful transaction, even decided to treat Chichikov with a cracker, left over from the Easter cake brought by his daughter, and a glass of liquor. Completes the image of Plyushkina in the poem "Dead Souls" message that the owner wanted to give a gold watch to his guest who was pleased. However, he immediately changed his mind and decided to write them in a gift, so that after death Chichikov remembered him with a kind word.
conclusions
The image of Plyushkin in the poem Dead Souls was very significant for Gogol. His plans were to leave in the third volume of all the landlords one of his, but already morally revived. That this is possible is indicated by several details. First, the living eyes of the hero: remember that they are often called the mirror of the soul. Secondly, Plyushkin is the only one of all the landowners who thought about gratitude. The rest also took money for the deceased peasants, but they took it for granted. Important is the fact that at the mention of an old comrade in the face of the landowner, a ray suddenly ran through. Hence the conclusion: if the hero's life had turned out differently, he would have remained a thrifty host, a good friend and family man. However, the death of his wife, the actions of children gradually turned the hero into that “gap of humanity”, which he appeared in the 6th chapter of the book “Dead Souls”.
Plyushkina’s description is a reminder to readers of the consequences that a person’s life mistakes can lead to.