And his estate in the text of the work). Gogol himself admitted that it is very difficult to draw such characters. There is nothing bright, sharp, or conspicuous about Manilov. There are many such vague, indefinite images in the world, says Gogol; at first glance they are similar to each other, but it’s worth looking closely at them, and only then will you see “many of the most elusive features.” “God alone could have said what Manilov’s character was,” Gogol continues. - There is a kind of people known by the name: “people are so-so, neither this nor that - neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan.”
From these words we conclude that the main difficulty for Gogol was not so much the external definition of character as the internal assessment of it: good man Manilov or not? His uncertainty is explained by the fact that he does neither good nor evil, and his thoughts and feelings are impeccable. Manilov is a dreamer, sentimentalist; he resembles countless heroes of various sentimental, partly romantic novels and stories: the same dreams of friendship, of love, the same idealization of life and man, the same lofty words about virtue, and “temples of solitary reflection”, and “sweet melancholy”, and causeless tears and heartfelt sighs... Gogol calls Manilova cloying, sugary; Every “living” person is bored with him. It makes exactly the same impression on a person spoiled by artistic literature of the 19th century centuries, reading old sentimental stories - the same cloying, the same sweetness and, finally, boredom.
Manilov. Artist A. Laptev
But sentimentalism has captured several generations among us, and therefore Manilov is a living person, noted not only by Gogol. Gogol only noted in “ Dead souls ah" the caricature side of this contemplative nature - he pointed out the futility of the life of a sentimental person living exclusively in the world of his subtle moods. And here is the image that is for people late XVIII century was considered ideal, under the pen of Gogol he appeared as a “vulgar”, a smoker of the sky, living without benefit to his homeland and people who do not understand the meaning of life... Manilov “Dead Souls” is a caricature of a “beautiful person” (die schöne Seele German romantics), this is the wrong side of Lensky... No wonder Pushkin himself, drawing poetic image young man, he was afraid that if he had stayed alive, lived longer with the impressions of Russian reality, then in his old age, heavy from a satisfying, idle life in the village, wrapped in a robe, he would easily turn into a “vulgar.” And Gogol found something he could turn to - Manilov.
Manilov has no goal in life - there is no passion - that is why there is no enthusiasm in him, no life... He was not involved in farming, he was gentle and humane in his treatment of the peasants, he subordinated them to the complete arbitrariness of the rogue clerk, and this made it difficult for them .
Chichikov easily understood Manilov and deftly played with him the role of the same “beautiful-hearted” dreamer; he bombarded Manilov with florid words, charmed him with the tenderness of his heart, moved him to pity with pitiful phrases about his disastrous fate and, finally, plunged him into the world of dreams, “soaring”, “spiritual pleasures”... “Magnetism of the soul”, dreams of eternal friendship, dreams of bliss together to philosophize in the shade of an elm tree - these are the thoughts, feelings and moods that Chichikov was able to deftly stir in Manilov...
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The image of the landowner Manilov, in comparison with most of the landowners described by Gogol, creates the most favorable and positive impression, although finding his negative traits is not so difficult, however, in comparison with the negative aspects of other landowners, this looks like the least of evils.
Manilov's appearance and age
Manilov's exact age is not indicated in the story, but it is known that he was not an old man. The reader’s acquaintance with Manilov most likely falls during the prime of his powers. His hair was blond and his eyes were blue. Manilov often smiled, sometimes to such an extent that his eyes were hidden and were not visible at all. He also had a habit of squinting.
His clothes were traditional and did not stand out in any way, just like Manilov himself in the context of society.
Personality characteristics
Manilov is a pleasant person. He does not have such a hot-tempered and unbalanced character as most of the landowners described by Gogol.
His goodwill and good nature endear him and create trusting relationship. At first glance, this state of affairs seems very profitable, but in essence, it is playing with Manilov cruel joke, turning him into a boring person.
The lack of enthusiasm and a clear position on this or that issue makes it impossible to communicate with him for a long time. Manilov was polite and kind. As a rule, he smoked a pipe, paying tribute to his habit during his army years. He was not involved in housekeeping at all - he was too lazy to do it. Manilov often made plans in his dreams to restore and develop his farm and improve his home, but these plans always remained dreams and never came to fruition real life. The reason for this was the same laziness of the landowner.
Dear readers! We invite you to read the poem by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol “ Dead Souls”
Manilov is very upset by the fact that he did not receive a proper education. He cannot speak fluently, but he writes very competently and accurately - Chichikov was surprised to see his notes - there was no need to rewrite them, since everything was written clearly, calligraphically and without errors.
Manilov family
If in other respects Manilov can fail, then in relation to the family and his relationship with his family he is an example to follow. His family consists of a wife and two sons; to some extent, a teacher can be added to these people. In the story, Gogol gives him a significant role, but, apparently, Manilov perceived him as a member of the family.
Manilov's wife's name was Lisa, she was already eight years old married woman. The husband was very kind to her. Tenderness and love prevailed in their relationship. It was not a game for the public - they really had tender feelings for each other.
Lisa was a beautiful and well-mannered woman, but she did absolutely nothing at home. There was no objective reason for this, other than laziness and her personal reluctance to delve into the essence of matters. The members of the household, in particular the husband, did not consider this something terrible and were calm about this state of affairs.
Manilov's eldest son was named Themistoclus. He was good boy 8 years old. According to Manilov himself, the boy was distinguished by unprecedented ingenuity and intelligence for his age. Name youngest son was no less unusual - Alcides. The youngest son was six. As for the youngest son, the head of the family believes that he is inferior in development to his brother, but, in general, the review of him was also favorable.
Manilov estate and village
Manilov has great potential to become rich and successful. He has a pond, a forest, and a village of 200 houses at his disposal, but the landowner’s laziness prevents him from fully developing his farm. It would be more correct to say that Manilov is not involved in housekeeping at all. The manager manages the main affairs, but Manilov has very successfully retreated and lives a measured life. Even occasional interventions in the course of the process do not arouse his interest.
On our website you can read Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls”
He undoubtedly agrees with his manager about the need for certain works or actions, but he does it so lazily and vaguely that it is sometimes difficult to determine him true attitude to the subject of discussion.
On the territory of the estate, several flower beds arranged in the English style and a gazebo stand out. The flower beds, like practically everything else on the Manilov estate, are in disrepair - neither the owner nor the mistress pays due attention to them.
Since Manilov loves to indulge in dreams and reflections, the gazebo becomes an important element in his life. He can stay there often and for a long time, indulging in fantasies and making mental plans.
Attitude towards peasants
The peasants of Manilov never suffer from the attacks of their landowner; the point here is not only Manilov’s calm disposition, but also his laziness. He never delves into the affairs of his peasants, because he has no interest in this matter. At first glance, such an attitude should have a favorable effect on the relationship in the landlord-serf projection, but this medal also has its own unsightly side. Manilov's indifference is manifested in complete indifference to the life of serfs. He does not in any way try to improve their working or living conditions.
By the way, he doesn’t even know the number of his serfs, since he doesn’t keep count of them. Some attempts to keep records were made by Manilov - he counted male peasants, but soon there was confusion with this and in the end everything was abandoned. Also, Manilov does not keep count of his “dead souls.” Manilov gives Chichikov his dead souls and even takes on the costs of their registration.
Manilov's house and office
Everything in the Manilov estate has a dual position. The house and, in particular, the office were no exception to the rule. Here, more than anywhere else, the inconstancy of the landowner and his family members can be seen better.
First of all, this is due to the comparison of the incomparable. In Manilov’s house you can see some good things, for example, the landowner’s sofa was covered with good fabric, but the rest of the furniture was in disrepair and was upholstered in cheap and already well-worn fabric. In some rooms there was no furniture at all and they stood empty. Chichikov was unpleasantly surprised when, during dinner, on the table next to him stood a very decent lamp and a completely unsightly-looking colleague who looked like a disabled person. However, only the guest noticed this fact - the rest took it for granted.
Manilov's office is not much different from everything else. At first glance, it was quite a nice room, the walls of which were painted in gray-blue tones, but when Chichikov began to carefully examine the furnishings of the office, he could notice that most of all in Manilov’s office there was tobacco. Tobacco was definitely everywhere - in a pile on the table, and he generously sprinkled all the documents that were in the office. There was also a book in Manilov’s office - the bookmark in it was at the very beginning - page fourteen, but this did not mean at all that Manilov had recently started reading it. This book has been quietly lying in this position for two years now.
Thus, Gogol in the story “Dead Souls” portrayed a completely pleasant person, the landowner Manilov, who, despite all his shortcomings, stands out noticeably positively against the background of the whole society. He has all the potential to become an exemplary person in all respects, but laziness, which the landowner is unable to overcome, becomes a serious obstacle to this.
Characteristics of Manilov in the poem “Dead Souls”: description of character and appearance
3.8 (75.56%) 18 votesLesson summary based on N.V. Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls.”
(9th grade)
Subject: “Everyone has his own, but Manilov had nothing”
Target: analyze the image of the landowner Manilov.
Tasks:
identify techniques for describing the landowner’s character, the internal logic of creating the image;
teach the ability to determine the principles of typification of social phenomena;
involve students in research work.
Lesson structure:
1 . Organizational stage.
2. Checking homework.
3. Announcement of the topicand lesson objectives.
4. Work in notebooks.
5. Summing up the lesson.
6. Homework.
During the classes
1. Organizational stage.
1. Preparing students for work in the classroom.
2. Mutual greeting between teacher and students.
3. Visual control of readiness for the lesson.
2. Checking homework.
3. Announcement of the topic and lesson objectives.
One of the features of N.V. Gogol’s talent is that “passion to know everything,” that “desire to know a person,” which makes him look for people of all classes and notice something interesting in everyone.”
So, the purpose of today's lesson is to analyze the image of the landowner Manilov.
In the poem “Dead Souls” N.V. Gogol wrote: “It is much easier to portray characters big size: there, just throw paints from your entire hand onto the canvas... and the portrait is ready; but all these gentlemen, of whom there are many in the world, who look very similar to each other, and yet, when you look closely, you will see many of the most elusive features - these gentlemen are terribly difficult for portraits.”
Guys, please tell me when the first meeting with Manilov takes place?(The meeting with Manilov occurs already in the first chapter) .
What impression can you form about Manilov before meeting him?
4. Work in notebooks.
Now we will create a table in which we will record quotes from the text and your observations. We will fill it out during the discussion.
Criterion
Manilov
Appearance
Character
Features of behavior and speech
Relationships with others
Description of the estate
The result of the transaction
- Manilov's appearance.
In the description of Manilov’s portrait there is a succinct phrase: “...revealing in his face an expression that is not only sweet, but even cloying...”
IN portrait characteristics Manilov, the author emphasizes that he is a prominent person, but only “at first glance”; his facial features are not devoid of pleasantness, “but this pleasantness is somehow cloying, “sugar”; “ingratiating” manners, “tempting” smile, “blond hair, blue eyes.” The first impression is that Manilov is a kind, pleasant person, then some kind of uncertainty is felt, it is even suggested by the author: “neither this nor that...”.
- Manilov's character.
With his first phrase, Gogol emphasizes Manilov’s lack of anything specific: “Everyone has his own enthusiasm<...>... in a word, everyone has their own, but Manilov had nothing.” The character of this man seems to merge with the tone of the gray, boring, lifeless landscape.
- Features of behavior and speech.
In the expression on Manilov’s face during conversation, in speech, in the choice of words, in the manners and intonations of his voice, the author notes the same exaggerated sensitivity, sentimentality, and most importantly, mental limitation, vacuity, and helplessness of thought. Manilov is trying to conduct an elevated conversation, to understand the facts of life. He talks a lot, uses nothing meaningful words, cannot complete sentences, instead there are gestures that replace the statement. All this speaks of the lack of content of Manilov’s thoughts, of his stupidity.
- Relationships with others.
The owner and his wife communicated with each other in a cloyingly sentimental manner: “Open your mouth, darling, I’ll put this piece in for you.” Manilov expresses himself extremely elegantly and in a bookish way: “It really was such a pleasure, May Day, the name day of the heart...”. Every person in Manilov is kind, courteous, sweet, pleasant, intelligent, educated, well-read and worthy, but not because this is how it really is, but because Manilov does not understand anything about people. The names of Manilov's children - Alcides and Themistoclus - clearly smack of the pagan ancient past, ancient times before the birth of Christ.
The comic scene at the door in the living room characterizes Manilov as overly amiable and intrusive. Again, the hero feels “saccharine sweetness.”
- Description of the estate.
The description of the village and the estate characterizes the landowner as lazy and mismanagement: the house stood “open to all the winds,” and the pond in the estate was covered with greenery. The author ironically notes that this “is not unusual in the English gardens of Russian landowners.” The birch trees here are “small-leaved, sparse,” “gray log huts” are scattered around the manor’s house and “nowhere between them is a growing tree or any greenery...”. The gazebo with a flat green dome and blue columns was called the “Temple of Solitary Reflection.” Life in the house and on the entire estate seemed to have stopped: the bookmark still remained on page 14, two armchairs were not ready and were covered with matting.
- The result of the transaction.
He is confused and helpless before Chichikov's proposal to sell dead souls. Gogol conveys this well by describing the hero’s facial expressions and gestures. It is surprising that, without knowing the person (Chichikov), Manilov immediately trusts him and tries in every possible way to serve him, to prove his “heartfelt attraction”... After this, he does not think about his action, but indulges in joyful reflections that he has given the guest a little pleasure. Again we see Manilov’s spinelessness and stupidity, which manifests itself not only in deeds, but also in his thoughts.So, the ability to persuade gave Chichikov his first results and he achieved his goal, without spending any savings.
5. Summing up the lesson.
What is the main thing in Manilov? What detail in the description of the hero is dominant?(The theme of sugar and sweetness, the author, with his comparisons, ensures that the reader develops a feeling close to physical disgust.)
- What is hidden behind Manilov’s smiling face? How does the author himself characterize the hero?(A pleasant Manilov smile for everyone is a sign of deep indifference to everything around them; such people are not capable of experiencing anger, sorrow, joy.)
- With the help of what details does Gogol give a comic coloring to the images of his characters?(An integral part of Gogol's portrait drawing are postures, clothing, movements, gestures, facial expressions. With their help, the writer enhances the comic coloring of the images and reveals the true essence of the hero.)
What is distinguishing feature Manilov?(His main psychological trait is the desire to please everyone and always.)
What do the names of Manilov’s children emphasize?
What conclusions does the author lead readers to?( Manilov is a calm observer of everything that happens; bribe takers, thieves, embezzlers - all the most respected people for him. Manilov is an indefinite person; he has no living human desires. This is a dead soul, a person “so-so, neither this nor that.”)
Conclusion. Instead of real feeling, Manilov has a “pleasant smile”, cloying courtesy and sensitive phrases; instead of thought - some kind of incoherent, stupid reflections, instead of activity - either empty dreams, or such results of “labor” as “slides of ash knocked out of a pipe, arranged, not without effort, in very beautiful rows.
6. Homework
The poem "Dead Souls" was written by Gogol back in 1842. In the work, the author pays great attention to the description of nobles and landowners. One of the brightest bright characters is Manilov.
Gogol managed to interestingly correlate the character and surname of the landowner. The hero's surname can be called telling, since the landowner constantly dreams and attracts him everywhere. The first acquaintance with Manilov takes place at a party with the governor of the city N. The author introduces him as “a very courteous and courteous landowner.”
Characteristics of the hero
Manilov appears blue-eyed blond in middle age. He's not stupid, he's nice, but appearance its quite sweet, “the pleasantness was too much transferred to the sugar.” This landowner does not have any outstanding features. Gogol emphasized that there are “many of them in the world” and argued that he is “neither this nor that.” Perhaps this is why the character strives to highlight his children and gives them unusual names - Themistoclus alone is worth it! And Alcides, his other son, also wears unusual name, which sets it apart from others.
Manilov belonged to the class of wealthy landowners. In the village where Manilov lived there were approximately two hundred houses, i.e. more than two hundred souls. This is quite a large number. Nobody took care of the landowner’s farming; it goes “by itself.” Unlike Sobakevich, he does not force his peasants to work for wear and tear without food and water, but he has not done anything to make their lives better, he is indifferent to them. He never goes to the fields; he is not interested in his farming. Manilov completely entrusted the management of his name days to the clerk.
The landowner rarely left Manilovka; he led a rather idle lifestyle. It was enough for him to lose himself in his thoughts and smoke a pipe. This person is dreamy and has many desires and aspirations, but at the same time he is very lazy. Moreover, his dreams are sometimes absurd - for example, to dig an underground passage that he does not need at all. And the hero does absolutely nothing to make his dream come true, which characterizes him as a lazy and weak-willed person.
Manilov is quite polite in dealing with people, but at the same time neat. In a conversation with Chichikov, he constantly exchanges pleasantries, but no useful information does not speak. He is no less courteous with other characters:
"...said Manilov with a pleasant smile..." or " ...He smiled enticingly..."
Manilov was also a noble dreamer, but practically none of his dreams were realized, neither an underground tunnel nor a bridge across his pond. This person spends a lot of time on new dreams and fantasies, but does nothing to make the dream a reality:
"At home he spoke very little and spent most of his time reflecting and thinking, but what he was thinking about was also unknown to God.."
His laziness is emphasized by words about what kind of landowner and owner he is, and that he has never even traveled around his own fields to inspect them or personally monitor the fulfillment of his demands and instructions. Despite the fact that the hero has a fairly large household, he pays very little attention to him, essentially letting everything take its course.
The image of the hero in the work
("Portrait of Manilov", artist V. Andreev, 1900)
At the beginning of the poem, the landowner seems quite pleasant to the reader and smart man, but later in the story Mnilov becomes boring and doesn’t in an interesting way. The author even highlights the hero’s handwriting when Chichikov speaks about his handwriting in one of the dialogues of the work.
He has no opinion and can only speak generally accepted pleasantries, being incapable of bold steps and decisions. But Manilov himself presents himself as well-mannered, educated and noble. By the way, Manilov believed that officials are “the most respectable people,” and constantly strives to speak with them as politely and culturally as possible.
After reading the poem, we can conclude that the landowner Manilov is not able to think about his life and make difficult decisions on his own. He can do everything only in words, but not in actions. But, at the same time, the landowner appears as a good family man who truly loves his family - this important detail his image. Therefore, despite the fact that he is lazy a lot, does not keep his word, one cannot say that his soul is dead - he still has positive traits hero.
