Happy childhood - Chichikov did not know him

Composer Alfred Schnittke wrote the suite "Chichikov's Childhood". Dead Souls, Gogol's poem, from which this passage was taken, is an adornment of not only domestic but also world literature.

A small essay on the hero's childhood

A small excerpt from the eleventh, the last chapter of the book, written by the author so vividly and figuratively, inspired the composer to express in his means of music a gray, joyless childhood. Chichikov, the protagonist of the poem, remembering his childhood years, tried to achieve a certain position in society with all the truths and crooks. NV Gogol brilliantly language two or three phrases masterfully described the wretchedness of the existence of little Paul in his home. What can be compared with the phrase about how "life looked" at the child! A sour, unpleasant look, and even through the snow-covered, dim window. Immediately it becomes clear that the boy grew up without parental affection (his father was ill, and his mother took care of him), alone, without noisy friends-comrades, abandoned. But the most joyful and carefree time of life is childhood! Chichikov, one might say, was deprived of him.

Factors that shape the character

In the later life, the absence of friends did not weigh Pavlusha. This was facilitated, on the one hand, by the habit of always being alone, on the other hand, by encouraging the father, who decided, perhaps, only once in his life to talk with his son heart to heart. Little Chichikov was taken to a neighboring city to be identified at the school. Loshadenka Soroka only on the third day in the morning delivered the travelers to their destination - to a distant relative. And again around poorly hidden poverty, gray and wretched. The years of education begin, childhood continues. Chichikov very well mastered the advice of his father, chief among them was the ability to please absolutely everyone, especially bosses and teachers, fellow practitioners rich and useful. His ability to subtle flattery was practiced for the rest of his life. And, as the author testifies, Chichikov knew how to make the most favorable impression on society.

Peculiar talents Chichikov

Shrewdness of the main character - the driving force of the plot of the work. Enterprising, active, obsequious and unprincipled - before him could open a beautiful future, that is, he could achieve what he was striving for. Without special talents, he graduated with honors from the school. For exemplary and trustworthy behavior, he is presented with a distinctive gift - a book with gold letters. However, despite the teachers' praise, Pavlusha learned to speculate even within the precincts of the school. The hero of the work was not an exception, it was the product of the system and society.

Childhood Chichikov did not remember with a painful feeling - he did not starve, was a well-fed boy, he just did not need the usual children's fun. All energy, all his talents were directed, according to the father's councils, to accumulation. Gogol describes how the hero idolized the money: when the boy had saved five rubles, he put them in a bag, which he sewed and hid in a mattress, then began to save further. Another of his talents was the ability to sit motionless during the whole lesson and, without blinking, look into the teacher's mouth, no matter how mocking fellow practitioners tried to stir him up by pushing and tweaking.

The deity to whom the hero prays

Farewell speech of his father was devoted to the power of a penny. She, and only she, - and the most faithful friend, and the most reliable comrade, - will never betray and pull out of any trouble. And all the years of study Pavlusha tirelessly earned a pretty penny. He trained the mouse, and then sold it profitable, and made the bird for the same purpose. Taking advantage of the carelessness of fellow practitioners, Chichikov bought pies and bagels in advance, and when they waited, when they were hungry, they sold food at a price that depended on the buyer's appetite. In fact, he was an active and talented entrepreneur. This is the image of Chichikov. Childhood imposed, of course, its imprint on his character, but finally formed his morals society.