Dead Souls

The narrator reasserts his commitment to depicting life in the Russian periphery, outside the capitals, what he calls the “backwoods” (4634). Chichikov is traveling through a hilly and heavily wooded area, approaching the village church. The approaching estate, secluded and accessible from only one side, belongs to a young, unmarried landowner, Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov.

Tentetnikov, the narrator reports, is unpopular with his neighbors and inclined to idleness. His morning tea takes several hours, and he spends the rest of his time planning his largely unwritten epic treatise on every aspect of Russian society, history, and life. The narrator considers whether he is the product of circumstance and recounts Tentetnikov’s biography.

When Tentetnikov was very young, his village had had a beloved schoolmaster, who idolized children and was dedicated to supporting their intellectual and personal development. But, unfortunately for Tentetnikov, a stern taskmaster replaced this exemplary man died and the school deteriorated. Tentetnikov’s ambitions died. Though he studied every subject as exhaustively as possible, he found no real clarity in the absence of a real teacher.

Tentetnikov got a civil service post in Saint Petersburg, but was disappointed to find most of his work was copying. He and his perpetually discontented friends hated their cruel superior, eventually being so rude to this authority figure that Tentetnikov had to resign.

Tentetnikov decided that his real purpose was saving the peasants of his family estate. Upon his arrival in the country, Tentetnikov was stunned with the vast beauty of his holdings, and flattered by the welcome from the serfs. The peasants quickly took advantage of his naiveté, making sure that their land prospered while his did not. He plied the men with vodka as an incentive to work—an obvious mistake—and had no idea how to compel the women to work. He quickly lost interest in farming, ceased going outside, and refused all social invitations from his neighbors. Now, he devotes his time to his enormous treatise about Russia and weeping for his lost schoolmaster.

When Chichikov’s barouche arrives, Tentetnikov is anxious that Chichikov is a high official there to inquire about his past involvement with a noble philanthropic society that ran afoul of the authorities. Chichikov bows charmingly and explains that he stopped for the beauty surrounding them and that his carriage is broken down. Tentetnikov takes his visitor for a scholar.

Chichikov has already quickly interrogated all of the local peasants and estate workers, and is outraged by Tentetnikov’s neglect of his massive holdings: “What a swine Tentetnikov is, though! To have an estate like this one and to neglect it so badly! He could have fifty thousand rubles’ income a year!” (5069-70). He fantasizes about his own possible life as an estate owner with a wife and children. Chichikov’s servants also enjoy themselves—the local tavern for Petrushka, and local women for Selifan.

Chichikov, newly discreet after his recent experience, decides to approach his request for dead souls subtly and indirectly. Tentetnikov recently fell in love with the daughter of a local general, a young woman dedicated to causes of justice and kindness. Learning that the relationship came to nothing, Chichikov infers from Tentetnikov’s constant sketches of a woman’s face that his feelings are likely still present. Chichikov hints that Tentetnikov he might be happier as a married man. Finally, Tentetnikov explains that the courtship ended when the general addressed Tentetnikov in the overly familiar ty (the Russian casual “you,” similar to the French tu), instead of the formal vy. The insult was too much for Tentetnikov. Chichikov points out that generals do this to everyone, but privately reflects that this is absurd: The slight is on both sides, since Tentetnikov responded to the general with arguments. In any case, it is not worth losing out on a wife over this. Chichikov offers to intercede, and the narrator announces that the next chapter will follow Chichikov to the general’s.