Manilov is the hero of N.V. Gogol's poem, a landowner. He is the first of the landowners whom Chichikov visits. The author plays on the character’s surname (from the verb “to lure”, “to lure”).
Manilov is characterized by the author as a fruitless dreamer, a man without his own opinion, unable to bring any matter to completion. The character of the hero is difficult to grasp. The author himself describes it using a proverb: “people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan nor in the village of Selifan”. Manilov’s appearance further emphasizes his dullness and typical nature: “In appearance he was a distinguished man; His facial features were not devoid of pleasantness, but this pleasantness seemed to have too much sugar in it; in his techniques and turns there was something ingratiating favor and acquaintance. He smiled enticingly, was blond, with blue eyes. In the first minute of conversation with him you can’t help but say: “What a pleasant and kind person“The next minute you won’t say anything, and the third you’ll say: “The devil knows what it is!” and you’ll move away; if you don’t move away, you’ll feel mortal boredom.”
Manilov's mismanagement is shown even when describing his estate. Chichikov sees lifeless and pitiful views. His house is blown by all the winds, dilapidation and desolation are everywhere. The gazebo, which is pompously called the “Temple of Solitary Reflection,” also attracts attention.
Manilov's household is run by a drinking clerk, the housekeeper steals, the servants sleep and idle: “You can’t say that he was involved in farming, he never even went to the fields, farming somehow went on by itself.” Manilov constantly comes up with various “projects” that are not only useless, but also hardly feasible: “...looking from the porch at the yard and the pond, he talked about how good it would be if suddenly an underground passage was built from the house or a stone bridge was built across the pond, on which there would be shops on both sides, and so that Merchants sat there and sold various small goods needed by the peasants.”
Manilov is a supporter of everything Western and emphasizes his high education. He even named his children strange names- Themistoclus and Alcides. He is happily married, but his relationship with his wife looks feigned and parodicly sentimental.
Manilov is not looking for benefits in the deal with Chichikov. He gives the souls of the peasants for free and takes over the deed of sale.
Behind Manilov's external pleasantness lies insignificance, dullness and emptiness.
The surname Manilov makes you think of something sweet and serene. It comes from the word “to beckon,” which the author plays on ironically. In this image, N.V. Gogol creates a parody of the peculiarity of the Russian character, the tendency to dreams and inaction.
Manilov, whose characterization occupies a significant part of the narrative, nevertheless, can be described very briefly and succinctly: a man of neither this nor that.
Character of the hero
His character cannot be defined unambiguously.
Manilov is impractical and good-natured, he manages the house poorly, and his drinking clerk is in charge of matters of the estate. This led to the fact that he did not benefit from the delicate issue on which Chichikov approached him. Manilov simply gave it to him, amusing, however, his vanity with the fact that he was able to provide an invaluable service to the man. This hero is the complete antipode of the materialist Sobakevich.
Manilov, whose characteristics can be defined by such words as detachment, indifference, loves to soar in the clouds, while his dreams have absolutely no relation to reality.
Initially, he makes a very pleasant impression, but then his emptiness is revealed to his interlocutor. It becomes boring and cloying with him, since Manilov does not have his own point of view, but only maintains the conversation with banal phrases.
He does not have the vital forces that force him to do things.
There is an opinion expressed that Nicholas the First himself became the prototype of Manilov. Perhaps the academician had in mind the issue of the abolition of serfdom, which was not brought to its logical conclusion, on which, nevertheless, very often meetings of commissions were held.
Manilov's appearance
Even the appearance of this hero radiates sweetness and cloying. As the author notes, his facial features were pleasant, but this pleasantness was too sugary.
The first impression is positive, but only until he speaks. Manilov, whose characterization, it would seem, has nothing negative, is unpleasant to the author, who makes us feel his ironic attitude towards him.
Education and upbringing of a hero
This sentimental landowner, whose pleasantness was “too much given to sugar,” considers himself an educated, noble and well-mannered man. This does not prevent him, however, from keeping a bookmark on page 14 for two years in a row.
Manilov's speech is filled with kind words and, rather, resembles chirping. His manners could be called good, if not for excessive sophistication and delicacy, brought to the point of absurdity. Manilov abuses words such as “permit me,” “my dear,” “most honorable,” and speaks excessively positively about officials.
It is also impossible not to notice in his speech the abundance of indefinite adverbs and pronouns: this, some, that, some. When he talks about something, it becomes clear that his plans are not destined to come true. The nature of Manilov’s reasoning makes it clear that his fantasies have nothing to do with reality. So, he dreams of a neighbor who could talk to him “about courtesy, about good treatment.”
think about real life, and even more so, he is not capable of acting.
The elaborate names of Manilov's children, Themistoclus and Alcidas, also once again emphasize the desire to appear refined and refined.
This is the landowner Manilov. " Dead Souls" - characteristics of Russian society of the 19th century. The author’s comparison of this hero with a “too smart minister” indicates the hypocrisy of representatives of the highest state power.
Positive qualities of Manilov
This hero of Gogol’s story still cannot be called negative. He is full of sincere enthusiasm, sympathy for people, and hospitable.
Manilov loves his family, his wife and children. He has a warm and, of course, too sweet relationship with his wife: “Open your mouth, darling, I’ll put this piece for you,” Manilov says to his wife. The characterization of this hero is impossibly saturated with sweetness.
Hero's leisure
All of Manilov’s activities boil down to being in a fantasy world. He prefers to spend time in the “temple of solitary reflection” and builds projects that can never be realized. For example, he dreams of making an underground passage from his house or building it across a pond.
Landowner Manilov dreams all day long. “Dead Souls” is a characteristic of dead heroic landowners, whose lifestyle speaks of the degradation of humanity. It is worth noting that this hero, unlike the others, has some attractiveness.
Comparative and Manilova
Unlike Manilov, the character of Goncharov is not new in Russian literature. Oblomov can be put on a par with Onegin and Pechorin, who also had great potential, but could not realize it.
Both the heroes of Pushkin and Lermontov, and the image recreated by Goncharov, evoke the sympathy of the reader. Gogol's hero, of course, is somewhat similar to Ilya Ilyich, but he does not evoke compassion or affection for himself.
Oblomov and Manilov, whose comparative characteristics are so often carried out by students at school, are indeed similar in many ways. In the image of the hero of the novel, Goncharov, perhaps, has even less external dynamics: he lies on the sofa from morning to night, builds projects to improve things on his estate, reflects, dreams. His plans do not come to fruition, because he is so lazy that sometimes he does not even get up from the couch in the morning to wash his face.
The concepts of “Manilovism” and “Oblomovism” are put on the same level, but they do not mean the same thing. A synonym for the word “Oblomovism” is “laziness.” “Manilovism” is best defined by the concept of “vulgarity.”
What is the difference between Oblomov and Manilov? Comparative characteristics These two characters cannot be ignored by such a point as the difference in intelligence and level of depth of personality of these two heroes. Manilov is superficial, tries to please everyone, he has no opinion of his own. Ilya Ilyich, on the contrary, is a deep, developed personality. Goncharov's hero is capable of very serious judgments, he is not afraid of being misunderstood (the scene with Penkin), in addition, he is a truly kind person. It would be more correct to describe Manilov with the word “good-natured.”
The characteristics of Oblomov and Manilov are similar in the attitude of the heroes to issues of housekeeping. Ilya Ilyich is considering a response to an unpleasant letter from the headman, received several years ago, and is reflecting on plans for reforms in the affairs of the estate. It must be said that Oblomov receives such letters that disturb his peace every year.
Manilov was not involved in farming either; it runs by itself. To the clerk’s proposals to introduce some kind of transformation, the master replies: “Yes, not bad.” Very often Manilov plunges into empty dreams of how good it would be...
For what reason do readers like the hero of Goncharov’s story? The fact is that initially Manilov, as Gogol notes, seems like a pleasant person, but as soon as you talk to him a little longer, you begin to feel mortal boredom. Oblomov, on the contrary, initially makes a not very pleasant impression, but subsequently, opening up with best sides, wins the universal sympathy and sympathy of readers.
In conclusion, it should be noted that Manilov - happy man. He is happy with his serene lifestyle, he has a beloved wife and children. Oblomov is deeply unhappy. In his dreams, he fights slander, lies and other vices of human society.
The landowner Manilov is a bright hero in the gallery of characters in Gogol's poem. A direct characterization of Manilov from “Dead Souls” takes the author only one paragraph, but the house, furnishings and dialogues of the hero with Chichikov draw every line of the landowner’s character and nature with unsurpassed skill.
Manilov's appearance
When describing Manilov, the author uses a number of proverbs and skillfully veiled irony. He talks very delicately about the hero’s appearance, hinting that the character is “nothing” both externally and internally – “neither fish nor fowl.” His facial features are pleasant, he himself is a “distinguished” person: blond, blue-eyed, smiling. Manilov is dressed well, creates an impression noble man with pleasant facial features. Hospitality that turns into mania is another of the qualities that is characteristic of the owner. Gogol honestly says that at the beginning of meeting such a person, one gets the impression that he is “extremely pleasant”, later the sweetness of speeches and excessive desire to please takes over, after some time the interlocutor thinks “the devil knows what” and tries to escape, so as not to die of boredom.
The character of the landowner
We learn about the character’s nature from the first lines “God alone could tell what Manilov’s character was.” This man could not find himself in anything (and he did not look for it). The author does not give Manilov a name, unlike other characters, making it clear that his image is typical, general and completely impersonal. If someone had a penchant for arguing, was passionate about card games, hunting or something else, then Manilov did not know how to do anything well, and had no inclination towards anything at all.
The landowner could not formulate a single topic on which he liked to have conversations, only something sublime, abstract, which cannot be expressed and denoted in words. The author's manner of characterizing the character through his speech very harmoniously reveals inner world Manilov, excessive manners and sweetness of expressions recede into the background. Laziness, a monotonous lifestyle, and morbid daydreaming turned him into an empty, inactive type who could compete in the ability to waste his life with any tavern reveler. The result is the same: the chairs will sit for years and wait for new upholstery, the pond will turn into a swamp, and the gazebo for reflection will be overgrown with thistles. The inability to create, manage, and make decisions led to the fact that Manilov, a kind and enlightened owner, is robbed by his employees every day. The men lie to the landowner, get drunk and laugh at him. Household and yard workers steal in broad daylight, sleep until noon, and engage in work to the same extent as their master.
Life position
Like anyone limited person, Manilov finds himself in a complete stupor when he encounters something new. Interest in “business” is limited to the fact that he cares about the legality of any transactions. This happened when Pavel Ivanovich offered him a deal. The landowner does not think about how profitable it is; this is too base a topic for such an exalted, subtle nature like him. Our character happily gives the dead souls to Chichikov, literally believes the guest about the legality of such an operation, and rejoices because he has given pleasure to his interlocutor.
The attitude of the owner of the estate towards others is so monotonous that the ability to understand people is out of the question. The entire elite that runs the city along with their relatives, wives and children, in his opinion, are “the nicest people.” About whom do not ask: “most noble”, “most worthy”, “most decent”. Manilov is sincerely happy because he knows such wonderful people, admires their education, intelligence and talents.
In fact, provincial officials are thieves, swindlers, drunkards and revelers, but the illusory world in which our hero exists does not allow such concepts. The landowner does not see beyond his own nose; he lives by other people’s beliefs and opinions. The main problem of “Manilovism” is that the happiness of such people is unshakable, nothing interests them or upsets them, they exist in a separate reality and are quite happy with such a spiritually impoverished life.
Our article briefly describes and analyzes the image of the landowner Manilov with quotes. This material will be useful in preparing for lessons, writing essays, and test papers.
Work test
Characteristics of Manilov, one of the heroes of the poem “” (1842) by the Russian writer (1809 - 1852).
On behalf of this hero, the word ➤ baseless daydreaming, a passively complacent attitude towards reality entered the Russian language.
Manilov is married. Lives in Manilovka village. He has two boys - Themistoclus and Alcides.
Volume I, Chapter I
“He immediately met the very courteous and courteous landowner Manilov...”
“The landowner Manilov, not yet an old man at all, who had eyes as sweet as sugar, and squinted them every time he laughed, was crazy about him. He shook his hand for a very long time and asked him to earnestly honor him by coming to the village, to which, according to him, was only fifteen miles from the city outpost. To which Chichikov, with a very polite bow of his head and a sincere handshake, replied that he was not only very willing to do this, but would even consider it a sacred duty."
Volume I, Chapter II
Description of the village of Manilovka:
“We went to look for Manilovka. Having driven two miles, we came across a turn onto a country road, but two, three, and four miles had already gone, it seems, and the two-story stone house was still not visible. Then Chichikov remembered that if a friend invites you to a village fifteen miles away, which means that there are thirty faithful to it. The village of Manilovka could lure few people with its location. The manor’s house stood alone on the south, that is, on a hill, open to all the winds that the slope might blow; The mountain on which he stood was covered with trimmed turf. Two or three flower beds with bushes of lilacs and yellow acacias were scattered on it; five or six birch trees in small clumps raised their thin, small-leaved peaks here and there. Under two of them, one could see. there was a gazebo with a flat green dome, wooden blue columns and the inscription “temple of solitary reflection”; lower down there was a pond covered with greenery, which, however, was not unusual in the English gardens of Russian landowners. At the foot of this elevation, and partly along the slope itself, it was dark along the slope. and across the gray log huts, which our hero, for unknown reasons, at that very moment began to count and counted more than two hundred; nowhere between them is a growing tree or any greenery; There was only one log visible everywhere. The view was enlivened by two women who, having picked up their dresses picturesquely and tucked themselves in on all sides, were wandering knee-deep in the pond, dragging a tattered mess by two wooden nags, where two tangled crayfish were visible and the glistening of the caught roach; the women seemed to be quarreling among themselves and quarreling over something. At a distance, to the side, it darkened with some dull bluish color pine forest. Even the weather itself was very useful: the day was either clear or gloomy, but of some light gray color, which only appears on the old uniforms of garrison soldiers, this, however, was a peaceful army, but partly drunk in Sundays. To complete the picture there was no shortage of a rooster, the harbinger of changeable weather, which, despite the fact that the head was hollowed out to the very brain by the noses of other roosters, famous cases red tape, bawled very loudly and even flapped his wings, which were tattered like old matting. Approaching the yard, Chichikov noticed the owner himself on the porch, who stood in a green shallot frock coat, putting his hand to his forehead in the form of an umbrella over his eyes in order to get a better look at the approaching carriage. As the chaise approached the porch, his eyes became more cheerful and his smile widened more and more."
About Manilov and his wife:
“God alone could have said what Manilov’s character was like. There is a kind of people known by the name: so-so people, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan, according to the proverb. Perhaps we should approach them Manilov also joined in. He was a distinguished man; his facial features were not without pleasantness, but this pleasantness seemed to convey too much sugar; He was blond, with blue eyes. In the first minute of conversation with him, you can’t help but say: what a pleasant and kind person! The next minute you won’t say anything, but the third you’ll say: the devil knows what it is and you’ll move away! If you don’t move away, you will feel mortal boredom. You won’t get any lively or even arrogant words from him, which you can hear from almost anyone if you touch an object that is bullying him: everyone has their own enthusiasm: one person’s enthusiasm turned to greyhounds; he is a strong lover of music and amazingly feels all the deep places in it; the third master of a dashing lunch; the fourth to play a role at least one inch higher than the one assigned to him; the fifth, with a more limited desire, sleeps and dreams of going on a walk with the aide-de-camp, to show off to his friends, acquaintances and even strangers; the sixth is already gifted with a hand that feels a supernatural desire to bend the corner of some ace or deuce of diamonds, while the hand of the seventh is trying to create order somewhere, to get closer to the person stationmaster or coachmen - in a word, everyone has their own, but Manilov had nothing. At home he spoke very little and for the most part he pondered and thought, but what he was thinking about, God knew too. “It’s impossible to say that he was involved in farming, he never even went to the fields, farming somehow went on by itself.” When the clerk said: “It would be nice, master, to do this and that,” “Yes, not bad,” he usually answered, smoking a pipe, which he had made a habit of smoking when he was still serving in the army, where he was considered the most modest, most delicate and educated officer: “Yes.” “It’s not bad,” he repeated. When a man came to him and, scratching the back of his head with his hand, said, “Master, let me go away to work and earn some money.” “Go,” he said, smoking a pipe, and it didn’t even occur to him that the man was going out to drink. Sometimes, looking from the porch at the yard and the pond, he talked about how nice it would be if suddenly an underground passage was built from the house or a stone bridge was built across the pond, on which there would be benches on both sides, and so that people could sit in them merchants sold various small goods needed by the peasants. “At the same time, his eyes became extremely sweet and his face took on the most contented expression, however, all these projects ended only in words. In his office there was always some kind of book, bookmarked on page 14, which he had been constantly reading for two years. There was always something missing in his house: in the living room there was beautiful furniture, upholstered in smart silk fabric, which was probably quite expensive; but there wasn’t enough for two chairs, and the chairs were simply upholstered in matting; However, for several years the owner always warned his guest with the words: “Don’t sit on these chairs, they are not ready yet.” In another room there was no furniture at all, although it was said in the first days after marriage: “Darling, tomorrow we will have to work hard to put furniture in this room, at least for a while.” In the evening, a very dandy candlestick made of dark bronze with three antique graces, with a dandy mother-of-pearl shield, was served on the table, and next to it was placed some simple copper invalid, lame, curled up to the side and covered in fat, although neither the owner nor mistress, no servant. His wife ... however, they were completely satisfied with each other. Despite the fact that more than eight years of their marriage had passed, each of them still brought the other either a piece of apple, or candy, or a nut and said in a touchingly gentle voice, expressing perfect love: “Open your mouth, darling, I’ll put it for you.” this piece." “It goes without saying that the mouth opened very gracefully on this occasion.” There were surprises prepared for the birthday: some kind of beaded case for a toothpick. And quite often, sitting on the sofa, suddenly, for absolutely unknown reasons, one leaving his pipe, and the other his work, if only she was holding it in his hands at that time, they impressed each other with such a languid and long kiss that it could be continued It would be easy to smoke a small straw cigar. In a word, they were what they say happy. Of course, one could notice that there are many other things to do in the house besides long kisses and surprises, and many different requests could be made. Why, for example, do you cook stupidly and uselessly in the kitchen? Why is the pantry pretty empty? Why is a thief a housekeeper? Why are servants unclean and drunkards? Why do all the servants sleep mercilessly and hang out the rest of the time? But all these are low subjects, and Manilova was brought up well. And a good education, as you know, comes from boarding schools. And in boarding schools, as you know, three main subjects form the basis of human virtues: French, necessary for the happiness of family life, a piano, to bring pleasant moments to the spouse, and, finally, the actual economic part: knitting wallets and other surprises. However, there are various improvements and changes in methods, especially at the present time; all this depends more on the prudence and abilities of the boarding house owners themselves. In other boarding houses it happens that first the piano, then the French language, and then the economic part. And sometimes it happens that first the economic part, i.e. knitting surprises, then French, and then piano. There are different methods. It doesn’t hurt to make another remark that Manilova ... but I admit, I’m very afraid to talk about ladies, and besides, it’s time for me to return to our heroes, who have been standing for several minutes in front of the doors of the living room, mutually begging each other to go forward.”
About Manilov's wife:
“Let me introduce you to my wife,” said Manilov. “Darling, Pavel Ivanovich!”
Chichikov, for sure, saw a lady whom he had not noticed at all, bowing at the door with Manilov. She was not bad-looking, and was dressed to her liking. A pale-colored silk cloth cape sat well on her; her thin small hand hurriedly threw something on the table and clutched a cambric handkerchief with embroidered corners. She rose from the sofa on which she was sitting; Chichikov, not without pleasure, approached her hand. Manilova said, even burbling somewhat, that he made them very happy with his arrival and that her husband did not go by a day without thinking about him.
Volume I, Chapter IV
Chichikov talks to the owner of the tavern:
"Oh! Do you know Sobakevich?" he asked and immediately heard that the old woman knew not only Sobakevich, but also Manilov, and that Manilov would be greater than Sobakevich: he would order the chicken to be cooked immediately, and he would ask for veal; if there was lamb liver, then he would ask for lamb liver, and would just try everything. , and Sobakevich will ask for one thing, but he will eat it all, and even demand a supplement for the same price."
