Dead Souls

Main Characters and Their Development

• Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov — a minor official who seeks to enrich himself by any means. He travels across Russia buying 'dead souls', that is, peasants who died after the last census but are still listed as alive in tax records, to use them for obtaining loans. His character combines cunning and deceit with greed and hypocrisy.
• Manilov — one of the landowners from whom Chichikov buys 'dead souls'. He is characterized by indecision and dreaminess, lacking clear life goals.
• Sobakevich — another landowner, known for his coarseness, greed, and practicality. He sells 'dead souls' to Chichikov, making sure to profit from it.
• Nozdryov — a landowner known for his carelessness, tendency to lie, and gambling. His behavior and views demonstrate a lack of moral principles.
• Plushkin — a landowner who became a miser after personal losses. His passion for hoarding has reached an extreme, and he lives in complete decay, surrounded by ruin.