Who Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives in a provincial town looking ordinary, tidy and respectable. He asks about local officials and wealthy landowners, then pays visits that quickly make him welcome. He tells each person what they want to hear while revealing little about himself.
What Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov wants
Chichikov wants to appear wealthy by acquiring legal papers for serfs who are no longer alive. Because the official count changes only periodically, landowners still pay taxes on these names. He offers to remove that burden, hoping to use his purchases to obtain money and status.
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov and the others in the story
The landowners test the limits of his charm, each responding differently to his strange proposal. Manilov's eagerness for friendship makes him generous, while Korobochka's fear of being cheated tries Chichikov's patience. Sobakevich recognizes a bargain and demands more money, refusing to soften under his visitor's polite manner.
Questions
Who is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov?
He is a middle-ranking official whose travels and unusual purchases drive the novel's action.
Why does Chichikov buy dead souls?
He wants papers that let him pose as a rich landowner and seek credit against the serfs listed on them.
Is Chichikov honest?
No, his respectable appearance conceals a scheme built on misleading others. His success also exposes how readily people trust manners, flattery and apparent wealth.
