Summary
After his terrifying escape from Nozdrev, Chichikov encounters a beautiful young woman in a carriage accident, sparking brief romantic fantasies before his practical nature reasserts itself. He then visits Sobakevitch, a bear-like landowner whose massive frame matches his blunt personality. Sobakevitch systematically demolishes every local official's reputation, calling them all thieves and scoundrels except the Public Prosecutor, whom he grudgingly admits is merely 'little better than a pig.' During an enormous meal that nearly incapacitates Chichikov, Sobakevitch mentions Plushkin, a notorious miser whose serfs 'die like flies' - exactly what Chichikov wants to hear. When Chichikov finally broaches his business about buying 'non-existent souls,' Sobakevitch immediately grasps the scheme and demands an outrageous 100 rubles per dead serf. He launches into passionate descriptions of his deceased workers' skills, as if they were still alive and valuable. After intense haggling, they settle on 2.5 rubles per soul, with Sobakevitch extracting 25 rubles as earnest money. The chapter reveals how different personality types approach the same corrupt deal - where Manilov was dreamily naive and Nozdrev was chaotically unpredictable, Sobakevitch is calculatingly mercenary. His cynical worldview and brutal honesty about corruption make him oddly refreshing, even as he fleeces Chichikov. The encounter shows how even straightforward people can be the hardest to deal with when they know exactly what they want.
Coming Up in Chapter 6
Armed with directions from a colorfully profane peasant, Chichikov sets off to find the legendary miser Plushkin, whose estate promises to be a goldmine of dead souls. But what he discovers there will surpass even his wildest expectations of human degradation.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Certainly Chichikov was a thorough coward, for, although the britchka pursued its headlong course until Nozdrev’s establishment had disappeared behind hillocks and hedgerows, our hero continued to glance nervously behind him, as though every moment expecting to see a stern chase begin. His breath came with difficulty, and when he tried his heart with his hands he could feel it fluttering like a quail caught in a net. “What a sweat the fellow has thrown me into!” he thought to himself, while many a dire and forceful aspiration passed through his mind. Indeed, the expressions to which he gave vent were most inelegant in their nature. But what was to be done next? He was a Russian and thoroughly aroused. The affair had been no joke. “But for the Superintendent,” he reflected, “I might never again have looked upon God’s daylight--I might have vanished like a bubble on a pool, and left neither trace nor posterity nor property nor an honourable name for my future offspring to inherit!” (it seemed that our hero was particularly anxious with regard to his possible issue). “What a scurvy barin!” mused Selifan as he drove along. “Never have I seen such a barin. I should like to spit in his face. ’Tis better to allow a man nothing to eat than to refuse to feed a horse properly. A horse needs his oats--they are his proper fare. Even if you make a man procure a meal at his own expense, don’t deny a horse his oats, for he ought always to have them.” An equally poor opinion of Nozdrev seemed to be cherished also by the steeds, for not only were the bay and the Assessor clearly out of spirits, but even the skewbald was wearing a dejected air. True, at home the skewbald got none but the poorer sorts of oats to eat, and Selifan never filled his trough without having first called him a villain; but at least they WERE oats, and not hay--they were stuff which could be chewed with a certain amount of relish. Also, there was the fact that at intervals he could intrude his long nose into his companions’ troughs (especially when Selifan happened to be absent from the stable) and ascertain what THEIR provender was like. But at Nozdrev’s there had been nothing but hay! That was not right. All three horses felt greatly discontented. But presently the malcontents had their reflections cut short in a very rude and unexpected manner. That is to say, they were brought back to practicalities by coming into violent collision with a six-horsed vehicle, while upon their heads descended both a babel of cries from the ladies inside and a storm of curses and abuse from the coachman. “Ah, you damned fool!” he vociferated. “I shouted to you loud enough! Draw out, you old raven, and keep to the right! Are you drunk?” Selifan himself felt conscious that he had been careless, but since a Russian does not care to admit...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Honest Thieves - When Straightforward People Are Hardest to Handle
When people openly admit their self-interest and corruption, they become paradoxically more trustworthy and harder to negotiate with than those who hide their motives.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify people who openly admit their motivations versus those who hide behind false nobility.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone admits 'I'm doing this because it benefits me' - they're often more reliable than those claiming pure altruism.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Barin
A Russian landowner or gentleman, typically wealthy and of noble birth. In this context, Selifan uses it sarcastically to refer to Nozdrev as a 'master' who doesn't deserve respect. The term reveals the complex social hierarchy where servants judge their betters.
Modern Usage:
Like calling someone 'boss' with heavy sarcasm when they're acting entitled but don't deserve your respect.
Dead Souls
Deceased serfs who still appear on official records until the next census. Landowners must pay taxes on them as if they were alive. Chichikov's scheme involves buying these 'paper people' cheaply to use as collateral for loans.
Modern Usage:
Similar to ghost employees on payrolls or fake accounts that exist only on paper for financial manipulation.
Serf
Peasants bound to the land and owned by landowners, essentially slaves who could be bought and sold. They were the backbone of the Russian economy but had no legal rights. Their treatment varied wildly depending on their owner's character.
Modern Usage:
Workers trapped in exploitative situations where they can't easily leave due to debt, lack of options, or systemic barriers.
Britchka
A light, four-wheeled carriage used for travel in 19th century Russia. Chichikov's britchka represents his middle-class aspirations and mobility. The condition and style of one's carriage indicated social status.
Modern Usage:
Your car - it shows your status, gets you places, and says something about who you are or want to be.
Earnest Money
A deposit paid to show serious intent in a business deal, binding both parties to negotiate in good faith. Sobakevitch demands this to ensure Chichikov won't back out of their corrupt arrangement.
Modern Usage:
Like putting money down on a house or car to show you're serious about buying it.
Provincial Corruption
The systematic dishonesty and bribery that characterized local Russian government. Officials routinely stole, accepted bribes, and manipulated records for personal gain. This corruption was so normalized that honest officials were rarities.
Modern Usage:
Small-town politics where everyone knows who's getting kickbacks and which contracts go to friends and family.
Characters in This Chapter
Chichikov
Protagonist/schemer
Recovers from his terrifying encounter with Nozdrev and continues his mission. Meets a beautiful woman but quickly refocuses on business. Shows his adaptability by successfully negotiating with the brutally honest Sobakevitch.
Modern Equivalent:
The smooth-talking salesman who bounces back from every setback
Sobakevitch
Shrewd landowner
A massive, bear-like man who sees through Chichikov's scheme immediately but plays along for profit. Cynically dismisses all local officials as thieves while engaging in his own corruption. Drives a hard bargain despite understanding the illegal nature of the deal.
Modern Equivalent:
The blunt contractor who tells you exactly what's wrong with everyone else while overcharging you
Selifan
Chichikov's coachman
Provides commentary on Nozdrev's character, showing how servants often see their masters more clearly than peers do. His concern for proper horse care reveals his practical priorities and moral standards.
Modern Equivalent:
The longtime employee who sees right through the boss's nonsense
Nozdrev
Chaotic antagonist
Though absent from most of the chapter, his recent threatening behavior still haunts Chichikov. Represents the dangerous unpredictability that can derail careful plans. His poor treatment of horses offends even his social inferiors.
Modern Equivalent:
The unstable person whose drama follows you even after you've left the situation
The Beautiful Woman
Brief romantic interest
Appears in a carriage accident that momentarily distracts Chichikov from his schemes. Represents the normal human connections that Chichikov's obsession with money prevents him from pursuing.
Modern Equivalent:
The attractive person you meet at exactly the wrong time when you're too focused on work
Key Quotes & Analysis
"What a sweat the fellow has thrown me into!"
Context: Thinking about his narrow escape from Nozdrev's violent threats
Shows how Nozdrev's chaos affects even a seasoned schemer like Chichikov. The colloquial expression reveals Chichikov's genuine fear beneath his usual composure. It demonstrates how unpredictable people can derail even the best-laid plans.
In Today's Words:
That guy really stressed me out!
"Never have I seen such a barin. I should like to spit in his face."
Context: Reflecting on Nozdrev's character while driving away
Reveals how servants judge their social superiors by different standards than wealth or title. Selifan's disgust stems from Nozdrev's poor treatment of horses, showing how working people value practical competence over social position.
In Today's Words:
What a terrible boss - I'd love to tell him what I really think.
"They are all scoundrels! The whole town is full of scoundrels!"
Context: Systematically destroying the reputation of every local official
Demonstrates Sobakevitch's brutal honesty about local corruption while simultaneously participating in it himself. His cynical worldview makes him oddly refreshing in a world of polite lies, even as he proves himself equally corrupt.
In Today's Words:
Everyone in this place is crooked!
"Mikhey was a carpenter, and such a carpenter! He could make a carriage that would last you a lifetime."
Context: Describing his dead serfs as if they were still alive and valuable
Shows the absurdity of treating dead people as commodities while revealing Sobakevitch's genuine appreciation for skilled work. His passionate descriptions make the grotesque transaction almost touching, highlighting the human cost of the serf system.
In Today's Words:
Mike was an amazing carpenter - he could build you something that would last forever.
Thematic Threads
Corruption
In This Chapter
Sobakevitch openly participates in Chichikov's illegal scheme while calling everyone else thieves, showing how corruption becomes normalized when acknowledged openly
Development
Evolved from Manilov's naive participation and Nozdrev's chaotic dishonesty to calculated, transparent corruption
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone at work openly admits they're cutting corners while criticizing others for the same behavior.
Class
In This Chapter
Sobakevitch's wealth and status allow him to be brutally honest about others' failings while engaging in the same corrupt practices
Development
Continues the pattern of each landowner's class position shaping how they approach corruption
In Your Life:
You see this when wealthy people criticize welfare recipients while openly using tax loopholes and subsidies.
Negotiation
In This Chapter
Sobakevitch immediately understands Chichikov's scheme and negotiates aggressively, treating dead souls as valuable commodities
Development
Introduced here as a contrast to previous landowners' approaches to the deal
In Your Life:
You encounter this when dealing with contractors, lawyers, or salespeople who are completely upfront about maximizing their profit.
Identity
In This Chapter
Sobakevitch's bear-like appearance matches his blunt personality, showing alignment between physical presence and character
Development
Continues Gogol's pattern of matching character to physical description, but more directly than with previous landowners
In Your Life:
You might notice how people's appearance often reflects their approach to life—the overly groomed person who's controlling, the deliberately casual person who's rejecting formality.
Pragmatism
In This Chapter
Chichikov abandons romantic fantasies about the beautiful woman to focus on his business with Sobakevitch, showing his practical nature reasserting itself
Development
Reinforces Chichikov's character established in earlier chapters—opportunistic but ultimately focused on his scheme
In Your Life:
You see this in yourself when you get distracted by attractive possibilities but ultimately return to your practical goals and responsibilities.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Sobakevitch call everyone else thieves while openly trying to cheat Chichikov himself?
analysis • surface - 2
What makes Sobakevitch's brutal honesty about corruption both refreshing and frustrating to deal with?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you encountered someone who was completely upfront about their self-interest? How did that change how you dealt with them?
application • medium - 4
Between someone who lies to make you feel better and someone who tells harsh truths for their own benefit, which would you rather negotiate with and why?
application • deep - 5
What does Sobakevitch's approach reveal about the relationship between honesty and trustworthiness?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Own Honest Thieves
Think of three people in your life who are brutally honest about what they want from you - whether it's your time, money, favors, or attention. Write down their names and what they typically want. Then rate each one: Are they easier or harder to deal with than people who hide their motives? What strategies work best with each person?
Consider:
- •Consider why their honesty might actually make relationships clearer
- •Think about whether you trust their word more because they admit their self-interest
- •Notice if you respect their directness even when you don't like what they're asking for
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone's brutal honesty about wanting something from you actually made you more willing to help them than if they had made up a noble excuse.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 6: The Miser's Mansion of Decay
As the story unfolds, you'll explore extreme frugality can become self-destructive hoarding, while uncovering appearances often mask deeper character flaws or virtues. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.