Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
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Post by Kristie on Aug 8, 2007 8:22:13 GMT -5
Okay, I have a little to add to Lu's post.
I'm really enjoying the book so far, and I had had my doubts about it. I read the Overcoat in school about 4 years ago, and I didn't really get it until the very end. I don't really read satire's well, I suppose. The only thing that I'm a bit confused about is, if this is a satire, what is Gogol mocking? Isn't that what's supposed to happen? From what I understand, that's what a satire is (please, correct me if I'm wrong).
Even though I don't understand that, I think the book has been pretty amusing with the weird landowners Chichikov is meeting and asking for dead souls from. I think, of all the three people he's asked so far, my favourite reaction was Madam Korobotchka because she just thought since Chichikov wanted them, she must be missing a reason to want to keep them Although, Nozdrev's (we have different spellings here) reaction was quite amusing also.
I really like Gogol's style and word choice. I'm glad I've read books from this time period before because it helps to know the language better (haha, even if it was originally in Russian).
That's about all I have at the moment...
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Aug 8, 2007 9:56:12 GMT -5
My favorite reaction was Madam Korobotchka as well, Manilov reaction left me like I was missing something...that was just an impression. I'm not sure I have got it but I think Gogol is mocking Chichikov way to improve his well-being and to search for respectability...I'm not sure that makes any sense.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Aug 8, 2007 10:05:15 GMT -5
So Chichikov would be willing to buy and then keep paying for the dead souls, just to "keep up appearances"? I could see some people doing that if they have the money, but he comes off as a not very wealthy person. lol Perhaps that's the irony? lol
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bookworm
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"Everything you can imagine is real" - Pablo Picasso
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Post by bookworm on Aug 8, 2007 10:08:13 GMT -5
I think Gogol's irony and sarcasm are a way to criticize some aspects of the Russian social life of the time. I mean he presents his hero as an ordinary man, with nothing significant on him, so I guess that type of man was not uncommon back then (or nowadays...) Chichikov's pretentious manners and the way he tries to manipulate everyone were probably common and they bugged Gogol...
What I find really sad and disturbing is how these dead people, were still considered as belongings. Even in their death they were still sold just like horses or furniture...
I am really curious to see the reason Chichikov buys these dead souls... Is it just to appear rich?
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Aug 8, 2007 10:19:43 GMT -5
I'm so curios to know the reason too, I mean the real reason, not the ones he adduced.
yeah, considering people (dead or not) as objects is very disturbing.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Aug 8, 2007 10:40:34 GMT -5
I agree that people as belongings, dead or alive, is wrong.
I thought it was interesting that Nozdrev could tell right away that Chichikov has a scheme up his sleeve. And then he still would sell the dead souls as long as Chichikov bought something tangible as well--that didn't really make sense, but Nozdrev was sort of weird to begin with. Now, Nozdrev claimed that he knew Chichikov really well and already knew he was a bit of a skin-flit, but, as I recall, Chichikov had only met him since his stay in the town began and hadn't really seen him much since the meeting. So how does Nozdrev know Chichikov so well already? I think that he doesn't really and is just assuming his personality
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wvrunna221
First poem written for Mother’s Day
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Post by wvrunna221 on Aug 8, 2007 19:45:50 GMT -5
I really like this book so far. I too want to find out the "real" reason he is buying these dead souls. I also love the diversity of the characters. It is also interesting to see the reactions of each character after Chichikov asks to buy the dead souls.
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bookworm
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"Everything you can imagine is real" - Pablo Picasso
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Post by bookworm on Aug 9, 2007 0:34:38 GMT -5
I forgot to say how funny I find the way he presents the cariage horses... I love it that he puts thoughts and motives into them!
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Aug 9, 2007 3:44:51 GMT -5
I agree that people as belongings, dead or alive, is wrong.
I thought it was interesting that Nozdrev could tell right away that Chichikov has a scheme up his sleeve. And then he still would sell the dead souls as long as Chichikov bought something tangible as well--that didn't really make sense, but Nozdrev was sort of weird to begin with. Now, Nozdrev claimed that he knew Chichikov really well and already knew he was a bit of a skin-flit, but, as I recall, Chichikov had only met him since his stay in the town began and hadn't really seen him much since the meeting. So how does Nozdrev know Chichikov so well already? I think that he doesn't really and is just assuming his personality I found interesting that Nozdrev claimed to know Chichikov so well after they met only once, maybe something happened at that meeting and we don't know anything yet, or, as you said Kristie, he's just assuming Chichikov's personality...that could means they're a similar kind of person.
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Post by Carma on Aug 14, 2007 7:30:37 GMT -5
ok, I haven't finished chapter 4 yet ;P but I think he wants the souls so he can appear rich, because he asks how many souls those farmers have, and he can get a lot by buying the dead souls.. I think..
and I'm really enjoying this book, it's funny and easy to read..
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Post by Carma on Aug 14, 2007 8:15:05 GMT -5
yeah, i didn't get that either.. I believe he gets the souls for free from Manilov... or is that incorrect? maybe he has a lot of money.. but just no 'souls'.. ?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Aug 14, 2007 8:21:05 GMT -5
I think he gets them free from Manilov, too. But in the beginning, when Gogol describes Chichikov, he says he's not-too-fat, not-too-thin and not-too-wealthy, not-too-poor (or along those lines) which leads us to believe that he has less money than those he's buying the souls from.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Aug 14, 2007 13:23:38 GMT -5
I know carma has already said that..but I didn't get that either..
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Aug 15, 2007 8:04:50 GMT -5
Maybe all this we don't get is the reason it's a satire lol
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