Gogol's vocation as a writer brief summary. Biography of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The significance of Gogol's work

“To be in the world and not have anything to indicate your existence - it seems terrible to me.” N.V. Gogol.

Genius of classical literature

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is known to the world as a writer, poet, playwright, publicist and critic. A man of remarkable talent and an amazing master of words, he is famous both in Ukraine, where he was born, and in Russia, to which he eventually moved.

Gogol is especially known for his mystical heritage. His stories, written in the unique Ukrainian language, which is not a literary language in every sense these words convey depth and beauty Ukrainian speech, known throughout the world. Viy gave Gogol his greatest popularity. What other works did Gogol write? We will look at the list of works below. These are sensational stories, often mystical, and stories from the school curriculum, and a few famous works author.

List of works by the writer

In total, Gogol wrote more than 30 works. He continued to complete some of them, despite publication. Many of his creations had several variations, including Taras Bulba and Viy. Having published the story, Gogol continued to reflect on it, sometimes adding or changing the ending. Often his stories have several endings. So, next we will consider the most famous works of Gogol. The list is in front of you:

1. "Hanz Küchelgarten" (1827-1829, under the pseudonym A. Alov).
2. “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka” (1831), part 1 (“Sorochinskaya Fair”, “Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”, “Drowned Man”, “Missing Letter”). Its second part was published a year later. It included following stories: “The Night Before Christmas”, “Terrible Revenge”, “Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and His Aunt”, “Enchanted Place”.
3. "Mirgorod" (1835). Its edition was divided into 2 parts. The first part included the stories “Taras Bulba”, “ Old world landowners" The second part, completed in 1839-1841, included “Viy” and “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich.”
4. "The Nose" (1841-1842).
5. "Morning of a business man." It was written, like the comedies “Litigation”, “Excerpt” and “Lackey”, in the period from 1832 to 1841.
6. "Portrait" (1842).
7. “Notes of a Madman” and “Nevsky Prospekt” (1834-1835).
8. "The Inspector General" (1835).
9. The play "Marriage" (1841).
10. « Dead Souls"(1835-1841).
11. Comedies "The Players" and "Theatrical Tour after the Presentation of a New Comedy" (1836-1841).
12. "The Overcoat" (1839-1841).
13. "Rome" (1842).

These are published works that Gogol wrote. The works (list by year, more precisely) indicate that the heyday of the writer’s talent occurred in 1835-1841. Now let’s take a little look at the reviews of the most famous stories Gogol.

"Viy" - Gogol's most mystical creation

The story of “Viy” tells about the recently deceased lady, the centurion’s daughter, who, as the whole village knew, was a witch. The centurion, at the request of his beloved daughter, makes the funeral student Khoma Brut read over her. The witch, who died due to Khoma’s fault, dreams of revenge...

Reviews of the work “Viy” are complete praise for the writer and his talent. It is impossible to discuss the list of Nikolai Gogol’s works without mentioning everyone’s favorite “Viy”. Readers note bright characters, original, unique, with their own characters and habits. All of them are typical Ukrainians, cheerful and optimistic people, rude but kind. It is impossible not to appreciate Gogol's subtle irony and humor.

The writer’s unique style and his ability to play on contrasts are also highlighted. During the day, the peasants walk and have fun, Khoma also drinks so as not to think about the horror of the coming night. With the arrival of evening, a gloomy, mystical silence sets in - and Khoma again enters the circle outlined in chalk...

A very short story keeps you in suspense until the last pages. Below are stills from the 1967 film of the same name.

Satirical comedy "The Nose"

“The Nose” is an amazing story, written in such a satirical form that at first it seems fantastically absurd. According to the plot, Platon Kovalev, a public person and prone to narcissism, wakes up in the morning without a nose - his place is empty. In a panic, Kovalev begins to look for his lost nose, because without it you won’t even appear in decent society!

Readers easily saw the prototype of Russian (and not only!) society. Gogol's stories, despite the fact that they were written in the 19th century, do not lose their relevance. Gogol, whose list of works can mostly be divided into mysticism and satire, had a very keen sense of modern society, which has not changed at all over the past time. Rank and external polish are still held in high esteem, but no one is interested in the inner content of a person. It is Plato’s nose, with an outer shell, but without internal content, that becomes the prototype of a richly dressed man, intelligently thinking, but soulless.

"Taras Bulba"

"Taras Bulba" is a great creation. When describing Gogol's works, the most famous, the list of which is provided above, one cannot fail to mention this story. The plot centers on two brothers, Andrei and Ostap, as well as their father, Taras Bulba himself, a strong, courageous and extremely principled man.

Readers especially highlight small parts stories that the author focused on, which enliven the picture, making those distant times closer and understandable. The writer spent a long time studying the details of everyday life of that era, so that readers could more vividly and vividly imagine the events taking place. In general, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, whose list of works we are discussing today, always attached special importance to little things.

The charismatic characters also made a lasting impression on readers. Tough, merciless Taras, ready to do anything for the sake of the Motherland, brave and courageous Ostap and romantic, selfless Andrey - they cannot leave readers indifferent. In general, Gogol’s famous works, the list of which we are considering, have an interesting feature - a surprising but harmonious contradiction in the characters’ characters.

"Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka"

Another mystical, but at the same time funny and ironic work by Gogol. The blacksmith Vakula is in love with Oksana, who promised to marry him if he gets her slippers like the queen herself. Vakula is in despair... But then, quite by chance, he comes across evil spirits having fun in the village in the company of a witch. It is not surprising that Gogol, whose list of works includes numerous Mystic stories, this story involved a witch and a devil.

This story is interesting not only because of the plot, but also because of the colorful characters, each of whom is unique. They, as if alive, appear before the readers, each in their own image. Gogol admires some with slight irony, he admires Vakula, and teaches Oksana to appreciate and love. Like a caring father, he chuckles good-naturedly at his characters, but it all looks so soft that it only evokes a gentle smile.

The character of the Ukrainians, their language, customs and foundations, so clearly described in the story, could only be described in such detail and lovingly by Gogol. Even making fun of the “Moskalyama” looks cute from the lips of the characters in the story. This is because Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, whose list of works we are discussing today, loved his homeland and spoke of it with love.

"Dead Souls"

Sounds mystical, don’t you agree? However, in fact, Gogol did not resort to mysticism in this work and looked much deeper - into human souls. Main character Chichikov seems like a negative character at first glance, but the more the reader gets to know him, the more positive traits he notices in him. Gogol makes the reader worry about the fate of his hero, despite his unpleasant actions, which already says a lot.

In this work, the writer, as always, is an excellent psychologist and a true genius of words.

Of course, these are not all the works that Gogol wrote. The list of works is incomplete without continuation " Dead souls" It was its author who allegedly burned it before his death. Rumor has it that in the next two volumes Chichikov was supposed to improve and become a decent person. Is it so? Unfortunately, now we will never know for sure.

Gogol's childhood and youth

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a great Russian writer, one of the creators of Russian artistic realism, was born on March 20, 1809 in the town of Sorochintsy (Poltava province, Mirgorod district) in the family of local poor Little Russian nobles who owned the village of Vasilyevka, Vasily Afanasyevich and Maria Ivanovna Gogol-Yanovsky.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s belonging to the Little Russian nationality and the time of his birth from childhood had a significant influence on his worldview and writing activity. Psychological characteristics the Little Russian nationality found in him, although he wrote his works in the Great Russian language, a vivid expression, especially in the early period of his activity; they were reflected in its content early works first period and on a peculiar artistic style his speeches. The time of the formation of Gogol's worldview and creative techniques - his childhood and youth - falls on the significant era of the revival of Little Russian literature and nationality (the time shortly after I. P. Kotlyarevsky). The situation created by this revival had a rather strong influence on Gogol, both in his early works and later.

Vasily Afanasyevich Gogol-Yanovsky, father of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol

The upbringing of young Gogol takes place in the south of Russia under the cross-influence of the home environment and the Little Russian environment, on the one hand, and all-Russian literature, known even in remote provinces far from the centers, on the other. The reviving Little Russian literature bears a clearly expressed interest in the nationality, cultivates a living vernacular, introduces folk life, folk-poetic antiquity into literary circulation in the form of legends, songs, thoughts, descriptions folk rituals etc.

In the second and third decades of the 19th century, this literature (not yet separating itself consciously and tendentiously from all-Russian literature) formed local centers, where it achieves special revival. One of its prominent figures was D.P. Troshchinsky, a former Minister of Justice, a typical Little Russian in his views. In his village of Kibintsy there was a huge library that contained almost everything published in the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th in Russian and Little Russian; V. A. Gogol-Yanovsky, father, acted in this circle young writer. a close relative of Troshchinsky. Gogol the son, studying in Nezhin, constantly takes advantage of this connection in his youth, receiving books and new literature from the rich Kibinets library.

In childhood, before the start of school, Nikolai Gogol lives with his parents that rural folk life of a medium-sized landowner, which in general differs little from the peasant life. Even the spoken language in the family remains Little Russian; Therefore, Gogol in childhood and youth (and even later) had to learn the Great Russian language and develop it. Gogol's early letters clearly show this process of gradual Russification of Gogol's language, which was then still very incorrect.

Ten years young Nikolai Gogol studied for some time in Poltava at the povet school, where the head was I.P. Kotlyarevsky himself, and in May 1821 he entered the newly opened Gymnasium of Higher Sciences in Nezhin. Beardless. This gymnasium (representing a combination of secondary and partly high school) was opened on the model of those new educational institutions that were founded in the “days of Alexander’s happy beginning” (these included the Alexander (Pushkin) Lyceum, Demidovsky Lyceum, etc.). But despite the same programs, the Nizhyn gymnasium was lower than the capital ones both in terms of the composition of teachers and in the course of educational work, so that the young Gogol, who stayed there until June 1828, is a lot in the sense general development and he could not stand scientific development (which he himself admitted). The stronger the effect on the gifted young man of the influences of the environment and trends, albeit belatedly, coming from the cultural centers of Russia. These trends and influences from the environment and family clarify individual features writing activity and the spiritual appearance of the future great writer, which is then reflected in the writer’s works, in certain moments of his mood in adulthood. Gogol in his youth was characterized by great observation, interest in folk life and history of Little Russia(although not strictly scientific, but rather poetic-ethnographic), literary inclinations (discovered back in Nizhyn), dramatic talent and interest in the stage (prominent participation in school plays), inclinations of an everyday satirist (a play from the school era that has not reached us: “Something about Nezhin, or the law is not written for fools"), as well as sincere religiosity, attachment to the family and a desire for painting (even at school, Nikolai Gogol, judging by the surviving drawings, was not without success in drawing).

A careful study of Gogol’s biography during his childhood and youth, speaking only about the beginnings of Gogol’s future, does not, however, give a clear idea or indication of the magnitude and grandeur of the writer’s talent, the integrity of his worldview and the internal struggle that he subsequently experienced. However, the biographical information of this time, which came down from the contemporaries and comrades of the young Gogol, is rather scarce. The result of the school period that ended in 1828 was a weak scientific stock of knowledge, insufficient literary development, but at the same time already a rich stock of observations, a desire for literature and nationality, a unclear consciousness of his strengths and his purpose (the goal of life for Gogol at this time was to benefit the fatherland , the confidence that he must do something unusual, unusual; but in concrete form this is a bureaucratic “service”), next to observation, a sense of life - a tendency to assimilate romantic trends (the youthful poem “Hans Küchelgarten” 1827), although and partly balanced by the influence of a more realistic direction of literature (Zhukovsky, Yazykov, Pushkin - the subject of reading and hobby of young Gogol at school).

The beginning of Gogol's work

With such a vague mood, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol ends up in St. Petersburg, where he strives to “fulfill his purpose” (late 1828), and primarily through service, for which, due to his purely creative inclinations, he is least capable.

Gogol’s “Petersburg” period (December 1828 – June 1836) was a period of searching and finding his purpose (towards the end of the period), but at the same time, a period of his self-education and further development of the creative inclinations of youth, a period of great (and vague) unfulfilled and unrealizable hopes and bitter disappointments from life; but at the same time, this is the period of entering the real path of a writer with great social significance. The search for a “life task”, which is still depicted in the form of service, the struggle with material need goes interspersed, intertwined with broad literary plans, realized now or later, with the strengthening of the writer’s position in society and literary circles, with the continuation of self-education. Gogol tries, but unsuccessfully, to get a job as an artist in the theater, he is appointed by an official to the department, but also unsuccessfully, soon becoming convinced that “service,” unlike creativity, does not give him either satisfaction or security. He is trying to use his literary experience in a Nezhin direction; but the poem “Hans Küchelgarten,” the first printed work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1829), has to be destroyed as completely outdated for modern literature. At this time, Gogol made other attempts to use the stock of knowledge acquired in Nizhyn: he tried to enter the Academy of Arts, attended drawing classes. An unsuccessful professorship in St. Petersburg (1835) finally forced Gogol to admit everything unsuccessful attempts to decide differently than his literary talent indicated to him. Everything that was inherent in Gogol’s very nature uncontrollably pushes him onto the true path - the path of the beginning of literary creativity. In this direction, Gogol progresses quickly and persistently. The beginning of literary creativity, so far solely for the purpose of material support, can be seen in Gogol already in 1829, soon after his arrival in St. Petersburg. Motivating that “everything Little Russian occupies everyone here,” Gogol strenuously asks for Little Russian everyday and poetic folk materials with mother and relatives. He already lives in poetic thoughts, reflected in his “Evenings,” which soon appear: for “Evenings” he needed this material. At the beginning of his work, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol turned to the nationality, artistic and real image home country, illuminating all this with a bright ray of his humor and romanticism, no longer dreamy, but healthy, folk.

Gogol's acquaintance with literary circles Petersburg complete its entry into new way. Sensitive Pushkin guesses the reason for the initial failures and the purpose of Gogol, forcing him to correctly develop his literary education through reading, which he himself directs. Zhukovsky, Pletnev not only support him with their connections, delivering earnings, but also introduce Gogol to the top of the then literary movement(for example, in the circle of A. O. Rosset, later Smirnova, who was destined to play such a prominent role in Gogol’s life). Here too, Gogol, becoming more and more involved in literary studies, makes up for his shortcomings in the provincial school, provincial literary education.

The results of these influences are felt quickly: Gogol’s talent made its way into the contradictory soul of its bearer: 1829–1830 were the years of his lively domestic literary work, still little noticeable to outsiders and society. Hard work on self-education, an ardent love for art become for Gogol a high and strict moral duty, which he wants to sacredly, reverently fulfill, slowly bringing his creations to the “pearl”, constantly reworking the material and the first drafts of his works - a characteristic characteristic of creative manner Gogol and at all other times.

After several excerpts and editions of stories in “Notes of the Fatherland” (Svinin), in “Literary Newspaper” (Delviga), Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol releases his “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” (1831 - 1832). “Evenings,” which became the true beginning of Gogol’s writing, clearly defined his future purpose for himself. Gogol’s role became even clearer for society (cf. the review of Pushkin’s “Evenings”), but it was not understood from the side from which Gogol soon became visible. In “Evenings” we saw never-before-seen pictures of Little Russian life, shining with nationalism, gaiety, subtle humor, poetic mood - and nothing more. “Evenings” is followed by “Arabesques” (1835, which includes articles published in 1830 - 1834 and written during this time). From then on, Gogol's fame as a writer was firmly established: society sensed in him great power, which is destined to open a new era of our literature.

Gogol, apparently, is now convinced himself of what that “great field of his” should be, about which he has not ceased to dream since Nizhyn times. This can be concluded from the fact that already in 1832 Gogol began a new step forward in his soul. He is not satisfied with “Evenings”, not considering them a real expression of his mood, and is already planning (1832) “Vladimir of the 3rd degree” (from which later came: “Litigation”, “Lackey”, “Morning of a Business Man”), “ Grooms" (1833, later - "Marriage"), "The Inspector General" (1834). Next to them are his so-called “St. Petersburg” stories (“Old World Landowners” (1832), “Nevsky Prospect” (1834), “Taras Bulba” (1st edition - 1834), “Notes of a Madman” (1834), beginning “Overcoats”, “Nose”, as well as stories included in Mirgorod, published in 1835). In the same year, 1835, “Dead Souls” was started, “The Stroller” and “Portrait” (1st edition) were written. The initial period of Gogol's work ended in April 1836 with the publication and production of The Inspector General. “The Inspector General” finally opened the eyes of society to Gogol and to himself and became a facet in his work and life.

Among the external events of life that influenced the further evolution of Gogol’s mood, it is worth noting Gogol’s mysterious trip for a month in 1829 abroad (to Lübeck), probably the result of a restless search for “real” business at the beginning of the St. Petersburg period, a trip in 1832. to their homeland, so beloved by them and poetically immortalized in “Evenings.” However, this time, along with the bright memories of childhood, with the comfort of a home family circle, the homeland rewarded the writer with severe disappointments: household affairs were going badly, the romantic enthusiasm of Gogol the young man was erased by St. Petersburg life, behind the caressing charm of nature and the Little Russian everyday environment, Gogol already felt sadness , melancholy and even tragedy. It was not for nothing that, upon returning to St. Petersburg, he began to disavow “Evenings” and how his mood was determined by them in society. Gogol matured and entered a mature period of life and creativity. This trip also had another meaning: the path to Vasilievka lay through Moscow, where Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol first entered the circle of the Moscow intelligentsia, establishing relations with his fellow countrymen who lived in Moscow (M. A. Maksimovich, M. S. Shchepkin), and with people who soon became his lifelong friends. These Moscow friends did not remain without influence on Gogol in the last period of his life due to the fact that there were points of contact between the mood of the writer and them on the basis of religious, patriotic and ethical ideas (Pogodin, Aksakovs, perhaps Shevyrev).

Gogol abroad

In the summer of 1836, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol went on his first long trip abroad, where he stayed until October 1841. The reason for the trip was the painful condition of the writer, who was naturally weak (news of his illness have been going on since he entered the Nizhyn gymnasium), moreover who had greatly shaken his nerves in the everyday and spiritual struggle that led him to the real path. He was also drawn abroad by the need to give himself an account of his strengths, of the impression that “The Inspector General” made on society, which caused a storm of indignation and stirred up the entire bureaucratic and official Russia against the writer, but which, on the other hand, gave Gogol more new circle admirers in the leading part of Russian society. Finally, a trip abroad was necessary to continue that “life work” that was started in St. Petersburg, but required, in the words of Gogol himself, a look at Russian life from the outside - “from a beautiful distance”: to continue “Dead Souls” and new, more reworkings of what had begun corresponded to the mood of the writer renewed in spirit. Gogol, on the one hand, imagined himself completely crushed by the impression that ended the appearance of The Inspector General. He blamed himself for fatal mistake, taking up satire. On the other hand, Gogol energetically continues to develop his thoughts about the great importance of theater and artistic truth, continues to rework “The Inspector General”, writes “Theatrical Travel” and works hard on “Dead Souls”, prints some of his previous sketches (Morning of a Business Man, 1836), reworks “Portrait” (1837 – 1838), “Taras Bulba” (1838 – 1839), finishes “The Overcoat” (1841).

N.V. Gogol. Portrait by F. Muller, 1841

During his first trip abroad, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol lives in Germany, Switzerland, and Paris (with his schoolmate and friend A. Danilevsky), where he partly receives treatment and partly spends time among Russian circles. In March 1837, he ends up in Rome, to which he sincerely becomes attached, enchanted by Italian nature and monuments of art. Gogol remains here for a long time and at the same time works intensively, mainly on “Dead Souls”, finishes “The Overcoat”, writes the story “Annunziata” (later “Rome”). In the fall of 1839, he came to Russia on family business, but soon returned to Rome, where in the summer of 1841 he finished the first volume of Dead Souls. In the fall, Gogol sent it from abroad to print in Russia: the book, after a number of difficulties (Moscow censorship did not let it through, St. Petersburg censorship hesitated greatly, but, thanks to the assistance of influential persons, the book was finally allowed through), was published in Moscow in 1842. Around “Dead Souls,” a literary noise of criticism “for” and “against” arose, as with the appearance of “The Inspector General,” but Gogol already reacted differently to this noise. By the time he finished Dead Souls, he had taken a further step in the direction of ethical-religious thinking; he was already presented with the second part, which was supposed to express a different understanding of the life and tasks of the writer.

In June 1842, Gogol was again abroad, where apparently that “turning point” in his spiritual mood had already begun, which marked the end of his life. Living sometimes in Rome, sometimes in Germany or France, he moved among people who more or less approached him in their conservative mood (Zhukovsky, A. O. Smirnova, Vielgorsky, Tolstoy). Constantly suffering physically, Gogol develops more and more in the direction of pietism, the beginnings of which he already had in childhood and youth. His thoughts about art and morality are increasingly colored by Christian-Orthodox religiosity. "Dead Souls" becomes Gogol's last work of art in the same direction. At this time, he was preparing a collection of his works (published in 1842), and continued to rework, introducing into them new features of the mood of that time, his previous works: “Taras Bulba”, “Marriage”, “Players”, etc., writes “ Theatrical Travel", the famous "Pre-Notice" to "The Inspector General", where he tries to give the interpretation of his comedy that was suggested by his new mood. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is also working on the second volume of Dead Souls.

Gogol's new look at the writer's tasks

Questions of creativity, talent, and the tasks of a writer continue to occupy him, but now they are resolved differently: the high idea of ​​talent as a gift of God, in particular of his own talent, imposes on Gogol high responsibilities that are depicted to him in some providential sense. In order to correct human vices by exposing them (which Gogol now considers his duty as a writer gifted by God, the meaning of his “messengership”), the writer himself must strive for inner perfection. It, according to Gogol, is accessible only through thinking about God, deepening into the religious understanding of life, Christianity, and oneself. Religious exaltation visits him more and more often. Gogol becomes in his own eyes a called teacher of life, in the eyes of his contemporaries and admirers - one of the world's greatest ethicists. New ideas increasingly deviate him from his previous path. This new mood forces Gogol to change his assessment of his previous writing activity. He is now ready to reject any significance of everything that he wrote before, believing that these works do not lead to the high goal of improving oneself and people, to the knowledge of God - and are unworthy of his “messengership.” He apparently already considers the just published first volume of “Dead Souls”, if not a mistake, then only the threshold to a “real”, worthy work - the second volume, which should justify the author, atone for his sin - an attitude towards his neighbor that is inconsistent with the spirit of a Christian in the form of satire, to give positive instruction to a person, to show him the direct path to perfection.

N.V. Gogol. Artist F. Muller, 1840

But such a task turns out to be very difficult. The emotional drama, complicated by a painful nervous illness, progressively and quickly directed the writer towards a denouement: Gogol’s literary productivity is weakening; he manages to work only in the intervals between mental and physical torment. Gogol's letters of this period are preaching, teaching, self-flagellation with rare glimpses of the former humorous mood.

The last years of Gogol's life

This period ends with two major disasters: in June 1845, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol burns the second volume of Dead Souls. He “brought, burning his labor, a sacrifice to God,” hoping to give new book“Dead souls” already have content that is enlightened and cleansed of all sinfulness. She, according to Gogol, was supposed to “direct the whole society towards the beautiful”, in a straight and right way. IN last years Gogol’s life is burning with the desire to quickly give society what seems to him the most important for life; and this important thing was expressed by him, in his opinion, not in works of art, and in letters from this time to friends, acquaintances and relatives.

The decision to collect and systematize his thoughts from letters led him (1846) to the publication of “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends.” This was the second catastrophe in the history of the writer’s relationship with the liberal-Western society. Published in 1847, “Selected Places” caused whistles and hooting from avid liberals. V. Belinsky burst out with a famous letter in response to a touchy letter from Gogol, who was offended by Belinsky’s negative review of the book (Sovremennik, 1847, No. 2). Left radicals argued that this book by Gogol is filled with the tone of prophecy, authoritative teaching, and the preaching of external humility, which is in fact “more than pride.” They did not like the writer’s negative attitude towards certain features of his previous “critical-satirical” activity expressed in it. Westerners loudly shouted that Gogol in “Selected Places” allegedly abandoned his previous view of the tasks of the writer as a citizen.

Sincerely not understanding the reasons for such a sharp rebuke from the “liberals,” Gogol tried to justify his action, saying that he was not understood, etc., but did not deviate from the views he expressed in his last book. His religious and ethical mood remained the same throughout the last years of his life, but was painted in painful tones. The hesitations caused by liberal persecution strengthened Gogol’s need to preserve and support his faith, which, after the suffering he suffered, seemed to him not deep enough.

Exhausted both physically and mentally, Gogol's resumed work on the second volume of Dead Souls is going even worse. He strives to calm his soul in religious feat and in 1848 he travels from Naples to Jerusalem, hoping there, at the source of Christianity, to draw a new supply of faith and vigor. Through Odessa, Nikolai Vasilyevich returns to Russia, so as not to be absent from it again for the rest of his life. Since the autumn of 1851, he settled in Moscow with A.P. Tolstoy, his friend, who shared his religious-conservative views, tried again to work on the second volume of Dead Souls, even read excerpts from his friends (for example, the Aksakovs). But painful doubts do not leave Gogol: he constantly reworks this book and does not find satisfaction. Religious thought, further strengthened by the influence of Father Matvey Konstantinovsky, a stern, straightforward, ascetic Rzhev priest, hesitates even more. State of mind the writer reaches the point of pathology. During one of his fits of mental anguish, Gogol burns his papers at night. The next morning he comes to his senses and explains this act with tricks evil spirit, from which he cannot get rid of even by an intensified religious feat. This was at the beginning of January 1852, and on February 21, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was no longer alive.

Talyzin House (Nikitsky Boulevard, Moscow). N.V. Gogol lived and died here in his last years, and here he burned the second volume of “Dead Souls”

The significance of Gogol's work

A careful study of the activities and life of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, expressed in the extensive literature dedicated to the writer, showed the great importance of this activity for Russian literature and society. The influence of Gogol and the trends in Russian literary and social thought he created has not ceased to this day. After Gogol, Russian literature finally breaks its connection with “imitation” of Western models, ends its “educational” period, the time of its full blossoming, its full independence, social and national self-awareness comes; it acquires international, global significance. Modern literature owes all this to the foundations of its development that were developed in the middle XIX century; these are: national self-awareness, artistic realism and awareness of its inextricable connection with the life of society. The development of these foundations in the consciousness of society and literature was accomplished through the works and talents of writers of the first half of the century - Pushkin, Griboedov, Lermontov. And Gogol among these writers is of the utmost importance. Even the radical Chernyshevsky called the entire period of Russian literature mid-19th century by Gogol. The subsequent era, marked by the names of Turgenev, Goncharov, Leo Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, is closely connected with the tasks posed to literature by Gogol. All of the listed writers are either his immediate followers (for example, Dostoevsky in “Poor People”), or the ideological successors of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (for example, Turgenev in “Notes of a Hunter”).

Artistic realism, ethical aspirations, a view of the writer as public figure, the need for nationality, the psychological analysis of life phenomena, the breadth of this analysis - everything that is strong in Russian literature of subsequent times, all this was strongly developed by Gogol, outlined by him so definitely that his successors could only go further in breadth and depth. Gogol is the largest representative realism: he accurately and subtly observed life, capturing it typical features, embodied them in artistic images, deeply psychological, truthful; even in his hyperbolism he is impeccably truthful. The images created by Gogol amaze with their extraordinary thoughtfulness, originality of intuition, and depth of contemplation: these are the traits of a brilliant writer. Gogol’s spiritual depth found expression in the properties of his talent: these are “tears invisible to the world through the laughter visible to him” - in satire and humor.

The national characteristics of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (his connection with Little Russian history and culture), introduced by him into Russian literature, provided a tremendous service to the latter, accelerating and consolidating the national self-awareness that had begun to awaken in Russian literature. The beginning of this awakening, very hesitant, dates back to the second half of the 18th century. It is visible in the activities of the Russian satirical literature XVIII century, in the activities of N.I. Novikov and others. It found a strong impetus in the events of the early 19th century (the Patriotic War of 1812), and was further developed in the activities of Pushkin and his school; but this awakening culminated only in Gogol, who closely merged the idea of ​​artistic realism and the idea of ​​nationality. The great significance of Gogol’s work, in the social sense, lies in the fact that he directed his brilliant creativity not on abstract themes of art, but on direct everyday reality and put into his work all the passion for seeking the truth, love for man, protecting his rights and dignity, denunciation of all moral evil. He became a poet of reality, whose works immediately received high social significance. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, as a moralist writer, is the direct predecessor of Leo Tolstoy. Interest in depicting the internal movements of personal life and in depicting social phenomena precisely from the angle of condemning social untruths, searching for a moral ideal - this was given to our subsequent literature by Gogol, and goes back to him. Subsequent public satire (for example, Saltykov-Shchedrin), “accusatory literature” of 1860 - 1870. without Gogol would have been unthinkable. All this testifies to the great moral significance of Gogol’s work for Russian literature and to his great civic service to society. This significance of Gogol was clearly felt by his closest contemporaries.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol also took a prominent place in creating the world position of Russian literature: from him (before Turgenev), Western literature began to know Russian, take a serious interest in and take it into account. It was Gogol who “discovered” Russian literature to the West.

Literature about Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol

Kulish,"Notes on the life of Gogol."

Shenrok,“Materials for the biography of Gogol” (M. 1897, 3 vols.).

Skabichevsky, "Works" vol. II.

Biographical sketch of Gogol, ed. Pavlenkova.

Even remembering all the writers who contributed to the development of Russian literature, it is difficult to find a more mysterious figure than Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The biography briefly outlined in this article will help to get some idea of ​​the personality of the genius. So, what interesting details are known about life path, passed through by the creator, his family, written works?

Gogol's father and mother

Of course, all fans of the writer’s work would like to have an idea about the family into which he was born. Gogol's mother's name was Maria, the girl came from a little-known family of landowners. If you believe the legend, there was no more beautiful young lady in the Poltava region than her. Married to father famous writer She entered at the age of 14, gave birth to 12 children, some of them died in infancy. Nikolai became her third child and first survivor. The memoirs of contemporaries say that Mary was a religious woman who diligently tried to instill the love of God in her children.

It is also interesting who became the father of such amazing person, like Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The biography briefly outlined in this material cannot fail to mention him. Vasily Yanovsky-Gogol during for long years was a post office employee and rose to the rank of collegiate assessor. It is known that he was interested in the magical world of art, even composing poems, which, unfortunately, have practically not survived. It is possible that the son’s talent for writing was inherited from his father.

Biography of the writer

Fans of the genius are also interested in where and when Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was born. The biography briefly given in this article states that his homeland is the Poltava province. The boy, born in 1809, spent his childhood in the village of Sorochintsy. His education began at the Poltava School, then continued at the Nizhyn Gymnasium. It is curious that the writer could not be called a diligent student. Gogol showed interest mainly in Russian literature, and achieved some success in drawing.

Nikolai began writing back in adolescence, however, his first creations could not be called successful. The situation changed when he moved to St. Petersburg, already an adult youth. For some time, Gogol tried to achieve recognition as an actor, performing on the stage of one of the St. Petersburg theaters. However, having failed, he completely concentrated on writing. By the way, a few years later he managed to become famous in the theater field, acting as a playwright.

What work allowed such a person as Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol to declare himself as a writer? The biography, briefly summarized in this material, claims that it was the story “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala.” Initially, the story had a different title, but the publishers, for unknown reasons, asked to change it before publication.

Famous works

“Dead Souls” is a poem without which it is difficult to imagine Russian literature; the work is included in the school curriculum. The writer in it views his native state as a country suffering from bribery, mired in vices, and spiritually impoverished. Of course, predicts a mystical rebirth Russian Empire. It is interesting that it was after the writing of this poem that N.V. Gogol died.

“Taras Bulba” is a historical story, the creation of which the author was inspired by real events 15-17 centuries, which took place on the territory of Ukraine. The work is interesting not only moral issues, which it raises, but also detailed description life of the Zaporozhye Cossacks.

“Viy” invites readers to plunge into the legends of the ancient Slavs, to get to know the world inhabited by mystical creatures, allows them to get scared and overcome their fear. “The Inspector General” ridicules the lifestyle of provincial bureaucrats and the inherent vices of its representatives. "Nose" - fantastic story, which tells about excessive pride and the price to pay for it.

Death of a Writer

There is hardly a famous person whose death is surrounded by such big amount riddles and assumptions. It is with death that many interesting facts about Gogol are connected that haunt biographers.

Some researchers insist that Nikolai Vasilyevich committed suicide using poison. Others argue that his early death was the result of exhaustion associated with numerous fasts. Still others insist on what resulted from improper treatment of meningitis. There are also those who claim that the writer was buried alive while in prison. None of the theories could be proven.

All that is known for certain is that during the last 20 years of his life the writer suffered from manic-depressive psychosis, but avoided seeing doctors. Gogol died in 1852.

Curious facts

Nikolai Vasilyevich was distinguished by extreme shyness. It got to the point that the genius left the room, the threshold of which was crossed by a person unfamiliar to him. It is believed that the creator left this world without losing his virginity; he never had a romantic relationship with a woman. Gogol was also very dissatisfied with his own appearance; his nose caused particular irritation. Apparently, this part of the body really worried him, since he even named the story after it. It is also known that when posing for portraits, he forced artists to change the appearance of his nose.

Interesting facts about Gogol are connected not only with his appearance and behavior, but also with his creativity. Biographers believe that there was a second volume of Dead Souls, which the writer himself destroyed shortly before his death. It is also curious that the plot of “The Inspector General” was suggested to him by Pushkin himself, sharing interesting story from life.

The question in the title may seem strange - is there really such a question? Yes, I have. Turn to encyclopedic publications and look: most of them contain a date that does not correspond to the truth. All Soviet encyclopedias and dictionaries, as well as the works of Gogol scholars, for example, or Yuri Mann (I name the most famous names), inform us that Gogol was born in 1809 on March 20 - or April 1 according to the new style. However, if he was born on March 20, then we should celebrate his birthday on April 2 according to the new style. (In our century, when recalculating from the old style to the new, 13 days are added.) In addition, and this is the main thing, Gogol was born on March 19, not the 20th. There is irrefutable evidence on this matter.

According to Maria Ivanovna Gogol, the writer’s mother, “he was born in the 9th year on March 19.” Gogol’s cousin, Maria Nikolaevna Sinelnikova (née Khodarevskaya), wrote to Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev (Gogol’s friend and executor) on April 15, 1852: “The day of his birth is very memorable to me - March 19, on the same day as his younger sister Olga...”. Olga Vasilievna Gogol (married Golovnya) was born, as you know, on March 19, 1825 and more than once said that she was born on the same day as her brother. “He was sixteen years older than me,” she recalled, “he was born in the ninth year, and I in the twenty-fifth year, and note that on the same day, March 19, we were born: he, the first son, and I, the last daughter in our family."

In 1852, shortly after Gogol's death, the Department of Russian Language and Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences decided to publish his biography. Shevyrev was commissioned to write it. In the summer of 1852, he went to the writer’s homeland to collect material. In his travel diary, Shevyrev, from the words of Gogol’s relatives, wrote: “Born 1809, March 19, at 9 pm. Trofimovsky’s words when he looked at the newborn: “He will be a glorious son.”

On March 19, Gogol’s relatives and congenial people congratulated him on his birthday. “Your letter (dated March 19) with congratulations came to me on the day when I was honored to partake of the Holy Mysteries,” Gogol informed his mother and sisters on April 3, 1849. Nadezhda Nikolaevna Sheremeteva, the aunt of the poet Fyodor Tyutchev, wrote to Gogol on February 12, 1843 from Pokrovsky near Moscow: “I wanted to write to you and did not receive your letter, so that by March 19 my congratulations would reach you. Congratulations, my dear friend, on your birth; This day is important for a Christian, we receive the right to inherit eternal bliss, just as we will receive if we go through this journey here, as a Christian should...”

Not all modern literary scholars who study Gogol agree with the unreliable version of the date of birth of the great Russian writer. Doctor philological sciences Igor Alekseevich Vinogradov in a commentary to the new edition of the book by P.A. Kulisha writes: “Gogol’s birthday, according to the testimony of his mother, is precisely March 19, despite the erroneous entry about this in the registry book (March 20). Probably, since childhood, Gogol remembered that his birthday coincided with the day of the capture of Paris on March 19, 1814 (on that day he turned five years old), and therefore subsequently celebrated both of these events together ... ". The latest encyclopedic editions also correctly indicate Gogol's date of birth.

In this article we'll talk about the life of Gogol. This writer created many immortal works that rightfully occupy their rightful place in the annals of world literature. There are many rumors and legends associated with his name, some of which Nikolai Vasilyevich spread about himself. He was a great inventor and mystifier, which certainly affected his work.

Parents

Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich, whose biography is discussed in this article, was born in 1809, on March 20, in the settlement of Velikiye Sorochintsy in the Poltava province. On the father's side, the future writer's family included church ministers, but the boy's grandfather, Afanasy Demyanovich, left his spiritual career and began working in the hetman's office. It was he who subsequently added to the surname Yanovsky received at birth another, more famous one - Gogol. Thus, Nikolai Vasilyevich’s ancestor sought to emphasize his relationship with the famous Ukrainian history Colonel Ostap Gogol, who lived in the 17th century.

The father of the future writer, Vasily Afanasyevich Gogol-Yanovsky, was an exalted and dreamy man. This can be judged by the history of his marriage to the daughter of a local landowner, Maria Ivanovna Kosyarovskaya. As a thirteen-year-old teenager, Vasily Afanasyevich saw in a dream the Mother of God, pointing him to a little unfamiliar girl as his future wife. After some time, the boy recognized the heroine of his dream in the seven-month-old daughter of the Kosyarovsky neighbors. From an early age he carefully looked after his chosen one and married Maria Ivanovna when she was barely 14 years old. Gogol's family lived in great love and harmony. The writer's biography began in 1809, when the couple finally had their first child, Nikolai. The parents were kind to the baby and tried in every possible way to protect him from any troubles and shocks.

Childhood

Biography of Gogol, summary which will be useful for everyone to know, began in truly greenhouse conditions. Dad and mom adored the baby and did not deny him anything. Besides him, there were eleven more children in the family, but most of them died in middle age. However, Nikolai, of course, enjoyed the greatest love.

The writer spent his childhood years in Vasilyevka, his parents' estate. Cultural center This region was considered the town of Kibintsy. This was D.T.'s domain. Troshchinsky, a former minister and distant relative of the Yanovsky-Gogols. He held the post of povet marshal (that is, he was the district leader of the nobility), and Vasily Afanasyevich was listed as his secretary. Theatrical performances were often held in Kibitsy, in which the father of the future writer took an active part. Nikolai often attended rehearsals, was very proud of it, and at home, inspired by his dad’s work, he wrote good poetry. However, Gogol's first literary experiments have not survived. As a child, he drew well and even organized an exhibition of his paintings on his parents’ estate.

Education

Together with his younger brother Ivan, Nikolai Gogol was sent to the Poltava district school in 1818. The biography of a home boy, accustomed to greenhouse conditions, followed a completely different scenario. His comfortable childhood was quickly ending. At school he was taught very strict discipline, but Nikolai never showed any particular zeal for science. The very first holidays ended in a terrible tragedy - brother Ivan died from an unknown disease. After his death, all the parents' hopes were placed on Nikolai. He needed to get a better education, for which he was sent to study at the Nizhyn classical gymnasium. The conditions here were very harsh: children were raised every day at 5.30 am, and classes lasted from 9.00 to 17.00. During the remaining time, the students were supposed to study their lessons and pray diligently.

However, the future writer managed to get used to the local order. Soon he made friends, famous and respected people in the future: Nestor Kukolnik, Nikolai Prokopovich, Konstantin Basili, Alexander Danilevsky. All of them, having matured, became famous writers. And this is not surprising! While still high school students, they founded several handwritten magazines: “Meteor of Literature”, “Dawn of the North”, “Zvezda” and others. In addition, teenagers were passionate about theater. Moreover, Gogol’s creative biography could well have been different - many predicted his fate famous actor. However, the young man dreamed of public service and, after graduating from high school, he decisively headed to St. Petersburg to pursue a career.

Official

Together with his friend from the gymnasium, Danilevsky, in 1828 Gogol went to the capital. St. Petersburg greeted young people with inhospitability; they were constantly in need of money and unsuccessfully tried to find decent work. At this time, Nikolai Vasilyevich is trying to earn a living literary experiments. However, his first poem "Hanz Küchelgarten" was not successful. In 1829, the writer began serving in the department of state economy and public buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then worked for almost a year in the department of appanages under the leadership of famous poet IN AND. Panaeva. Staying in the offices of various departments helped Nikolai Vasilyevich collect a wealth of material for future works. However, the civil service forever disappointed the writer. Fortunately, he soon experienced truly stunning success in the literary field.

Fame

In 1831, Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka was published. “This is real gaiety, sincere, unconstrained...” - Pushkin said about this work. Now the personality and biography of Gogol have become interesting to the most famous people in Russia. His talent was readily recognized by everyone. Nikolai Vasilyevich was overjoyed and constantly wrote letters to his mother and sisters asking them to send him more material about Little Russian folk customs.

In 1836 the famous " Petersburg story"of the writer - "The Nose". In this extremely bold work for its time, admiration for rank in its smallest and sometimes disgusting manifestations is ridiculed. At the same time, Gogol creates the work "Taras Bulba". The biography and work of the writer are inextricably linked with his dear homeland - Ukraine. In "Taras Bulba" Nikolai Vasilyevich talks about the heroic past of his country, about how representatives of the people (Cossacks) fearlessly defended their own independence from the Polish invaders.

"Inspector"

How much trouble this play caused the author! Being a brilliant writer and playwright who far anticipated his time, Nikolai Vasilyevich was never able to convey to his contemporaries the meaning of his immortal work. The plot of The Inspector General was given to Gogol by Pushkin. Inspired by the great poet, the author wrote it literally for a few months. In the fall of 1835, the first sketches appeared, and in 1836, on January 18, the first hearing of the play took place at an evening with Zhukovsky. On April 19, the premiere of “The Inspector General” took place on the stage of the Alexandria Theater. Nicholas the First himself came to her, along with his heir. They say that after watching the emperor said: “Well, it’s a play! Everyone got it, and I got it more than everyone else!” However, Nikolai Vasilyevich was not amused. He, a convinced monarchist, was accused of revolutionary sentiments, undermining the foundations of society, and God knows what else. But he was simply trying to ridicule the abuse of local officials; his goal was morality, and not politics at all. The distressed writer left the country and went on a long trip abroad.

Abroad

An interesting biography of Gogol abroad deserves special attention. In total, the writer spent twelve years on “rescue” travels. In 1936, Nikolai Vasilyevich did not limit himself in anything: at the beginning of the summer he settled in Germany, spent the autumn in Switzerland, and came to Paris for the winter. During this time, he made great progress in writing the novel “Dead Souls.” The plot of the work was suggested to the author by the same Pushkin. He highly appreciated the first chapters of the novel, admitting that Russia is, in essence, a very sad country.

In February 1837, Gogol, whose biography is interesting and instructive, moved to Rome. Here he learned about the death of Alexander Sergeevich. In despair, Nikolai Vasilyevich decided that “Dead Souls” was the poet’s “sacred testament”, which must definitely see the light of day. In 1838, Zhukovsky arrived in Rome. Gogol enjoyed walking the streets of the city with the poet, drawing local landscapes with him.

Return to Russia

In 1839, in September, the writer returned to Moscow. Now the publication of “Dead Souls” is devoted to the creative biography of Gogol. The summary of the work is already known to many of Nikolai Vasilyevich’s friends. He read individual chapters of the novel in the Aksakovs’ house, at Prokopovich’s and Zhukovsky’s. His closest circle of friends became his listeners. They were all delighted with Gogol's creation. In 1842, in May, the first publication of Dead Souls was published. At first, reviews of the work were mostly positive, then the initiative was seized by Nikolai Vasilyevich’s ill-wishers. They accused the writer of slander, caricature, and farce. A truly devastating article was written by N.A. Polevoy. However, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol did not take part in this entire controversy. The writer's biography continued abroad again.

Matters of the heart

Gogol never married. Very little is known about his serious relationships with women. His longtime and devoted friend was Smirnova Alexandra Osipovna. When she came to Rome, her guide to ancient city became Nikolai Vasilyevich. In addition, there was a very lively correspondence between friends. However, the woman was married, so the relationship between her and the writer was only platonic. The biography of Gogol is decorated with another heartfelt passion. Short story his personal relationships with women says: one day the writer decided to get married. He became interested in the young Countess Anna Vilegorskaya and proposed to her in the late 1940s. The girl's parents were against this marriage, and the writer was refused. Nikolai Vasilyevich was very depressed by this story, and since then he has not tried to arrange his personal life.

Work on the second volume

Before leaving, the author of "Dead Souls" planned to publish the first collection own compositions. He, as always, needed money. However, he himself did not want to deal with this troublesome matter and entrusted this matter to his friend Prokopovich. In the summer of 1842, the writer was in Germany, and in the fall he moved to Rome. Here he worked on the second volume of Dead Souls. Almost the entire creative biography of Gogol is devoted to the writing of this novel. The most important thing that he wanted to do at that moment was to show the image of an ideal citizen of Russia: smart, strong and principled. However, the work progressed with great difficulty and at the beginning of 1845 the writer began to show the first signs of a large-scale mental crisis.

Last years

The writer continued to write his novel, but was increasingly distracted by other matters. For example, he composed “The Inspector's Denouement,” which radically changed the entire previous interpretation of the play. Then, in 1847, “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends” was published in St. Petersburg. In this book, Nikolai Vasilyevich tried to explain why the second volume of Dead Souls has not yet been written, and expressed doubt about the educational role of fiction.

A whole storm of public indignation hit the writer. “Selected places...” is the most controversial point that marks Gogol’s creative biography. A brief history of the creation of this work suggests that it was written in a moment of mental turmoil of the writer, his desire to move away from his previous positions and start a new life.

Burning of manuscripts

In general, the writer burned his works more than once. This, one might say, was his bad habit. In 1829, he did this with his poem “Hans Küchelgarten,” and in 1840, with the Little Russian tragedy “The Shaved Mustache,” which he could not impress Zhukovsky with. At the beginning of 1845, the writer’s health deteriorated sharply; he constantly consulted with various medical celebrities and went to water resorts for treatment. He visited Dresden, Berlin, Halle, but was unable to improve his health. The writer's religious exaltation gradually increased. He often communicated with his confessor, Father Matvey. He believed that literary creativity distracts from inner life and demanded that the writer renounce his divine gift. As a result, on February 11, 1852, Gogol’s biography was marked by a fateful event. The most important creation of his life - the second volume of Dead Souls - was mercilessly burned by him.

Death

In April 1848, Gogol returned to Russia. Most He spent time in Moscow, sometimes came to St. Petersburg and to his homeland, Ukraine. The writer read individual chapters from the second volume of “Dead Souls” to friends, and again basked in the rays of universal love and worship. Nikolai Vasilyevich came to the production of “The Inspector General” at the Maly Theater and was pleased with the performance. In January 1852 it became known that the novel was “completely over.” However, soon a new spiritual crisis marked Gogol’s biography. The main work of his whole life - literary creativity - seemed useless to him. He burned the second volume of Dead Souls and a few days later (February 21, 1852) died in Moscow. He was buried in the cemetery of the St. Daniel's Monastery, and in 1931 he was moved to the Novodevichy cemetery.

Posthumous will

This is the biography of Gogol. Interesting facts from his life are largely related to his posthumous will. It is well known that he asked not to erect a monument over his grave and not to bury him for several weeks, since sometimes the writer fell into a kind of lethargic sleep. Both of the writer's wishes were violated. Gogol was buried a few days after his death, and in 1957, a marble bust by Nikolai Tomsk was installed at the burial site of Nikolai Vasilyevich.