(248 words) Manilov is the first landowner to whom Chichikov came in search of dead souls. He exceptionally politely receives the guest, but the reader distinguishes the author’s irony: hypocrisy is hidden behind the outward affability in the hero. The character is trying hard to throw dust in his eyes, so it is so important to "disassemble" his character.
Manilov’s characterization in “Dead Souls” begins with a bright proverb: “A person is neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan.” This means that the hero is a spineless and indefinite man. With all his abilities, he only flies in the clouds, doing nothing. He wants everyone to consider him educated, throwing high-sounding phrases to the guest, but the book on his desk was covered with dust. Its owner is not engaged in self-education, but only pretends. Manilov’s economy is also not keen on; a clerk has been managing for him for a long time. Therefore, all desires like building a stone bridge across the pond remained at the planning stage. In his words there is never specificity; he speaks about everything in a generalized way, around and around. All this is because he has nothing to say. The landowner does not have his own judgment; he relies on common places and commonplace truths in everything. There are no special features in his personality, she is like a penny - she wants everyone to like it, but it costs almost nothing.
Manilov’s cloying speeches even bothered Chichikov, he gladly leaves the estate. Introducing us to such a hero, the writer shows that behind the external brilliance in a person, a dead soul is often hidden, which does not aspire to anything. Starting from Manilov his way through the gallery of dead souls, he seems to hint: everything here is not what it seems.
