Pavel Ivanovitch Chichikov—Manilov relationship

Pavel Ivanovitch Chichikov—Manilov relationship is a comic alliance in which ceremonious affection accompanies a transaction in dead serfs. Manilov presents Chichikov with his list, then accompanies him to the municipal offices to complete the transfer; the conspicuous warmth between them contrasts with the administrative and increasingly public consequences of their private bargain.

Courtesy and Social Access

When Chichikov first arrives in the provincial town, he makes a round of official calls, beginning with the Governor and continuing through the Vice-Governor, the Public Prosecutor, the President of the Local Council, and other municipal figures. He flatters his hosts, praises the province’s roads, and even addresses two officials with the overly exalted title of “Your Excellency.” The visits quickly produce invitations to receptions and meals. Manilov’s later assistance takes place within this social world: familiarity and politeness make it easier for the transaction to pass through official channels.

The List and the Embrace

On the day he goes to complete the transfer, Chichikov is anxious to conclude the business. He thinks of the souls as unsubstantial and wants the burden of the matter off his shoulders as quickly as possible. In the street he unexpectedly meets Manilov. Their greeting becomes an extravagant physical performance: they embrace for several minutes, exchange such vigorous kisses that both suffer toothache, and continue with a prolonged handclasp. Manilov says he had been on his way to embrace Chichikov, then produces a roll of paper tied with red ribbon.

The document is Manilov’s list of souls. Chichikov admires its elegant handwriting and decorative border, so that the record of dead serfs receives the care of a finely finished keepsake. Manilov’s presentation converts their friendly sentiment into the concrete instrument of the sale: the list is what Chichikov needs to carry the transfer forward.

Together at the Municipal Offices

Manilov offers to accompany Chichikov, and they walk arm in arm to the large, chalk-white municipal building. At every small rise in the ground, Manilov supports his companion so energetically that he nearly lifts him off his feet. Chichikov appears embarrassed or impatient; he speeds up on the stairs in an effort to escape the ever-present supporting arm, while Manilov darts forward to anticipate any possible stumble. The comic mismatch between solicitous friendship and Chichikov’s desire to get the business done accompanies them into the offices.

There, their private dealings cease to be private. The President greets Chichikov warmly and congratulates him on the purchases, while Sobakevitch is present in the room. Chichikov is embarrassed to find two vendors with whom he had bargained separately confronting one another. Manilov’s list has thus brought their relationship into a public administrative setting, where the separate transactions begin to overlap in the sight of other people.

Public Scrutiny and Consequences

As the town’s rumors spread, the purchases of dead souls become one of the matters officials investigate. Two women relay details about both the purchases and an alleged scheme to abduct the Governor’s daughter, helping set the town’s speculation in motion. During questioning, Manilov gives an impassioned defense of Chichikov, saying that he would answer for him as for himself and would gladly sacrifice his property for even a fraction of Chichikov’s qualities. His praise expresses loyalty, but it does not clarify the transaction that the officials are trying to understand.

The inquiries reach the servants as well as the landowners. Petrushka offers little beyond the smell of his room, and Selifan says only that his master has worked for the state and served in the Customs. The officials remain unsure who Chichikov is, despite learning about the purchases and questioning people around him. Later, amid the legal claims surrounding Madam Khanasarov’s property, reports of Chichikov’s dead-soul purchases are again unearthed as part of the investigation into his past. Across these episodes, Manilov’s role is marked by a contrast: he is lavishly devoted to his friend, yet the list he hands over helps make a concealed business legible to the bureaucratic and social network that eventually scrutinizes Chichikov.