Lent

Lent functions as a precise seasonal marker at a turning point in Chichikov’s early career: a wedding is expected before it begins, but his apparent engagement ends as soon as he secures the advancement he sought.

Calendar Marker and Social Expectation

In the account of Chichikov’s rise through government service, the end of February is identified as the time when his office expected his wedding to take place, before the beginning of Lent. The reference gives the projected marriage a definite place in the social calendar, making it seem imminent rather than a vague future possibility. The office’s expectation shows how convincingly Chichikov had presented himself as a prospective member of his superior’s household.

Courtship and Advancement

Chichikov had first cultivated the Chief Clerk through small acts of service, then learned that the man had a grown-up daughter. He arranged to meet her after church on Sundays, dressed neatly, and gradually became a familiar presence in the home. He bought flour and sugar, treated the daughter as his betrothed, called her father “Papenka,” and sometimes kissed his hand. By the time Lent approached, colleagues assumed that the wedding would follow.

That expectation coincided with a practical benefit: the Chief Clerk began advocating for Chichikov, helping him obtain a Chief Clerk’s position when a vacancy arose. Chichikov then packed his trunk secretly and moved to new lodgings the next day. His former intimacy with the household abruptly ceased; he no longer called the older man “Papenka” or kissed his hand, and the proposed marriage ended as though it had never been discussed.

Narrative Significance

Lent marks the deadline against which the apparent courtship is measured, sharpening the contrast between public expectation and Chichikov’s conduct. The marriage does not occur; instead, the approaching season frames the moment when his pursuit of office has succeeded and his performance of family attachment is discarded. The Chief Clerk nevertheless continues to shake his head and call Chichikov too proud when they meet, leaving the broken expectation visible after Chichikov has moved on.