Early Life and Literary Beginnings

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was born in 1809 in the village of Sorochintsy, Ukraine, and passed away in 1852 in Moscow. He is regarded as one of the founders of Russian realism and is known for his works that critique the corrupt structures of Russian society. Living during the transition from the feudal system to the Industrial Revolution, Gogol penned works that satirized the turbulent changes and decayed systems of his time.

Gogol’s family belonged to the petty nobility. His father was an amateur poet and playwright, while his mother came from a military family. Spending his childhood in rural Ukraine, Gogol was sent at the age of twelve to the Higher Sciences School in Nizhyn. During his education, his interest in literature became apparent, and he participated in school theater productions.

After completing his education in 1828, he moved to St. Petersburg in hopes of securing a government position. However, he faced financial difficulties and struggled to build the career he desired. His first literary attempt was a romantic and melodramatic poetry book written during his school years, which he self-published. The book was a failure, and he burned all copies in disappointment. Following this setback, he misused the money his mother had sent him and attempted to travel to Germany. He reached Lübeck but had to return to St. Petersburg due to financial constraints.

During this period, Gogol drew inspiration from his childhood memories in Ukraine and wrote Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1831–1832). This collection of stories, influenced by Ukrainian folklore, depicted rural life and supernatural elements. The book received significant attention in Russian literary circles, making Gogol an instant literary sensation.

Literary Career and Maturity

Gogol’s literary career progressed in the early 1830s with the publication of Mirgorod (1835) and Arabesques (1835). While Mirgorod was a continuation of Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, it included a stronger element of social criticism. Arabesques, on the other hand, was a collection of various literary essays and narratives.

At this time, Gogol had the opportunity to observe the corruption in St. Petersburg’s bureaucratic system, which he vividly depicted in his short stories and plays. Works such as Nevsky Prospect, Diary of a Madman, and The Nose explore the tragicomic lives of minor officials, questioning the role of individuals within the state and society.

One of Gogol’s most significant works, The Government Inspector (1836), was a theatrical satire targeting Russian bureaucracy. The play revolves around officials in a small town who mistakenly identify an ordinary swindler as a government inspector and attempt to bribe and flatter him. Though supported by Tsar Nicholas I, the play faced severe criticism from conservatives. After its performance, Gogol left Russia and moved to Rome.

Years in Rome and Dead Souls

Between 1836 and 1842, Gogol lived mostly in Rome, where he was deeply influenced by Italian culture and art. During this time, he befriended artists such as Alexander Ivanov, who shared his interest in religious mysticism. These influences steered Gogol toward a more spiritual perspective in his writing.

It was in Rome that he wrote his most famous novel, Dead Souls (1842). Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, Gogol envisioned the book as a trilogy: the first part would depict the "Inferno" of Russian society, the second part "Purgatory," and the third part "Paradise." However, only the first volume was completed.

Major Works

Gogol initially wrote works with romantic elements but gradually transitioned to realism. His stories often centered on “the little man,” depicting ordinary individuals struggling against the rigid structures of society. Some of his most notable works include:

Dead Souls (1842): One of Gogol’s most renowned novels, Dead Souls is a scathing critique of Russian social corruption. The protagonist, Chichikov, purchases the names of deceased serfs in a fraudulent scheme. Originally planned as a trilogy, Gogol later burned the second volume due to his spiritual crisis, and the third volume was never completed.

The Overcoat (1842): This story highlights the poverty and helplessness of a minor government clerk, shedding light on social inequality. It is considered one of the finest representations of the “little man” theme in Russian literature, inspiring Dostoyevsky to famously state, “We all emerged from Gogol’s Overcoat.”

The Government Inspector (1836): A satire on Russian bureaucracy, this play tells the story of how a small-town official is mistaken for a high-ranking inspector, exposing widespread corruption. It remains one of Gogol’s most biting critiques of the Russian administrative system.

Diary of a Madman: This psychological story follows a minor official who, under the pressures of a repressive state, loses his sanity. Through its protagonist, Poprishchin, Gogol masterfully explores themes of social alienation, madness, and unfulfilled ambition.

The Nose: A surreal story in which a man discovers that his nose has developed an independent existence and outranks him in the bureaucratic hierarchy. Blending absurdity with realism, this tale is a sharp critique of Russian bureaucracy’s ridiculous excesses.

Taras Bulba: A historical novel centered on Ukrainian Cossack life, emphasizing themes of heroism and patriotism. It stands as one of Gogol’s most significant romantic works.

Final Years

By the late 1840s, Gogol experienced a severe spiritual and creative crisis. He struggled to complete the second volume of Dead Souls and felt that his literary inspiration was fading. In 1847, he published Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends, which praised the Russian state and the Orthodox Church—views that sharply contrasted with his earlier satirical critiques. This book was heavily criticized by liberal intellectuals, most notably critic Vissarion Belinsky, who accused Gogol of defending an oppressive regime.

Devastated by this backlash, Gogol sought spiritual purification. In 1848, he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Upon returning to Moscow, he fell under the influence of a religious fanatic, Father Matvey Konstantinovsky, who reinforced his belief that he was a sinner. Under this influence, Gogol subjected himself to severe fasting and ascetic practices, leading to his physical decline.

In 1852, believing his work was unworthy, he burned the manuscript of the second volume of Dead Souls. Shortly thereafter, he fell into a state of deep physical and mental distress and died of self-imposed starvation on March 4, 1852.

Literary Vision

Gogol’s works serve as a bridge between Romanticism and Realism. While some of his writings incorporate elements of the fantastic and absurd, others emphasize a keen sense of social critique. His unique style, blending humor with deep existential concern, has been the subject of extensive literary analysis.

Throughout his writing, Gogol explored the relationship between the individual and society, employing satire and humor to expose corruption and moral decay. Though often classified as a realist, his frequent use of absurdity and supernatural elements makes him a unique literary figure who defies strict categorization.

Legacy

Gogol’s literary legacy marks a turning point in Russian literature. His ability to merge realism with absurdity influenced later writers such as Dostoyevsky and Chekhov. His masterpieces, particularly Dead Souls, The Government Inspector, and The Overcoat, remain some of the most important works of Russian literature, offering timeless critiques of bureaucracy, social inequality, and human folly.

Despite the tragic aspects of his life, Gogol’s works continue to be regarded as masterpieces of literary innovation and social criticism. Even today, his writings serve as a symbol of artistic ingenuity and a powerful voice against societal corruption.