Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a former civil servant, a meticulous negotiator, and the protagonist of the novel. Having lost his fortune several times, he decides to exploit a legal, albeit morally absurd, loophole to become wealthy again and settle in a remote region as a respectable person. He locates and buys 'dead souls'—serfs who, despite having died between census counts (revisions), still appear as alive in official 'revision lists'—cheaply from landowners. His goal is to mortgage these serfs, who have no physical existence, to the state and obtain a large loan to gain status as a nobleman. In the town of N..., he charms the governor and all influential officials with intense flattery. He visits the landowners one by one and focuses on clinching the deal by enduring the eccentricities of each (Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, etc.). Chichikov is a reflection of the 'middle class'—entirely pragmatic, devoid of romanticism, cold-blooded, and fixated solely on the realization of the false dream of wealth he has constructed.
He comes from a middle-class, non-noble background. Instead of military service or arduous duties, he always preferred desk jobs and administrative positions. In his past, he has ventured into various commercial and bureaucratic endeavors and has risked losing his entire fortune several times. He is well-versed in deceit, forged documents, and the loopholes of bureaucracy.
He is neither too fat nor thin. Middle-aged (not exactly young or old), with a clean face and dressed quite elegantly. He takes care to shave his face meticulously with soap to keep it smooth. He mostly wears a red frock coat or fancy, serious suits; he portrays a well-groomed image that commands the aura of a 'respectable gentleman'.
Manilof
He sees him as a sweet-tongued, completely naive dreamer who can be exploited.
Nozdref
He considers him an unpredictable nuisance and a quarrelsome thug, and struggles to escape his company.
Selifan
His drunken coachman, whom he berates without mercy and blames for his own failures.
Piluşkin
He sees him as the easiest mine to exploit, taking full advantage of his stinginess.
Sobakiyeviç
He approaches him with a mix of respect and fear, viewing him as a bear-like brute who nonetheless understands the language of commerce best.
Nastasya Petrovna Koroboçka
He endures her with hatred as a thick-headed, stubborn old crone who does not understand bargaining.