However, a reader cannot overlook the modern relevance of Dead Souls, that there is still value to Gogol's examination of Poshlism in the contemporary world. From Manilov, the well-mannered daydreamer who has succumbed to ennui, to Sobakevich, a perfect medium-sized bear whose room is filled with "full-length engravings of Greek generals," each character in the story is a representation of a specific type of poshlost in 19th century Russia. Gogol's meticulous attention to detail and careful examination of poshlism is brought to life through his creative style and masterful depiction of Chichikov and the landowners.
The definition of Poshlost, as defined by Nabokov, is someone who is "not only the obviously trashy but mainly the falsely important, the falsely beautiful, the falsely clever, and the falsely attractive." Poshlost is not uncommon in the picaresque novel Dead Souls Gogol carefully examines Poshlism through the lens of Chichikov, our uniquely Russian "hero." Throughout the course of the novel, Chichikov, who seemed to have mastered the fine art of flattery, travels to the estates of different landowners, with the sole objective of swindling his way to a fortune.
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