Part One: Chapter 7 (page 134- 155) Summary

At the beginning of this chapter, Tchitchikov is very pleased with himself. After surveying the lists of peasants he purchased, he now as four-hundred souls. As Tchitchikov surveys the list, he becomes almost sentimental about his dead souls. He feels as though he knows a little about each one and begins to speculate stories about each of their lives. Oddly, he feels a connection to them, almost as if he had had a chance to get to know them. After a long while, Tchitchikov realizes how long he has been obsessing over the souls. The narrator interjects and says that no man of significant wealth should waste that much time on souls. He remembers that he must go to the government building to officially finish the purchase of the souls.

As Tchitchikov is leaving the...