# Selifan — Dead Souls character guide

> Selifan in Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the reluctant Selifan

**First appearance:** 0002-dead-souls

## Snapshot

Chichikov's coachman, a drunkard-philosopher who lectures his horses, loses the road, and embodies the Russian knack for getting nowhere with style.

## Who they are

Selifan drives Chichikov's britzka and, more often than his master would like, drives it into ditches, wrong turns, and the yards of strangers. He is loyal, muddled, and given to long speeches to the horses, especially the bay and the gray, whom he scolds and confides in by turns. His wandering is not just comic: it keeps Chichikov's errand from ever feeling like a clean business trip, and it lets Gogol's Russia sprawl out along the ruts.

## Relationships

### [Chichikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/characters/chichikov)

_professional_

Selifan is Chichikov's loyal but often drunken coachman, serving him with a mix of devotion and negligence.

### [Chichikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/characters/chichikov)

_professional_

Selifan is Chichikov's loyal but often drunken coachman, serving him with a mix of devotion and negligence.

### [Chichikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/characters/chichikov)

_professional_

Selifan is Chichikov's loyal but often drunken coachman, serving him with a mix of devotion and negligence.

## In the story

### [Chapter I: The Arrival of Paul Ivanovitch Chichikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-i-i)

Chichikov's coachman, a little man in a large overcoat, who helps bring in the luggage and tends to the horses.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-i-vii)

Chichikov's coachman; after his master falls asleep, he goes out with Petrushka.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-i-viii)

Mentioned as Chichikov's servant, though not directly active in this chapter.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

Questioned by lackeys; only states that the barin served in the State and Customs, providing no useful details.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-i-x)

Ordered by Chichikov to prepare the britchka for an early departure; hesitates and scratches his head.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-ii-i)

Enjoys the village dances and the company of buxom maidens, often losing himself in the revelry.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/chapters/part-ii-iv)

Overjoyed at Chichikov's release and eager to leave town.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/characters/selifan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dead_souls_se/characters