For a century and a half, representatives of the educated Russian society, participating in the liberal or communist movement, with interest in studying the well-known polemic between VG Belinsky and NV Gogol, preferred the arguments of the first.
After 1917 the dispute of these great people was included in the general education course. However, in the textbooks only the point of view that Belinsky VG held was written. The letter to Gogol reflected his attitude to reality, showed the solidarity of his thoughts with liberal-democratic ideas. Nikolai Vasilievich also treated conservatives. In revolutionary Russia, Gogol the thinker was not simply not needed, but even harmful. All the judgments that came from him were allowed, at best, to interpret, while changing them beyond recognition. For many decades, official literary criticism characterized Gogol only on the one hand. He acted as a critic of the "society in which he lived." He was shown as a writer, whose work sought only to illustrate the negative aspects of the existing bourgeois landlord world, the antinational nature of the autocracy. The spiritual side of Nikolai Vasilyevich remained in the shadows.
On December 31, 1846, Gogol's book was published. She was called "Selected places from correspondence with friends." Enraged, Belinsky almost immediately writes a letter to Gogol. In it, he calls the book "vile", accuses its author of ignorance of reality. The work was finally withdrawn from circulation for a long time and placed in closed storage. Russian was allowed to read "The Inspector General", "Dead Souls", "Viya", "Nevsky Prospekt" and other fiction. However, the author himself called "Selected places . " his only practical book. Now it is returned to the readers.
The book of 1846 caused a wave of indignation in the advanced Russian society. In these years, many authors put forward a variety of reasons that prompted Gogol to write it. Some said that it was a hard and bitter delusion to the author who lost the correct idea of the reality that surrounded him. Others believed that the book reflected his weakness not only as a thinker, but as a person in general. Still others said that Gogol frightened the conclusions that followed from his other works of art. Fourth believed that the book showed the author's ideological fluctuations, which itself was trapped in religious prejudices and reactionary utopias.
It is believed that it has failed the literary activity of the critic, as it was written shortly before his death. Lenin believed that Belinsky's letter to Gogol was one of the outstanding works of a democratic, uncensored press. Its meaning has been preserved for a long time. At first, the book "Selected Places . " was raised as a banner, having met a positive reaction in a part of society. However, a decisive rebuff to her gave Belinsky's letter to Gogol. What did the critic say about? In his lines he gave a merciless description of the writer. The critic called him "the preacher of the whip, the apostle of ignorance, the champion of obscurantism and obscurantism, the panegyrist of the Tatar morals." Belinsky's letter to Gogol, whose short content was retold by the Petrashevists and all progressive circles of society, expressed the interests and thoughts of the serf-owning people against the autocracy. The critic said that earlier the writer had denounced tsarism, ridiculed landlords, fought against serfdom. The revolutionary circle was adopted by Gogol. He forced the whole country to laugh at the Plyushkin, Sobakevich, Khlestakov, which undoubtedly greatly facilitated the struggle against them. In an objective sense, he branded serfdom. Belinsky's letter to Gogol reminds Nikolai Vasilyevich of the old times. The critic speaks of his respect and love for him, as a person who is closely associated with his country, who acted as one of the leaders on the road to progress. After the publication of the book "Selected Places . " Belinsky gave an extremely negative review in "Contemporary". At that time, his appeal to Nikolai Vasilyevich could not be printed, but it was widely disseminated, nevertheless. The foremost part of society understood without any difficulty what the essence of Belinsky's letter to Gogol was. The critic rebelled against the preaching of "immorality and lies under the protection of religion and a whip." Belinsky pointed out in a letter to the atheistic nature of Russian people. At the same time he recognized the historicity of Christ and his doctrine of freedom, brotherhood and equality. A letter to Gogol Belinsky, briefly, became a manifesto of a thinking and progressive Russia. "The name of the critic was known to every representative of progressive youth," said Aksakov.
Extremely high evaluation of the critic's words was given by Lenin. At that time, the government pursued those who kept it and read it. According to the agent of the third branch and Petrashevsky, the words of the critic made general enthusiasm. Belinsky's letter is the most important monument of social thought. The critic spoke of Nikolai Vasilyevich now not as an advanced artist, but as a reactionary publicist. His book defended the autocracy of Nikolaev, supported serfdom. NV Gogol uplifted the landowner, proclaimed him "the father of the peasants," and pointed to the need for obedience to him. He called the serf himself "unwashed snout". Landlord, however, Gogol taught more to cash in on the work of the peasant, called for obedience to the tsar and his officials, the fulfillment of the traditions of antiquity. All this aroused sharp criticism. Belinsky stated that Russia's salvation is not in asceticism, mysticism and pietism, but in the successes of humanity, enlightenment and civilization. He categorically opposed the sermons, calling for the awakening in the people of self-esteem, which for centuries was trampled into dirt and mud. 
In his letter to Gogol, Belinsky pointed to the writer's misconceptions about reality. The critic said that the public will not be able to forgive such a disregard for the freedoms that were expressed in the book. Speaking against serfdom, Belinsky vividly illuminated all his humiliation. After reading "Selected places . ", the critic was struck by the change that occurred in the author's thoughts. Until recently, out of his pen came "The Inspector General" and "Dead Souls" who denounced the landlord system, ridiculed him. I must say that at the time of writing his book Gogol stayed abroad. This became yet another argument in criticism. Belinsky said that you can not, while away from the country, understand the situation. Meanwhile, the critic, hoping that all these thoughts of the writer were the result of his delusions, recommends him to create a counterbalance product that would neutralize the effect of his book. 
Belinsky was struck by Gogol's words about uselessness and even the harmfulness of reading and writing for the common people. The words of Nikolai Vasilyevich that, perhaps, his book is a delusion are categorically rejected. Belinsky says that this line of thought has been known in Russia for a long time. Moreover, the critic points out the absence of any intelligence and talent in the work. He says that this does not fit in any way with those creations that he created earlier. Belinsky strongly rejects the conclusion that the book was the product of the disorder of Gogol's mind. He explains this by the fact that it was written not one or two days, but, perhaps, years.
As it was said above, the critic published an article about the new book "Selected Places . " in Sovremennik. Offended at her, Gogol wrote a letter to Belinsky. In it, he says that the criticism of his book is most likely caused by a personal attitude. Meanwhile Belinsky fell seriously ill. Staying in Russia, he could not answer Nikolai Vasilievich, since at that time censorship was acting severely. But the disease made him go abroad. From there he sent an angry reply.
The letter of N. Gogol to Belinsky was sent on August 10. In it, the writer is deeply shocked by the reaction of the public to his book. He says that he received about 50 reviews, and they were all different. Nikolai Vasilyevich admits that, really, he did not understand the situation well. However, Gogol's letter to Belinsky can not be called remorse for "Selected Places . ". Moreover, it can be said that he did not recognize the fallacy of his opinion, conclusions, words and ideas. He only says that one should come to Russia, see and again learn everything that is in it. The last letter of Gogol Belinsky testifies to the author's unwillingness to create something new before he visits the country. The author believes that even those people who are in Russia can not fully understand the whole situation. Turning to Vissarion Grigorievich, he points out that he, too, on his part can not know many things that are known to him. Accordingly, there can be no complete understanding of the reasons that led to the creation of "Selected places . ". Gogol's letter to Belinsky does not promote anything, he does not call for anything. Nikolai Vasilyevich tries to justify himself in some way, to explain the superficial state of affairs. At the same time, he understands that, most likely, his words will not find a response from the critic.
Gogol's letter to Belinsky reflects the state of the author. He was depressed and almost destroyed by criticism. The leading circles met indignantly with his work, but they enthusiastically discussed Vissarion Grigorievich's answer to him. Despite the support given to his book by the government, Gogol did not experience the satisfaction that he expected. In his response to criticism, he does not indicate the true reasons for writing a book. Gogol's letter to Belinsky seems blurred and vague, in comparison with the critic's message. However, he confesses that he is too focused on himself. At the same time he points out to Belinsky that he unnecessarily "scattered". He says that the critic neglects the need to learn all that he knows himself to understand his motives and thoughts. The letter of Gogol Belinsky in 1847 ends with a wish of health. Nikolai Vasilyevich reminds Vissarion Grigorievich that only in the absence of illness can you do reasonable business in any field.
Belinsky pointed out to Gogol that in the distance from Russia the situation seems quite prosperous. However, near it it will not be so beautiful. Gogol admits this. However, along with this, he says that the critic himself of many things can not know. But, unlike Belinsky, Gogol points out that he is ready to admit his mistakes and work on them. At the same time, the critic does not see the same aspirations, which, of course, greatly disappoints him. He says that Russia is on the verge of great events that require people to view life from all sides without rushing headlong into the revolution. Perhaps Gogol was indeed under the influence of religious teaching. Perception, which he had, sent his thoughts toward the autocracy. He spoke of the spiritual connection of the people and the tsar, the need to preserve it further. This contrasted sharply with the ideas he had followed earlier. However, from his answer Belinsky follows that he does not intend to abandon his thoughts at all. He is ready only to re-learn Russia and the state of affairs in it. But this, most likely, was necessary for him to further affirm his ideas.
Belinsky and Gogol at one time were good friends and supporters of some ideas. The first, as a critic, put forward decisive social and political demands to the government, insisting on satisfying the urgent needs of the peasant masses who were under oppression of serfdom. He referred to the most urgent issues of our time the abolition of punishments, the introduction of strict implementation of all existing laws. The key requirement was the overthrow of the serfdom. Gogol, in turn, as a writer was exposing landlords, officials, autocracy. It is in this converged views of these people. Belinsky, illuminating the humiliation of the situation of the peasants, wrote that Russia is becoming a terrible country in which people are trafficked. In the state there was not only no guarantee for property, honor, personality, but also police order. Belinsky considered the primary task to be the abolition of serfdom. Literary activity, in his opinion, was a guide for the people. In writers he saw the leaders of the new system. Among them, Gogol used the special respect and love of both Belinsky himself and other representatives of progressive society. But, having left abroad, he publishes a book that overturns all the ideas about him.
Responding to criticism, Gogol does not give any arguments in his favor. He only ascertains the established facts. There is no desire in his letter to improve, "think about", apologize, in the end, to the public. His book was not at that time recognized as the foremost layers of society. This was due mainly to the fact that the people were already firmly rooted in the desire for a new, free life, which the autocracy could not provide.
