Chichikov is a fictional character from the novel "Dead Souls," written by Russian author Nikolai Gogol. He is a clever and opportunistic man who travels through provincial Russia, seeking to acquire deceased serfs, or "dead souls," to improve his social standing and wealth. Throughout the story, Chichikov interacts with various landowners, revealing their quirks and the social issues of the time. His journey serves as a satirical exploration of greed, bureaucracy, and the moral decay of society in 19th-century Russia.