“The Inspector General” by N.V. Gogol is a play in which there is no dramatic conflict as such. For an author, comedy is a genre that is primarily satirical and morally descriptive.

The love affair is relegated to the background. Therefore, the play is considered to be a socio-political comedy.

N.V. Gogol “The Inspector General”: summary of the 1st act

The officials gathered in the mayor's room. He reports the imminent arrival of the auditor. Everyone is terrified. The mayor advises officials to create at least a semblance of order in those institutions that are under their department. He asks the postmaster to open and read any letter that arrives. He easily agrees, because he has done this before. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky spread a rumor that I. A. Khlestakov, who has been living in the hotel for a whole week, but still has not paid for his stay, is the auditor. The mayor decides to visit the newcomer. But before that, he gives the order to sweep all the streets, remove the rotten fence, place police officers throughout the city and tell the auditor that the church burned down and was not plundered. The mayor’s wife and daughter are eager to be among the first to know everything about the newcomer.

Summary: “The Inspector General” by Gogol N.V., 2nd act

His servant Osip lies on Khlestakov’s bed and reflects that the master is living completely beyond his means, is losing at cards, and that life was better in St. Petersburg. He refuses to ask for lunch since they are already in debt. The tavern servant brings Khlestakov some food on credit. The mayor and Dobchinsky appear at the hotel. Khlestakov apologizes for non-payment, says that he is going to the village to visit his father, asking for a loan of money.

The mayor considers all these words to be a cover, gives Khlestakov a large bribe, promises to restore order in his city and invites him to live with him. Bobchinsky was listening outside the door all this time. The mayor and Khlestakov go to inspect various establishments.

Summary: “The Inspector General” by Gogol N.V., 3rd act

The mayor's wife receives a note from Dobchinsky and gives orders to receive the guest. Ladies are choosing toilets. Osip brings the master's things into the house. Khlestakov visits the hospital at this time. When visiting, he shows off in front of the mayor’s wife and lies to the point that he manages the department and is in the palace every day. Officials who heard this “speech” conclude that their affairs are very bad. The mayor's wife and daughter discuss the merits of the "auditor". Even Osip receives a bribe. And by saying that his master loves order, he only posted guards on the porch, who were ordered not to allow any petitioners to Khlestakov.

Summary: “The Inspector General” by N. V. Gogol, act 4

The officials gathered in the mayor's room. They lined up and took turns going to Khlestakov to introduce themselves and give a bribe. He himself directly demands money from Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky. Khlestakov realizes that he was mistaken for the wrong person and in a letter to his friend describes this comic incident. Osip advises the master to quickly flee from this city. Petitioners (a non-commissioned officer's widow and merchants) come to Khlestakov. They bribe him and cry for help. Khlestakov explains to the mayor's daughter. At this time her mother enters the room. Then he says that he is actually in love with her, but since she is already married, he is forced to ask for her daughter's hand in marriage. Parents give their blessing for marriage. Khlestakov also takes some money from the mayor “on loan” and leaves to discuss the future wedding with his father.

Summary: “The Inspector General” by N. V. Gogol, act 5

The mayor's wife and daughter dream of life in St. Petersburg. He himself announces his engagement to everyone. Officials and merchants come to him with congratulations, asking him not to forget about them when he rises. And suddenly the postmaster comes and reads out loud the very letter that Khlestakov sent to his friend. The mayor was killed by this news on the spot. Everyone begins to wonder where they got the idea that Khlestakov is an auditor, and they remember that the rumor was spread by Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky.

Summary: N. Gogol “The Inspector General”, last act

A gendarme appears at the mayor’s house and reports the imminent arrival of a real auditor. The play ends with a silent scene.

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It’s not for nothing that Gogol’s “The Inspector General” attracts so many curious glances: this play is an example of the revolution that shook Russian drama. However, this shock turned out to be positive, adding color to the composition and content of the literature. Analysis of the narrative requires turning to the customs and mores of the era to which the author refers the reader. Social conditions, historical features - all this is reflected in Gogol’s work. According to Gogol, there is a panacea for all social “diseases”. The writer saw art as such a medicine.

How did the idea for The Inspector General come about?

Writing and editing the work took Gogol almost 7 years. Nikolai Vasilyevich began work on “The Inspector General” in 1835, and the end of the play fell in 1842. The idea for creating such a text was given to the writer by Pushkin. He, in turn, recently heard a funny story about a certain Svinin (who, by the way, was the publisher of Otechestvennye Zapiski). So what did our Svinin become famous for? Actually, in a sense, the publisher served as a prototype for the image of Khlestakov: like the hero of “The Inspector General,” Svinin was somehow confused with a high-ranking official who was supposed to arrive in the town for an audit. By the way, Pushkin told his colleague the above story at the time when Gogol was working on the text of “Dead Souls”. The work, apparently, was not moving, so the writer decided to take a break. Then Gogol went to Pushkin to consult with a friend about plans to write a new text. The idea is a satirical play. Gogol wanted to ridicule the practices that were in use among high-status officials. And it was then that Pushkin remembered the rumors about Svinin.

Remark about Pig

Something happened to Svinin in Bessarabia. But this case is not the only one, but only one of a number of similar situations. One of these stories happened to Pushkin himself. Once Alexander Sergeevich went to Nizhny Novgorod to collect information about Emelyan Pugachev - Pushkin was working on a work of the same name at that time. The stories told by Pushkin greatly amused Gogol, and the writer was so inspired that within a fairly short time he sketched out an outline of a new play. To be fair, it should be said that similar problems arise in many writers of this period. Gogol was upset that the play was not original in terms of theme. At some point, the author was even going to give up working on The Inspector General, but Pushkin convinced his colleague. The written work - immediately after completion - was read out in the salon of Vasily Zhukovsky, who hosted famous figures of literature and art. Gogol's text caused great delight among the audience present. However, Gogol also saw disadvantages in the way the comedy was perceived by potential readers: unfortunately, listeners did not grasp the true meaning of the play.

But let's get back to our main story. This story, however, is only an excuse to present to the reader a vicious society, officials devoid of dignity and honor, a world of hypocrisy and spiritual poverty, people demonstrating universal stupidity. Thus, Gogol creates a unique and sharp social-satirical comedy. To achieve his goal, the writer chooses realism as a literary direction. Actually, in Gogol’s time, realism was a fairly popular movement. As for the composition, the play has a ring structure and there is no exposition (as such). The specificity of “The Inspector General” also lies in the inclusion in the narrative of many psychological remarks from the author.

Characteristics of the characters in Gogol's work

Gogol's play has gone down in the history of literature as a classic work where typical characters act. This refers to literary types - the most abstract images, which are, at the same time, exponents of the specific features of a certain time. Gogol skillfully uses humor and draws extremely interesting characters! The writer did not present a single completely positive character in the text - this is a rather new and non-standard technique for the realistic direction. What, if not the characters, drives the narrative of The Government Inspector? It's probably feelings and morals. The main feeling is fear, in particular, fear for one’s own “skin” and well-being, fear of losing a warm, familiar place with the arrival of an auditor. What is the way out of this situation? Appease the inspection official. The writer believed that exposing such unsightly aspects of life would lead to the recovery of society. Therefore, Gogol presses on the most painful points: on the dominance of meanness and injustice, on the popularity of immorality and falsehood.

Image of Khlestakov

Of course, the key character in the play is Khlestakov. The writer characterizes Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov as an official who arrived from St. Petersburg. The approximately twenty-three-year-old young man is not very intelligent; he loves carousing, partying and gambling. The young man is not inclined to work, even though Khlestakov has to work. The hero often asks his parents for money. One day, at the end of his last means, Khlestakov leaves for his father, stopping along the way in the town of N. Suddenly the young man is mistaken for an official who was expected in the town. The pseudo-auditor enjoys the power that has fallen on his head, meets pretty women, borrows funds from local officials. The culmination is the matchmaking with the daughter of the city manager. However, soon a real auditor arrives, Khlestakov’s deception is revealed, and the hero hastily leaves the city.

Image of Osip

Khlestakov is served by Osip, a cunning and intelligent serf servant of a careless master. The old man is much more savvy than Khlestakov, often telling the master what to do.

The image of Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky

Using the example of this character's name, the reader can see how skillfully Gogol plays with the surnames of his characters. Anton Antonovich serves as the local mayor. This is not yet an old man of mature years (according to the narrative, Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky is about thirty). The city manager has a cunning character and often indulges in fraud and hypocrisy. Anton Antonovich does not hesitate to engage in corruption, break the law, trying to gain benefit from every business.

The image of Anna Andreevna

The mayor is married to a woman whose name is Anna Andreevna. A woman of about forty years old, Anna Andreevna is not distinguished by her intelligence, demonstrating her essence - a stupid but attractive coquette from the provinces. The mayor's wife is impatient and wants to get everything at once.

Image of Marya Antonovna

The eighteen-year-old daughter of the city manager is famous for her beauty and moral integrity. Marya is naive and pure, the girl dreams of a romantically beautiful story. One day the heroine meets with Khlestakov, who managed to win the girl over. Mutual feelings seemed to flash between Marya and Ivan and, as a result, Khlestakov proposed to the girl. But as soon as the engagement was announced, Khlestakov’s deception was revealed, and the hero “capitulated” from the town.

Image of Khlopov

Gogol describes the school superintendent Luka Lukic. This is an official whose image is characterized by such traits as timidity and cowardice. Khlopov is supposed to keep order in educational institutions, but the official does his job extremely poorly. In addition, Khlopov constantly exudes an onion smell. Perhaps that is why Gogol gives the character this name!

Image of Lyapkin-Tyapkin

Like Luka Lukic, Ammos Fedorovich performs his official duties far from conscientiously. The character's surname seems to say that the judge is doing a poor job. The judicial life of Ammos Fedorovich has been going on for fifteen years now, while receiving awards and medals for poor quality and careless work. Much more than serving in court, Tyapkin-Lyapkin loves to hunt. His passion for hunting also determined the hero’s specific form of bribes: Tyapkin-Lyapkin collected “tribute” not in money, but in dogs.

Strawberry Image

Artemy Filippovich served as a trustee of “charitable institutions.” Gogol describes the character as a sly and a rogue, and also as a fat and clumsy man. Like Luka Lukic, Zemlyanika is not particularly concerned about maintaining order in the establishments he manages.

Image of Shpekin

The postmaster in the play, meanwhile, appears as a character who is distinguished by his simplicity and tactlessness. The hero heads the town's postal service. The man’s favorite pastime also coincides with Shpekin’s work: Shpekov is weak at reading other people’s correspondence. Actually, the hero is no different from other officials of the town, performing his official duties just as poorly.

Images of Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky

The landowners from the city of N depicted by Gogol are strikingly similar: both heroes have the same name, that is, both are Peter Ivanovich. The image of the landowner is presented as typical: short people who love to eat, gossip, relax and chat.

Gibner's image

The surname of this character is also “telling”: all of Dr. Christian Ivanovich’s patients are destined to die, because our doctor does not know how to treat people at all. Gibner, apparently, is German, so the hero does not know Russian, and therefore does not know how to communicate with patients. Here Gogol ridiculed the well-known Russian custom of inviting government officials, scientists, teachers and, finally, doctors from abroad, in particular from Germany.

Image of Ukhovertov

Stepan Ilyich plays in the “universe” of “The Inspector General” the role of a city bailiff, the head of the quarterly, that is, police officers, in our town. Like his fellow officials, Ukhovertov performs his official duties poorly, and local neighborhood officers are prone to drunkenness and carousing.

Images of quarterly

The figures of policemen are also closely connected with the figure of Ukhovertov, whom Gogol also awards with comical names, such as Derzhimorda, Svistunov and Pugovitsyn. Naturally, the main duty of the police is to maintain public order. However, the guardians of the law themselves tend to violate this order, let alone the whole city.

The image of the widow Ivanova

Ivanova was once married to a non-commissioned officer, but is now a widow. The woman is a typical representative of the average town resident. Ivanova once complained to Khlestakov about the actions of the city manager: the police officers allegedly punished the woman for no reason. Ivanova was indignant and asked Khlestakov to issue the mayor a fine for malicious violation of official duties.

Poshlepkina's image

Another female character in Gogol's play. Poshlepkina, presented in the work as an elderly mechanic, also comes to the pseudo-auditor with complaints about the mayor. He forced Poshlepkina’s husband to become a soldier - on an illegal basis.

Tryapichkin's image

Khlestakov had many acquaintances and friends in St. Petersburg. One of them is Tryapichkin. Gogol portrays this character as a writer who writes articles for newspapers. Khlestakov corresponds with a friend, in which he talks about what is happening in the town where the young man suddenly found himself.

Images of retired officials

In addition to current officials and landowners of the town, Gogol also introduces retired employees to readers. These are, in particular, the characters of Lelyukov, Rastakovsky and Korobkin. These characters are minor and appear in the work only occasionally, in episodes.

Mishka's image

The writer portrayed Mishka as a serf “errand boy” who serves the city manager. Mishka is a young boy, distinguished by his agility and dexterity. In fact, this is also a supporting hero.

Merchant image

The figure of the merchant Abdulin occupies a cameo role, but the character appears in the play quite often. Abdulin sells wines. At the same time, the merchant supplies wine for the mayor for free (the city manager does the same with other merchants who give him their goods without payment). But upon arrival in the town of our pseudo-auditor, Abdulin joins other residents of the city, complaining about the mayor.

Notification of check arrival

The town's government agencies are mired in bribes and other violations of the law, they are accustomed to permissiveness, but unexpectedly unpleasant news comes. The fact is that an inspector from St. Petersburg, that is, an auditor, is sent to the city. At the same time, officials learn that the auditor has a secret order; this news makes unscrupulous employees lose peace. The city is at a loss as to the reasons for the inspector's arrival. Everyone has a premonition of impending troubles.

The mayor recommends that the trustee of government institutions restore order in the hospital wards and dress the patients in clean linen. He instructs the city judge to stop drying the arapnik over the work table. The mayor looks at the outgoing mail from the postmaster Shpekin to avoid denunciation. Shpekin, it turns out, often reads other people’s letters himself, because this activity amuses him.

Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky tell the townspeople about a suspicious, observant young man whom they met in a tavern. Everyone mistakenly decides that Khlestakov is the auditor. The mayor decides to visit the visiting inspector at the hotel.

At the beginning of the second act, readers learn that Khlestakov’s situation has worsened significantly; on the way to his father, he lost all the money and does not even have the means to feed himself.

The mayor comes to Khlestakov at the hotel. The official is afraid that the mayor's visit is caused by his large debts. He believes that they want to put him in prison.

Anton Antonovich, who serves as the mayor, enters the auditor's room and respectfully greets him. Khlestakov, in turn, awkwardly apologizes, makes excuses about the debt and complains about the bad innkeeper. After the guest’s dissatisfaction, the mayor offers him a more comfortable hotel.

During this dialogue, the mayor believes that Khlestakov is tricking him into secret information. Frightened, Anton Antonovich admits to bribes and offers Khlestakov money. The mayor promises to keep the auditor's secret and not reveal his identity. Thus, Khlestakov receives 200 rubles.

Anton Antonovich volunteers to accompany the auditor to inspection sites in charitable institutions. He invites Khlestakov to his home as an honored guest.

The mayor's wife Anna Andreevna is looking forward to her husband. Dobchinsky brings her a note from her husband, in which he, in the most serious terms, sets out information about the formidable intentions of the auditor. He asks his wife to take all measures to soften the guest, orders him to prepare a room for him and buy the best wine. Anna Andreevna and her daughter are arguing about which dresses are best to choose for a meeting with the esteemed auditor.

Arriving to visit Anton Antonovich, Khlestakov decides to tell the ladies about his life in St. Petersburg, he describes the solemn social events and calls himself the main official of the ministry and a friend of Pushkin himself. The guest boasts that he has repeatedly published his works in famous magazines and takes credit for the merits of others. After the conversation, Khlestakov goes to rest in the room prepared for him.

Anna Andreevna questions the servant Osip about the character and status of his master. Osip answers evasively, which gives the homeowners a reason to imagine Khlestakov as an important figure.

We invite you to read a summary of Gogol’s “Dead Souls”. This work is a recognized encyclopedia of human souls and characters, types of Russia at that time.

In our new article, you will learn about the difficult life of the St. Petersburg official Akaki Akakievich in the story “The Overcoat,” and how he was forced to endure hardships every day for the sake of his sky-high dream.

The mayor places police guards at his house to avoid the inspector meeting with complainants and informers. After long conversations, the officials decide to visit Khlestakov one by one and give him a bribe to clear their name.

Judge Lyapkin-Tapkin decides to become the auditor's first visitor. He enters Khlestakov’s room and, from an excess of excitement, drops the money he brought on the floor. Khlestakov picks up the money and asks the judge to lend it. Then the postmaster, the superintendent of city schools and other officials of all ranks enter his room in turn. All these government officials give the guest from St. Petersburg money, explaining it as a temporary loan.

When talking with Khlestakov, officials, out of excitement and excessive nervousness, tell him their secrets. Employee Zemlyanika denounces some of his colleagues and offers to provide Khlestakov with a note detailing their misdeeds. Dobchinsky admits to the auditor that he has an illegitimate child.

After the reception of officials is completed, Khlestakov writes a letter to his old comrade Tryapichkin. He admits that he was in an advantageous position because he was mistaken for a government inspector.

Easy Money
Now the auditor has a fortune of 1 thousand rubles. Osip asks the master to be careful and quickly leave the city before the officials discover the deception.

Then several merchants come to Khlestakov and complain about unfair treatment by the local authorities. Khlestakov promises to punish the culprit and reassures them.

Khlestakov begins to flirt with the mayor's daughter Marya Antonovna. He falls to his knees in front of the girl and confesses his love to her. Khlestakov proposes marriage to her. The mayor blesses the union between his daughter and the auditor. Khlestakov tells the mayor’s family that he urgently needs to go to his rich uncle. He asks to borrow more money. After this, Khlestakov leaves.

Honorary residents of the city congratulate the mayor that his daughter got married so successfully. The mayor imagines that he and his wife will soon move to the capital. Suddenly the postmaster appears, to whom he read Khlestakov’s letter to Tryapichkin. He tells the mayor about the deception. The gendarme announces the arrival of an official from St. Petersburg, after which a silent scene ensues.

The fate of the work after writing

Despite all the popularity of Gogol's play, the work found its stage embodiment only in 1836. The Alexandria Theater was the first to stage The Inspector General. Initially, the emperor was skeptical about the production of the play, given the topical and acute issues of the text. However, Zhukovsky still managed to persuade the emperor to give permission for the production. “The Inspector General” evoked ambivalent feelings among the audience, including the emperor. Although in general the ruler of Russia liked the work.

In matters of stage implementation of the play, Gogol appeared to be an innovator. For example, the writer constantly supervised the rehearsal process, providing the actors and director with his remarks and advice. But Gogol also insisted on using a technique called the “silent scene.” In this scene, as the name of the technique suggests, the characters are on stage, but do not say anything. In addition, Nikolai Vasilyevich began to develop the key principles of comedy, which later became classics. Another innovation from Gogol is the grotesque within the framework of comedy. Actually, the grotesque - in this case - helps the writer to give the work a satirical and caustic tone, to focus on the absurdity of certain elements. In some places Gogol uses hyperbole, highlighting the vices and shortcomings of society. No, the writer does not portray officials as stupid. These are rather very limited people. “The Inspector General” does not know either completely positive or completely negative heroes; there is not even the usual – clear – division into supporting and leading characters. Each hero is a “speaker” because he embodies one (the most expressive) vice.

A few words about the themes and ideological background of Gogol’s play

By turning to realism, Gogol managed to portray a personality acting in typical circumstances. However, according to the writer’s plan, “The Inspector General” is infinitely more than a simple comedy or even a sad picture of the vices of the author’s contemporary society. In order for the viewer to get the original, real meaning of the work, Nikolai Vasilyevich provided the text with comments and recommendations. What did Gogol really want to convey? The absurd nature of social orders, the comic and at the same time sadness of the picture of a degenerating society.

The central theme of the work concerns social vices, stupidity and hypocrisy of officials, demonstration of the moral decline of society in general and the highest ranks in particular. The fact that the play is a satire determines the sharp nature of the text and the use of caustic figures of speech. At the same time, Gogol gives each character his own special, unique speech style. This same manner also serves as the main tool for denouncing a particular hero.

As for the ideological background of Gogol’s text, the writer demonstrates the unspiritual nature of relations between people, the dominance of vulgarity, baseness and cynicism, and the complete moral decline of the lives of officials. In fact, Gogol does not deeply hide the ideas that he seeks to convey in the play: all thoughts lie on the surface. It is important to see yourself from the outside, understand your own wrongness and limitations, and also try to correct the situation. But Gogol experienced sadness and disappointment because he did not achieve his goal: this is not surprising, because the audience and the majority of the readers of the work belonged to the class that the writer denounced.

The people depicted by Gogol in the comedy “The Inspector General” with amazingly unprincipled views and ignorance of any reader amaze and seem completely fictitious. But in fact, these are not random images. These are faces typical of the Russian province of the thirties of the 19th century, which can be found even in historical documents.

In his comedy, Gogol touches on several very important public issues. This is the attitude of officials to their duties and the implementation of the law. Oddly enough, the meaning of comedy is also relevant in modern realities.

The history of writing "The Inspector General"

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol describes in his works rather exaggerated images of Russian reality of that time. At the moment the idea of ​​a new comedy appeared, the writer was actively working on the poem “Dead Souls”.

In 1835, he turned to Pushkin regarding an idea for a comedy, expressing a request for help in a letter. The poet responds to requests and tells a story when the publisher of one of the magazines in one of the southern cities was mistaken for a visiting official. A similar situation, oddly enough, happened with Pushkin himself at the time when he was collecting materials to describe the Pugachev riot in Nizhny Novgorod. He was also mistaken for the capital's auditor. The idea seemed interesting to Gogol, and the very desire to write a comedy captured him so much that work on the play lasted only 2 months.

During October and November 1835, Gogol wrote the comedy in its entirety and a few months later read it out to other writers. Colleagues were delighted.

Gogol himself wrote that he wanted to collect everything bad that is in Russia into a single pile and laugh at it. He saw his play as a cleansing satire and a weapon in the fight against the injustice that existed in society at that time. By the way, the play based on Gogol’s works was allowed to be staged only after Zhukovsky personally made a request to the emperor.

Analysis of the work

Description of the work

The events described in the comedy “The Inspector General” take place in the first half of the 19th century, in one of the provincial towns, which Gogol simply refers to as “N”.

The mayor informs all city officials that he has received news of the arrival of the capital's auditor. Officials are afraid of inspections because they all take bribes, do poor work, and there is chaos in the institutions under their subordination.

Almost immediately after the news, a second one appears. They realize that a well-dressed man who looks like an auditor is staying at a local hotel. In fact, the unknown person is a minor official, Khlestakov. Young, flighty and stupid. The Mayor personally showed up at his hotel to meet him and offer to move to his home, in much better conditions than the hotel. Khlestakov happily agrees. He likes this kind of hospitality. At this stage, he does not suspect that he has been mistaken for who he is.

Khlestakov is also introduced to other officials, each of whom hands him a large sum of money, supposedly as a loan. They do everything so that the check is not so thorough. At this moment, Khlestakov understands who he was mistaken for and, having received a round sum, keeps silent that this is a mistake.

Afterwards, he decides to leave the city of N, having previously proposed to the daughter of the Mayor himself. Joyfully blessing the future marriage, the official rejoices at such a relationship and calmly says goodbye to Khlestakov, who is leaving the city and, naturally, is not going to return to it.

Before this, the main character writes a letter to his friend in St. Petersburg, in which he talks about the embarrassment that occurred. The postmaster, who opens all letters at the post office, also reads Khlestakov’s message. The deception is revealed and everyone who gave bribes learns with horror that the money will not be returned to them, and there has been no verification yet. At the same moment, a real auditor arrives in town. Officials are horrified by the news.

Comedy heroes

Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov

Khlestakov's age is 23 - 24 years. A hereditary nobleman and landowner, he is thin, thin and stupid. Acts without thinking about the consequences, has abrupt speech.

Khlestakov works as a registrar. In those days, this was the lowest-ranking official. He is rarely present at work, increasingly plays cards for money and takes walks, so his career is not moving forward. Khlestakov lives in St. Petersburg, in a modest apartment, and his parents, who live in one of the villages in the Saratov province, regularly send him money. Khlestakov does not know how to save money; he spends it on all kinds of pleasures, without denying himself anything.

He is very cowardly, loves to brag and lie. Khlestakov is not averse to hitting on women, especially pretty ones, but only stupid provincial ladies succumb to his charm.

Mayor

Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky. An official who has grown old in the service, in his own way, is not stupid, making a completely respectable impression.

He speaks carefully and in moderation. His mood changes quickly, his facial features are hard and rough. He performs his duties poorly and is a swindler with extensive experience. The mayor makes money wherever possible, and is in good standing among the same bribe-takers.

He is greedy and insatiable. He steals money, including from the treasury, and unprincipledly violates all laws. He doesn’t even shun blackmail. A master of promises and an even greater master of keeping them.

The mayor dreams of being a general. Despite the mass of his sins, he attends church weekly. A passionate card player, he loves his wife and treats her very tenderly. He also has a daughter, who at the end of the comedy, with his blessing, becomes the bride of the nosy Khlestakov.

Postmaster Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin

It is this character, responsible for sending letters, who opens Khlestakov’s letter and discovers the deception. However, he opens letters and parcels on a regular basis. He does this not out of precaution, but solely for the sake of curiosity and his own collection of interesting stories.

Sometimes he doesn’t just read letters that he particularly likes, Shpekin keeps them for himself. In addition to forwarding letters, his duties include managing postal stations, caretakers, horses, etc. But this is not what he does. It does almost nothing at all and therefore the local post office works extremely poorly.

Anna Andreevna Skvoznik-Dmukhanovskaya

Mayor's wife. A provincial coquette whose soul is inspired by novels. She is curious, vain, loves to get the better of her husband, but in reality this only happens in small things.

An appetizing and attractive lady, impatient, stupid and capable of talking only about trifles and the weather. At the same time, he loves to chat incessantly. She is arrogant and dreams of a luxurious life in St. Petersburg. The mother is not important because she competes with her daughter and boasts that Khlestakov paid more attention to her than to Marya. One of the entertainments for the Governor's wife is fortune-telling on cards.

The mayor's daughter is 18 years old. Attractive in appearance, cutesy and flirtatious. She is very flighty. It is she who, at the end of the comedy, becomes Khlestakov’s abandoned bride.

Composition and plot analysis

The basis of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s play “The Inspector General” is an everyday joke, which was quite common in those days. All the comedy images are exaggerated and, at the same time, believable. The play is interesting because all its characters are interconnected and each of them, in fact, acts as a hero.

The plot of the comedy is the arrival of the inspector expected by the officials and their haste in drawing conclusions, because of which Khlestakov is recognized as the inspector.

What is interesting about the composition of the comedy is the absence of love intrigue and love line, as such. Here vices are simply ridiculed, which, according to the classical literary genre, receive punishment. Partly they are already orders for the frivolous Khlestakov, but the reader understands at the end of the play that even greater punishment awaits them ahead, with the arrival of a real inspector from St. Petersburg.

Through simple comedy with exaggerated images, Gogol teaches his reader honesty, kindness and responsibility. The fact that you need to respect your own service and comply with the laws. Through the images of heroes, each reader can see his own shortcomings, if among them are stupidity, greed, hypocrisy and selfishness.

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The action of the comedy "The Inspector General" takes place in one of the provincial towns of Russia. Mayor Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky receives news of a possible secret arrival in the city of an auditor from the northern capital for the purpose of an inspection. The mayor gathers local officials and informs them of this unpleasant news, which immediately causes general concern. Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky begins to look for reasons that might interest the auditor. The mayor suggests that perhaps the auditor will come because of Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, who is very free-thinking. He also advises the superintendent of hospital institutions, Artemy Filippovich Zemlyanika, to carefully ensure that patients are wearing clean caps, and it is advisable to reduce their total number.

Regarding the topic of bribes, the mayor turns to another official - the superintendent of district schools, Luka Lukich Khlopov. And the mayor recommends that the postmaster appears read all the letters in order to prevent denunciation. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, local landowners, report that they saw a man in the tavern who behaved carefully and observantly. Soon the alarmed officials of the county town disperse. Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky decides to go to the hotel to meet the auditor. Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov is the name of the alleged auditor.

The mayor perceives Khlestakov’s words that he does not want to go to prison as the reluctance of the visiting guest to turn a blind eye to the misdeeds and crimes of local officials. Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky immediately offers Khlestakov a monetary reward and also to move into the mayor’s house. The mayor introduces the fictitious auditor to his wife and daughter. Khlestakov shows the ladies all sorts of attentions. He boasts of a luxurious house in St. Petersburg and acquaintance with the most influential officials. Everyone gathered in the mayor’s house is shocked and seriously frightened. Khlestakov finally understands that he was mistaken for an important metropolitan official. He writes about all this in his letter to his friend Tryapichkin.

The mayor and his wife begin to make plans to marry their daughter Marya Andreevna to an auditor. Khlestakov's servant Osip advises his master to quickly leave the city before the deception is revealed. At a dinner party, the mayor boasts to the officials about such a successful acquaintance and behaves arrogantly. But then the postmaster appears with a letter from Khlestakov. Everyone understands that he is not a real auditor. The mayor is amazed by the news, he understands that Khlestakov cannot be returned, he has escaped. At the end of everything, a gendarme appears and breaks the news about the arrival of a real auditor. There is silence, all the heroes are in shock.

As an epigraph to the play "The Inspector General", the genre of which the author defined as a comedy in 5 acts, Gogol used the proverb "There is no point in blaming the mirror if the face is crooked." That is, the author emphasized the typicality of the characters depicted and authenticity. There is no dramatic conflict as such in the play; the writer is occupied with a moral-descriptive genre. "The Inspector General" is considered to be a socio-political comedy.

Comedy characters:

1. Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, mayor.
2. Anna Andreevna, his wife.
3. Marya Antonovna, his daughter.
4. Luka Lukich Khlopov, superintendent of schools.
5. His wife.
6. Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin, judge.
7. Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, trustee of charitable institutions.
8. Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, postmaster.
9. Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky, city landowners.
10. Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg. Osip, his servant.
11. Christian Ivanovich Gibner, district doctor. Fyodor Andreevich Lyulyukov, Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin, retired officials, honorary persons in the city.
12. Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, private bailiff. Svistunov, Pugovitsin, Derzhimorda, policemen. Abdulin, merchant.
13. Fevronya Petrovna Poshlepkina, mechanic, wife of a non-commissioned officer.
14. Mishka, the mayor's servant.
15. Inn servant.
16. Guests and guests, merchants, townspeople, petitioners.

The mayor reports the “most unpleasant news” to the officials gathered in his house - an auditor is coming to the city incognito. The officials are horrified - there are riots everywhere in the city. It is suggested that there may soon be a war, and an auditor has been sent to find out whether there is treason in the city. The mayor objects to this: “Where does treason come from in a district town? Yes, even if you jump from here for three years, you won’t reach any state.” The mayor insists that each of the officials restore order in their subordinate area. That is, in a hospital you need to write illnesses in Latin, give patients clean caps, in court you need to remove geese from the waiting room, etc. He reprimands his subordinates for being mired in bribery. For example, Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin takes bribes with greyhound puppies.

The postmaster is still afraid that the arrival of the auditor may signal the imminent start of war with the Turks. To this, the mayor asks him for a favor - to print out and read every letter that arrives in the mail. The postmaster happily agrees, especially since this activity - printing and reading other people's letters - is something he has long known and dearly loved.

Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky appear and report that, apparently, the auditor has settled in the hotel. This man - Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov - has been living in a hotel for a week and does not pay money for accommodation. The mayor decides that he should visit this man.

The mayor orders the policeman to sweep all the streets clean, then gives the following orders: place policemen around the city, remove the old fence, and if the inspector questions him, answer that the church under construction burned down (in fact, it was stolen).

The mayor's wife and daughter appear, burning with curiosity. Anna Andreevna sends a maid to fetch her husband's droshky. She wants to find out everything about the auditor on her own.

Khlestakov's servant Osip lies on the master's bed hungry and talks about how he and the master traveled from St. Petersburg two months ago, how the master lost all his money at cards, how he lives beyond his means, how he leads an unprofitable life, since he is not engaged in any business .

Khlestakov arrives and sends Osip to the hotel owner for lunch. The servant does not want to go, reminds the master that he has not paid for his accommodation for three weeks and that the owner threatened to complain about him.

Khlestakov is very hungry and instructs the tavern servant to ask the owner for lunch on credit. Khlestakov dreams that he, in a luxurious St. Petersburg suit, rolls up to the gates of his parents' house, that he pays visits to neighbors.

The tavern servant brings a very modest lunch, with which Khlestakov is very dissatisfied. Nevertheless, he eats everything brought.

Osip informs Khlestakov that the mayor has arrived and wants to see him. The mayor and Dobchinsky appear. Bobchinsky listens at the door throughout the entire phenomenon. Khlestakov and the mayor make excuses to each other. The first promises that he will pay for the stay, the second - that proper order will be established in the city. Khlestakov asks for a loan of money from the mayor, and he gives it to him, and gives twice the amount requested. The mayor swears that he just came in to check on people passing by, since this is a normal activity for him.

The mayor advises Khlestakov to postpone settlements with the tavern servant for an indefinite period, which he does. The mayor invites Khlestakov to inspect the city institutions in order to assess the order maintained in them. He himself sends his wife a note with Dobchinsky, in which he writes that she should prepare the room. Sends a note to Strawberry.

In the mayor's house, Anna Andreevna and her daughter Marya Antonovna are sitting by the window, waiting for any news. Dobchinsky appears and retells to the ladies what he saw at the hotel and gives Anna Andreevna a note. She gives orders to the servants. The mayor's wife and daughter are discussing the outfits they are going to wear for the arrival of an important guest.

Osip brings Khlestakov’s things and graciously “agrees” to try simple dishes - porridge, cabbage soup, pies.

The mayor, Khlestakov and officials appear. Khlestakov had breakfast in the hospital, he liked everything very much, despite the fact that the patients all unexpectedly recovered, although they usually “recover like flies.”

Khlestakov is interested in card establishments. The mayor swears that he has never played in his life, there are no such institutions in their city, and he uses all his time to serve the state.

The mayor introduces Khlestakov to his wife and daughter. The guest shows off in front of the ladies, especially in front of Anna Andreevna, assuring her that he hates ceremonies and that he is on good terms with all the St. Petersburg officials. He easily communicates with Pushkin, and once even composed “Yuri Miloslavsky”. Khlestakov boasts of his best house in St. Petersburg, in which he gives dinners and balls. For lunches they deliver him “a watermelon worth seven hundred rubles” and soup “in a saucepan from Paris.” Khlestakov goes so far as to say that the minister himself comes to his home and once managed an entire department at the request of 35,000 couriers. That is, Khlestakov is completely lying. The mayor invites him to rest.

The officials gathered at the mayor's house discuss Khlestakov and come to the conclusion that if at least half of what he said is true, then their situation is very deplorable.

Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna are discussing Khlestakov, and each of them is sure that the guest paid attention to her.

The mayor is seriously scared. His wife, on the contrary, is confident that her irresistibility will have the desired effect on Khlestakov.

Those present ask Osip about what his master is like. The mayor gives Khlestakov’s servant not only “a tip,” but also “a bagel.” Osip says that his master loves order.

To prevent petitioners from approaching Khlestakov, the mayor places two policemen on the porch - Svistunov and Derzhimorda.

Strawberry, Lyapkin-TyaPkin, Luka Lukich, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, the postmaster, tiptoe into the room in the mayor's house. Lyapkin-Tyapkin organizes everyone in a military manner, decides that Khlestakov should introduce himself one by one and give bribes. They argue among themselves about who should go first.

Lyapkin-Tyapkin comes to Khlestakov first, money is clutched in his fist, which he accidentally drops on the floor. He thinks that he has disappeared, but Khlestakov takes this money “on loan”. Lyapkin-Tyapkin is happy and leaves.

The next one to introduce himself is Postmaster Shpekin, who does nothing but assent to Khlestakov, who is talking about the pleasant city. The guest also “borrows” from the postmaster, and he leaves with a sense of accomplishment.

Luka Lukic, who came to introduce himself, is trembling like a leaf, his tongue is slurring, he is very frightened. Still, he manages to hand over the money to Khlestakov and leaves.

When presented to the “auditor,” the strawberries remind him of yesterday’s breakfast, for which Khlestakov thanks him. Strawberry is sure that the “auditor” favors him, denounces other officials, and gives a bribe. Khlestakov promises that he will figure everything out.

When Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky come to introduce themselves, Khlestakov directly demands money from them. Dobchinsky asks Khlestakov to recognize his son as legitimate, and Bobchinsky asks the “auditor” to inform the sovereign, at an opportunity, “that Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky lives in such and such a city.”

Khlestakov finally realizes that he was mistakenly taken for an important official. This seems very funny to him, which he writes about in a letter to his friend Tryapichkin.

Osip advises his master to get out of the city as quickly as possible. There is a noise on the street - petitioners have come. Merchants complain about the mayor, who demands gifts for his name day twice a year and selects the best goods. They bring Khlestakov food, which he refuses. They give money, Khlestakov takes it.

A non-commissioned officer's widow appears and demands justice - she was flogged for no reason. Then a locksmith comes, complaining that her husband was taken into the army out of turn. Khlestakov promises to sort it out.

Taking advantage of the moment, he confesses his love to Marya Antonovna. At first she is afraid that the guest is mocking her, a provincial girl, but Khlestakov kneels, kisses her shoulder, and swears his love.

Anna Andreevna appears and drives her daughter away. Khlestakov kneels in front of her and says that he really loves her, but since she is married, he is forced to propose to her daughter.

The mayor enters, begs Khlestakov not to listen to what the merchants say about him, and the non-commissioned officer's widow flogged herself. Khlestakov asks for his daughter's hand in marriage. The parents call Marya Antonovna and bless the newlyweds.

Khlestakov takes more money from his future father-in-law and leaves the city under the pretext of the need to discuss the wedding with his father. He promises to return soon.

The mayor and his wife are making plans for the future. They dream about how their daughters will move to St. Petersburg after their wedding. The mayor tells the merchants about the upcoming wedding of his daughter with the “auditor” and threatens them with reprisals for the fact that they decided to complain. The merchants ask to forgive them. The mayor accepts congratulations from officials.

Dinner party at the mayor's house. He and his wife behave arrogantly, telling guests that they are soon going to move to St. Petersburg, where the mayor will certainly receive the title of general. The officials ask not to forget about them, to which the mayor condescendingly agrees.

The postmaster appears with an opened letter from Khlestakov to Tryapichkin. It turns out that Khlestakov is not an auditor at all. In the letter, he gives caustic characterizations to city officials: “The mayor is stupid, like a gray gelding... The postmaster... drinks bitter... Strawberry is a perfect pig in a yarmulke.” The mayor is amazed by the news. He understands that it is impossible to return Khlestakov, since the mayor himself ordered to give him the three best horses. “Why are you laughing? - Are you laughing at yourself!.. Eh, you!.. I still can’t come to my senses. Now, truly, if God wants to punish, he will first take away his reason. Well, what was there in this helipad that looked like an auditor? Nothing there wasn’t! It’s just that there wasn’t even a half-little finger like it - and suddenly that’s it: an auditor! They are looking for the culprit who spread the rumor that Khlestakov is the auditor. They decide that it is Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky.

A gendarme appears and announces the arrival of a real auditor. Silent scene: everyone freezes in shock.

N.V. Gogol reflected almost all aspects of contemporary Russian reality. Using the example of the mayor’s image, the author skillfully reveals the contradiction between external importance and internal insignificance. The main goal of the writer is to depict the imperfections of society - abuses, arbitrariness of officials, the idle life of city landowners, the hard life of the townspeople, etc. The author does not limit himself to a satirical depiction of one county town; he considers the problems as all-Russian.