The surname of the main character of the work is an auditor. At the climax, I am stunned by what happened. Heroes of Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General"

The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" plays one of the key roles. To understand it better, you can read this article.

Actor groups

Before we begin to analyze the image of the Governor in the comedy "The Inspector General", it should be noted that all the heroes of the work are divided into groups according to their social status.

The leading role in this hierarchy is occupied by officials. The mayor is one of them. Behind them come the non-service nobles, who lately turn into ordinary gossips. A striking example- Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. The third group consists of burghers, merchants and serf servants, who are treated as people of the lowest class.

A separate place in the social structure of society county town Gogol pays attention to the police. As a result, the writer manages to depict the whole of Russia using the example of one city, showing all existing classes and groups.

Gogol is especially interested in depicting social mores and the characters of domestic bureaucrats and officials.

The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General"

In the mayor, Gogol summarized the worst traits that he was able to identify in major civil servants of his time. Often the fate of many people depended on their mercy or arbitrariness, which they took advantage of. Hence the sycophancy, bribes and veneration.

The comedy begins with the news that an auditor is to come to the district town. As soon as he learned about this, the mayor gathers his subordinates to organize everything in at its best so that the inspector does not have any suspicions.

Their conversation is very frank. He is demanding and picky about everyone, he knows who is stealing and from where.

Character of the mayor

But, in addition to the impression that other officials will make, Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, that’s the mayor’s name, is even more concerned about his own fate. He, like no one else, knows what he can be held accountable for. In the image of the mayor in the comedy “The Inspector General” (you can write an essay on this topic if you read this article), his great anxiety is revealed.

The hero begins to be filled with fear and anxiety. Especially when it turns out that the auditor has been living in the city for several days. In the image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" one of his main talents is revealed - the ability to establish contacts with higher authorities.

Caring for others

In Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General", the image of the mayor changes radically in the second and third acts. Before Khlestakov, he appears as a man who only does what he cares about the public good. Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky creates the impression among the capital’s guest that he brings great public benefit. He tries to appear to the auditor as a person who cares for the good of those around him.

What looks especially funny is that the mayor constantly hints to Khlestakov that such a virtue should be valued, meaning that it deserves some kind of reward.

Act without a mayor

It is interesting that throughout almost the entire fourth act the mayor does not appear on stage, appearing only at the very end. But at the same time, he remains one of the main characters, about whom everyone around him talks.

Leaving Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky off stage, Gogol vividly paints the image of the mayor in the comedy “The Inspector General.” Briefly, he can be described as a rude, greedy and cynical person. The author gives this assessment through the words of other characters who were influenced by such management.

A string of petitioners come to Khlestakov with complaints, complaining about the outrages that the mayor is committing. Appears before the false auditor large number representatives of various segments of the population. This is a merchant, a non-commissioned officer's widow. Through their stories, a real image of the mayor is drawn. In the scene in which Khlestakov accepts all these appeals, the viewer can independently form a picture of the life of the county town, based on trickery, selfishness, bribery and self-interest.

Switching principle

Gogol uses the principle of sudden switches in the fifth act to complete the formation of the image of the mayor. He moves from the hero's defeat to triumph, and then straight to his debunking.

At first, Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, feeling on the verge of death, not only understands that he can get away with it, but also believes that he is becoming a relative of a high-ranking St. Petersburg official, for whom he mistook Khlestakov. In general, it is worth noting that the images of the mayor and Khlestakov in the comedy “The Inspector General” are in many ways similar. They are both characterized by greed and insincerity.

The fear that had just raged in the official is replaced by exuberant joy and happiness. He feels triumphant, which is why he begins to behave more and more impudently. All this happens after Khlestakov asks his daughter for his hand in marriage. The prospect of moving to the capital is clearly beginning to loom before him. The mayor already sees himself as a general.

The greatest pleasure comes to him from fantasies about how people adore him and envy him in everything. In these moments, he formulates his life philosophy. This is the suppression of all those who are below you on the social ladder.

The collapse of dreams

Already imagining that he has become related to a high-ranking official, the mayor begins prematurely to feel like a particularly important person. Even his tone in communicating with others changes. He turns into an important, arrogant and contemptuous person.

Having raised the hero to such a height, Gogol destroys all his hopes in one fell swoop. The final monologue of Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, which he pronounces when he finds out that he has arrived in the city a real auditor, expresses his state. The mayor is shocked, first of all, that he, a noble swindler, was deceived. He himself begins to admit how many people he has deceived during his career. Among them are governors, merchants and other leaders.

His true essence and the scale of his actions become clear. This monologue finally puts the finishing touches on everything, the audience is convinced that in front of them is a fraudster, and a very serious one at that.

Pathos of comedy

The famous words of the mayor, which he utters at the end of the comedy, reflect the internal pathos of “The Inspector General”. Addressing auditorium with the question, what are you laughing at, the author sums up all the meanings and images that he sought to develop in his work.

The mayor is crushed that he was so brazenly deceived; moreover, he is such a petty and insignificant person. But in reality this nothingness is the best part of himself. Khlestakov became a kind of auditor of the social system, which gives rise to such self-confident and dishonest officials.

At the end of the comedy, the mayor appears as a funny and pitiful person; in his image, he emphasizes the typicality of an official of this type, arguing that this type of civil servant is widespread throughout the country.

Appearance of the mayor

The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" is completed by the hero's appearance. Gogol describes him as a man with hard and rough features, who went through a difficult journey to become a boss from the lowest ranks.

During this time, he masterfully mastered the instant transition from joy to fear, and from arrogance to baseness. All this shaped him as a person with a rough soul.

The writer describes Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky as thick-nosed full man, who has spent at least thirty years in service. His hair is gray and cropped.

At the beginning of 1936, the play premiered in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, Gogol continued to make adjustments to the text of the work until 1842, when the final edition was completed.

“The Inspector General” is a completely innovative play. Gogol first created social comedy without love line. Khlestakov's courtship of Anna Andreevna and Maria Antonovna is rather a parody of high feelings. There is also no one in comedy positive character. When the writer was reproached for this, he replied that the main positive character of The Inspector General is laughter.

Unusual and composition play because it lacks traditional exposition. From the very first phrase of the Mayor it begins plot plot. The final silent scene also surprised theater critics a lot. No one had used such a technique in drama before.

The classic confusion with the main character takes on a completely different meaning in Gogol. Khlestakov did not intend to impersonate an auditor; for some time he himself could not understand what was happening. I just thought: the district authorities were ingratiating themselves with him only because he was from the capital and fashionably dressed. Osip finally opens the dandy’s eyes, persuading the master to leave before it’s too late. Khlestakov does not seek to deceive anyone. The officials are deceiving themselves and dragging the imaginary auditor into this action.

Plot The comedy is built on a closed principle: the play begins with the news about the arrival of the auditor and ends with the same message. Gogol's innovation was also manifested in the fact that in comedy there are no secondary storylines. All characters are tied up in one dynamic conflict.

An undoubted innovation was the main character . For the first time he became a stupid, empty and insignificant person. The writer characterizes Khlestakov as follows: "without a king in my head". Character of the hero manifests itself most fully in scenes of lying. Khlestakov is so strongly inspired by his own imagination that he cannot stop. He piles up one absurdity after another, and does not even doubt the “truthfulness” of his lies. A gambler, a spendthrift, a lover of hitting on women and showing off, a “dummy” - this is the main character of the work.

In the play, Gogol touched upon a large-scale layer of Russian reality: state power, medicine, court, education, postal department, police, merchants. The writer raises and ridicules many unsightly features in The Inspector General modern life. There is widespread bribery and neglect of one's duties, embezzlement and veneration of rank, vanity and passion for gossip, envy and gossip, boasting and stupidity, petty vindictiveness and stupidity... There is so much more! “The Inspector General” is a real mirror of Russian society.

The strength of the plot, its spring, is also unusual for the play. This is fear. IN Russia XIX centuries, the audit was carried out by high-ranking officials. That is why the arrival of the “auditor” caused such panic in the county town. An important person from the capital, and even with "secret order", horrified local officials. Khlestakov, who in no way resembles the inspector, is easily mistaken for an important person. Anyone traveling from St. Petersburg is suspicious. And this one lives for two weeks and does not pay - this is exactly how, according to ordinary people, a high-ranking person should behave.

The first act discusses "sins" to all those present and orders are given for "cosmetic" measures. It becomes clear that none of the officials consider themselves guilty and are not going to change anything. Only for a while will clean caps be given to the sick and the streets will be swept.

In comedy Gogol created collective image officials. Civil servants of all ranks are perceived as a single organism, since they are close in their desire for money-grubbing, confident in impunity and the correctness of their actions. But each character leads his own party.

The main one here, of course, is the mayor. Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky in service for thirty years. As a tenacious person, he does not miss the benefit that floats into his hands. But the city is in complete chaos. The streets are dirty, prisoners and the sick are fed disgustingly, the police are always drunk and lethargic. The mayor pulls the beards of merchants and celebrates name days twice a year in order to receive more gifts. The money allocated for the construction of the church disappeared.

The appearance of the auditor greatly frightens Anton Antonovich. What if the inspector doesn’t take bribes? Seeing that Khlestakov is taking the money, the mayor calms down and tries to please the important person by all means. The second time Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky gets scared is when Khlestakov boasts of his high position. Here he becomes afraid of falling out of favor. How much money should I give?

Funny image of judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, who passionately loves hound hunting, takes bribes with greyhound puppies, sincerely believing that this "that's a completely different matter". There is complete chaos going on in the court reception area: the guards have brought in geese, there are hangings on the walls. "all sorts of rubbish", the assessor is constantly drunk. And Lyapkin-Tyapkin himself cannot understand a simple memo. In the city the judge is considered "freethinker", since he has read several books and always speaks pompously, although he speaks completely nonsense.

Postmaster I’m sincerely perplexed as to why I can’t read other people’s letters. For him, his whole life consists of interesting stories from letters. The postmaster even keeps the correspondence he particularly likes and re-reads it.

The hospital of the trustee of Zemlyanika charitable institutions is also in chaos. The patients' underwear is not changed, and the German doctor does not understand anything in Russian. Strawberry is a sycophant and an informer, not averse to throwing mud at his comrades.

Comical couple of city gossips attracts attention Bobchinsky And Dobchinsky. To enhance the effect, Gogol makes them look similar in appearance and gives the same names; even the characters’ surnames differ by just one letter. These are completely empty and useless people. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky are busy only collecting gossip. Thus, they manage to be the center of attention and feel important.

Having started writing The Inspector General, Gogol promised Pushkin: “I swear, it will be funnier than the devil.” Nikolai Vasilyevich kept his promise. Nicholas I, after watching the comedy, remarked: “Everyone got it. And most of all for me.”

Let's consider famous play, which Nikolai Vasilyevich created in 1836, let’s analyze it. (the work) was assessed as an accumulation of all the injustices that were constantly happening in places, especially at a time when justice was extremely necessary. The author described everything bad that he observed in society (in the bureaucratic sphere) and laughed at it. In addition to laughter, however, the reader also sees that Gogol (“The Inspector General”) describes the events with bitterness.

We begin our analysis of the play by indicating the main conflict.

Conflict in the play

The construction of the conflict in this work is based on a funny coincidence. It is accompanied by panic among officials who are afraid that their scams may be exposed. An auditor will soon visit the city, so the best option for them is to identify and bribe this person. The action of the work revolves around deception, which is so common among officials, as analysis shows.

Gogol created The Inspector General in order to expose the vices of those in power, typical of that time. The main conflict in the work is between the bureaucratic world, which embodies the autocratic system, and the people oppressed by it. The hostility of officials towards the masses is felt from the very first lines. The people are subjected to violence and oppressed, although this conflict was not directly shown in the comedy by Gogol ("The Inspector General"). His analysis develops latently. In the play, this conflict is complicated by another one - between the “auditor” and the bureaucracy. The disclosure of this conflict allowed Gogol to acutely expose and vividly describe both representatives of the local district government and a minor metropolitan official who came to the city, and also show at the same time their anti-people essence.

Bribery and corruption in the work

All the heroes of the comedy have their sins, as its analysis makes clear. Gogol (“The Inspector General”) notes that each of them, due to dishonest performance of their official duties, fears the upcoming arrival of the auditor. Officials are unable to reason sensibly out of fear. They believe that it is the self-confident and arrogant Khlestakov who is the auditor. A progressive dangerous disease - a lie - is demonstrated by Gogol ("The Inspector General"). cannot be carried out without focusing on this characteristic feature.

The author ironically and accurately exposes the issue of bribes. The blame for bribery and corruption, in his opinion, lies with both sides. However, this is so familiar to society that officials, when the imaginary auditor mentions money, breathe a sigh of relief: he can be bribed, which means everything will be settled. Bribery is thus taken for granted and natural. The absence of positive officials in the play is very familiar to readers of any time. After all, the “auditorship” in Russia has not yet stopped, despite all the coups.

Many visitors rush to Khlestakov with requests. There are so many of them that they have to break through the windows. Requests and complaints are doomed to remain unanswered. Officials, in turn, are not embarrassed by the need to humiliate themselves. They are ready to fawn over their superiors, because the reckoning will begin with his departure - they can take it out on their subordinates, humiliating them. Society is destroyed by low morality, says Gogol (“The Inspector General”). Analysis of the work allows us to note that in the play she accompanies anyone who has achieved at least some kind of power.

Stupidity and ignorance of officials

Khlestakov understands that the officials who met him are uneducated and stupid. This allows the main character of the play to not even bother remembering the lies he told. Officials always echo him, presenting Khlestakov’s deception in a truthful form. This benefits everyone; no one is embarrassed by lies. The main thing is that Khlestakov can get money, and officials can take a breath.

Breadth of generalizations of characters, off-stage images

The play created by N.V. Gogol (“The Inspector General”) begins with a letter notifying about the upcoming inspection. Analyzing it, we can note that it ends with him. The ending of the work becomes laconic - Khlestakov’s letter reveals the truth. All that remains is to wait for the real auditor. There is no doubt that officials will once again repeat the flattering bribery. Changing characters will not affect the outcome - the immorality has reached that extent. Officials will be replaced over time by their own kind, since the corruption of a person comes from personal uncontrollability, and not from power.

Carrying out an analysis of Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General", we note that the breadth of generalization of the characters in the play is expressed in the fine finishing of the characters acting in the comedy. In addition, the introduction of off-stage images expands the gallery of characters. These are bright life characters that help deepen the characteristics of the people shown on stage. For example, this is Khlestakov’s father, his St. Petersburg friend Tryapichkin, housekeeper Avdotya, Dobchinsky’s son and wife, innkeeper Vlas, Zemlyanika’s daughter, the infantry captain who beat Khlestakov in Penza, the visiting inspector, the quarterly Prokhorov and others.

Life phenomena typical for Nikolaev Russia

The comedy mentions various life phenomena that were typical for Nikolaev Russia at that time. This creates a broad panorama of community life. So, the merchant makes money from the construction of the bridge, and the mayor helps him with this. The judge has been sitting on the bench for 15 years, but still cannot figure out yet another memorandum. The mayor celebrates name days twice a year, expecting gifts for them from merchants. The postmaster opens other people's letters. County doctor doesn't speak Russian.

Abuses by officials

The comedy talks about many abuses of officials. All of them were characteristic of the era of cruel tyranny. A married mechanic had his forehead illegally shaved. The non-commissioned officer's wife was whipped. Prisoners are not given provisions. The amount allocated for the construction of a church at a charitable institution is spent at their own discretion, but the report says that the church burned down. The mayor locks the merchant in a room and forces him to eat herring. The patients wear dirty caps, giving them a resemblance to blacksmiths.

Lack of a positive hero

It should be noted that readers learn about the criminal acts committed by officials from their own lips, and not from the actions of the work “The Inspector General” (Gogol) shown on stage. Analysis of heroes allows us to identify some other interesting features. Confirmation that illegal acts are happening in the bureaucratic world are also the complaints of people oppressed by officials, especially the mayor. The center of gravity shifts to socio-political phenomena. Gogol did not introduce into his play a positive hero, a reasoner and bearer of virtuous qualities, who is the mouthpiece of the author’s thoughts. The most positive hero is laughter, which destroys social vices and the foundations of the autocratic regime.

Image of Khlestakov

The image of Khlestakov is central in the work. Let's analyze it. Gogol portrayed the “auditor” as easily navigating the situation. For example, wanting to show off in front of his bride, Marya Antonovna, he attributes to himself the composition “Yuri Miloslavsky” by Zagoskin, but the girl remembers its true author. A seemingly hopeless situation had arisen. However, Khlestakov quickly finds a way out here too. He says that there is another work with the same title that belongs to him.

Lack of memory

Lack of memory is an important feature of Khlestakov’s image. For him there is no future or past. He is focused only on the present. Because of this, Khlestakov is incapable of selfish and selfish calculations. The hero lives only for one minute. Its natural state is constant transformation. Having carried out an effective analysis of Gogol's "The Inspector General", you will see that Khlestakov, accepting this or that style of behavior, instantly achieves in it highest point. However, what is easily gained is easily lost. Having fallen asleep as a field marshal or commander in chief, he wakes up as an insignificant person.

Khlestakov's speech

The speech of this hero characterizes him as a petty St. Petersburg official claiming to be highly educated. He likes to use tricky syllables for beauty literary stamps. At the same time, his language contains vulgar and abusive words, especially in relation to commoners. Khlestakov calls Osip, his servant, a “fool” and “a brute,” and shouts to the owner of the tavern “scoundrels!”, “scum!”, “loafers!” The speech of this hero is abrupt, which indicates his inability to pay attention to anything. She conveys his spiritual poverty.

Two centers of the play

Khlestakov in the work is an attractive person. He acts and lives according to the logic of the development of the relationships in which the mayor placed him. At the same time, the surprises manifested in the actions and speeches of this hero also determine the development of the action of the play. This, for example, is the “scene of lies”, Khlestakov’s explanation of his love for his daughter and mother at the same time, his proposal to Marya Antonovna, his irrevocable and unexpected departure. In Gogol's play there are two centers and two persons who direct and lead the development of the action: Khlestakov and the mayor. We will continue our analysis of Gogol's play "The Inspector General" by characterizing the latter's image.

The image of the mayor

Mayor (Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky Anton Antonovich) - in which the action of the comedy that interests us takes place. This is a “very intelligent”, “old in the service” person. His facial features are hard and rough, like those of anyone who began hard service from the lower ranks. At the beginning of the play, the mayor reads a letter to his subordinates. It informs about the arrival of the auditor. This news greatly frightened the officials. In fear, the mayor orders to “equip” the city for his arrival (drive out unnecessary patients from the hospital, bring teachers in schools into proper shape, cover unfinished buildings with fences, etc.).

Anton Antonovich assumes that the auditor has already arrived and is living incognito somewhere. The landowners Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky find him in the person of Khlestakov, a petty official who suspects nothing. The mayor, believing that Khlestakov is the same auditor, cannot dissuade himself of this. He believes in everything, even in the fantastic lies of the “auditor” - such is the extent of servility in the mayor.

When Khlestakov wooed his daughter, Marya Antonovna, the official began to think about what benefits his relationship with an “important person” promised him, and decided that “it would be nice to be a general.” The unexpected revelation of Khlestakov offends the mayor to the depths of his soul. It finally dawns on him that he mistook the “rag”, “icicle” for an important person. The mayor, having experienced a humiliating shock, begins to see things spiritually for the first time in his life. He says that for the first time he sees “pig snouts” instead of faces.

Concluding the analysis of the comedy by N.V. Gogol's "The Inspector General", we add that his comic figure in the finale of the comedy develops into a tragic one. The tragedy becomes most obvious in the silent scene, when it becomes known about the arrival of the real auditor.

The main image of the comedy is the image of a county town. Gogol called it “prefabricated” and “spiritual,” apparently meaning that it brought together all types of the urban population, showed their character traits and social behavior (“prefabricated city”), and drew attention to the sins and weaknesses of people (“spiritual city ").

The comedy character system reflects social structure cities. It is headed by the mayor - Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky. He is endowed with all powers and is responsible for everything that happens in the city. Hence the three characteristics that outline this image: power (status), guilt (irresponsibility), fear (expectation of punishment). Next follow four images of officials representing the management of the city: the judiciary in the person of judge Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin, postal and telegraph communications - postmaster Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, education is under the supervision of the superintendent of schools Luka Lukich Khlopov, social services are in charge of the trustee of charitable institutions Artemy Filippovich Zemlyanika . Three officials, with the exception of Shpekin, are shown together with the departments they manage. Thus, Lyapkin-Tyapkin is presented with the always tipsy assessor, guards and visitors to the court. The education system is also depicted in detail: Khlopov, teachers, students. The charitable institutions are characterized by the order prevailing in the hospital, the image of Strawberry and the ominous figure of the doctor Gibner. To show the continuity and inviolability of criminal bureaucratic power in the city, Gogol introduces characters who do not take part in the action - retired officials Lyulyukov, Rastakovsky and Korobkin. The authorities are supported and protected by the police officers Svistunov, Pugovitsyn and Derzhimorda, led by the private bailiff Ukhovertov.

Other layers of the city's population are represented primarily by urban landowners Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky and Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky. Both by the matching names and by the same behavior, one can immediately understand that we are dealing with traditional “paired characters” who, in the plot of the comedy, will perform a common function for both. The absurdity of Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky is already indicated in their status: landowners who live in the city and from idleness turn into gossips.

The images of merchants are not as clearly defined as the images of officials. The merchant Abdulin, the obvious leader and author of the note to Khlestakov, stands out in part. This note exhaustively characterizes the social essence of the merchants: “To His Highness the Lord Financial from the merchant Abdulin...” This address has two features: Abdulin does not know which rank or title to use, so he mixes them all up just in case. And the expression “master of finance” reflects the hierarchy of the merchant’s values ​​- in his eyes, at the very top of the social ladder is the one who is in charge of finances.

The merchants are followed by another category of the population - the petty bourgeoisie, represented by the mechanic Poshlyopkina and the wife of a non-commissioned officer. These images personify two sins: anger and acquisitiveness. The locksmith is rightly indignant that the mayor gave her husband as a soldier out of turn, but she brings down curses on the mayor’s innocent relatives. The non-commissioned officer’s wife is not worried about the insult inflicted on her, the humiliation of her female dignity, but about what benefit she can derive from the “happiness” that has befallen her.

The gallery of characters is complemented by images of servants. It may seem that they are the same and do not deserve special attention, however this is not the case. The comedy depicts three social categories of servants: the city tavern servant - impudent and somewhat cheeky; the servant in the mayor's house is Mishka, helpful, but knowing his worth; and Khlestakov’s personal servant - Osip, a type of master’s servant, sharp-witted like a peasant, but already corrupted metropolitan life a footman who imitates the master in everything.

Separately, there are images of the mayor’s wife Anna Andreevna and daughter Marya Antonovna. The caustic and accurate portraits of provincial ladies and young ladies show a sad picture of the vain limitations of their lives, the poverty of their ideas, and their moral narrowness. The plot role of these heroines is also great, because due to the lack of real love conflict these images serve to create a parody - in scenes of Khlestakov’s alternate courtship of his daughter and his mother. However, the mayor’s family is still at the top level social status in the city. Ladies of lower rank, such as Khlopov's wife or Korobkin's wife, are forced to be envious and gossipy.

The image of Khlestakov, of course, stands apart in comedy due to its plot and ideological role. Khlestakov is a pivotal figure in the plot, since without him the “mirage” situation would have been impossible. In addition, he not only passively takes the position of an imaginary auditor, but with incredible success plays along with the misconception of the townspeople, which due to his stupidity he is not even aware of. In ideological terms, Khlestakov serves as a kind of temptation for the city, because the most ridiculous ideas of the townspeople about St. Petersburg in the person of Khlestakov receive complete confirmation. Therefore, the townspeople, primarily officials, behave openly and get deeper and deeper into the quagmire of lawlessness and evil. Khlestakov does not deliberately deceive anyone, he is generally incapable of any deliberate action, because, in his own words, he has “extraordinary ease of thought,” that is, emptiness. There is nothing of his own in Khlestakov, so he behaves this way and does what is expected of him. This is the reason for his inspired lies in the mayor’s house. He was a kind of “scourge” for the townspeople, with which they whipped themselves.

Finally, the most main image comedy "The Inspector General" - the inspector himself, who unites the entire play. From the first phrase of the comedy it appears as an assumption, an expectation, a certain idea and must appear incognito. Then, instead of a real auditor, a deception, a mirage, an “auditor” penetrates the city. At the beginning of the fifth act, the auditor seemingly disappears, only to appear in the last line of the comedy as a harsh reality, as the truth that struck the officials in the silent scene. In parallel with the image of the auditor, the image of St. Petersburg develops in the comedy. Petersburg first evokes fear and absurd speculation among officials, then it manifests itself as a mirage through the image of Khlestakov, and after Khlestakov’s matchmaking with the mayor’s daughter it becomes unreasonably close to the residents of the city N. At the end of the play, after the announcement of the arrival of a real auditor, the image of St. Petersburg becomes hostile and discouraging.

Let’s listen to Gogol’s own remark about another character in the comedy “The Inspector General”: “It’s strange: I’m sorry that no one noticed honest person, who was in my play. Yes, there was one honest, noble person who acted in her throughout her entire life. This honest, noble face was full of laughter.” Not in comedy goodies, laughter does not occur on stage between actors, it exists in the very atmosphere of comedy - laughter is born in the heart of the viewer and awakens noble indignation in him.

“The Inspector General” is a comedy that every schoolchild, as well as adults, is familiar with. According to Gogol, he wanted to collect in this work “everything bad” that was happening in Russia at that time. The author wanted to show what injustice reigns in those places where justice is needed most. Characteristics of the characters will help you fully understand the theme of the comedy. “The Inspector General” is a comedy that showed the true face of bureaucracy at the beginning of the 19th century.

The main idea of ​​"The Inspector General". What did the author want to show?

It is the characteristics of the characters that will help you understand the main thought and idea of ​​the work. “The Inspector General” reflects the bureaucracy of that time and each character in the work helps the reader understand what the author wanted to say with this comedy.

It must be said that every action taking place in the comedy reflects the entire administrative-bureaucratic system. The image of officials in the comedy “The Inspector General” clearly shows readers of the 21st century the true face of the bureaucracy of that time. Gogol wanted to show what was always carefully hidden from society.

The history of the creation of "The Inspector General"

It is known that Gogol began working on the play in 1835. There are several versions about what was the reason for writing “The Inspector General”. However, it is worth noting that the traditional version is that the plot of the future comedy was suggested to the author by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. There is confirmation of this, which was found in the memoirs of Vladimir Sollogub. He wrote that Pushkin met Gogol, after which he told him about an incident that happened in the city of Ustyuzhna: some passing, unknown gentleman robbed all the residents, posing as a ministry official.

Pushkin's participation in the creation of the comedy

There is another version, also based on the words of Sollogub, which suggests that Pushkin himself was once mistaken for an official when he was in Nizhny Novgorod in order to collect materials about the Pugachev rebellion.

While writing the play, Gogol communicated with Pushkin and informed him about how work on “The Inspector General” was going. It is worth noting that the author tried several times to quit working on the comedy, and it was Alexander Sergeevich who insisted that Gogol finish the work.

The image of officials in the comedy “The Inspector General” reflects the bureaucracy of that time. It is worth saying that the story underlying the work reveals the whole essence of the administrative and bureaucratic system of Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.

The image of the main characters in the comedy "The Inspector General". Table of officials

In order to understand main idea and the theme of the work, it is necessary to understand the images of the main characters in the comedy. All of them reflect the officialdom of that time and show the reader what injustice reigned where justice should have been above all.

The main characters of the comedy "The Inspector General". Table of officials. Brief description.

The image of officials in the comedy “The Inspector General” shows what injustice reigned at that time. In courts, hospitals and other institutions, it would seem that there should be justice and honesty, but the images of officials in Gogol’s work clearly show that at the beginning of the 19th century, things were completely different throughout Russia.

The main idea of ​​the comedy "The Inspector General". Theme of the work

Gogol said that in his work he wanted to collect all the “stupidity” that was observed at that time. The theme of the play is to ridicule human vices: hypocrisy, fraud, self-interest, etc. The image of officials in the comedy “The Inspector General” is a reflection of the true essence of officials. The author of the work wanted to convey that they were unjust, dishonest and stupid. The bureaucrats cared absolutely nothing about ordinary people.

The comic nature of "The Inspector General"

The comicality of the work lies in the fact that instead of the auditor, whom everyone in the city was afraid of, an ordinary person arrived, deceiving all the officials.

"The Inspector General" is a comedy that shows the true face of Russian officials in the early 19th century. The author wanted to show: they were so unfair, pathetic and stupid that they could not distinguish ordinary person from a real auditor.