The events that unfolded in Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General" take place in one of the small Russian district towns. The writer actively uses comic scenes to expose vices characters.
The first act of the work begins with an acquaintance with Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov. He is a petty St. Petersburg official who occupies the lowest possible rank. Khlestakov takes a trip to the distant Saratov province to visit his father. He is accompanied by a servant named Osip.
Arriving in a small county town, cut off from civilization, an official faces major troubles. He starts a card game with the locals and loses his few accumulated funds.
Notification of check arrival
Government bodies The towns 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 to the trustee government agencies clean up the hospital wards, change the patients into 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 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 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 containing detailed description 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.
Very briefly
1835 Russia. Gogol writes his play "The Inspector General". The essence of the plot of "The Inspector General" is that in a certain locality N a certain gentleman appears while passing through. His local residents They are mistaken for an auditor who is expected from the capital itself any day now.
The main idea of the immortal “Inspector General” is that Nikolai Vasilyevich grotesquely exposed the vices of society, such as cunning, flattery, stupidity, toadying, bribery, etc. In other words, he parodically showed the contemporary order in the lives of people in general.
Read a summary of the play The Inspector General by Gogol based on actions and phenomena.
Inspector 1 action
D1 Phenomenon 1
Everything happens at the mayor's place. Main character of the named scene informs the officials that “an auditor is coming to their town.” He himself is in a state close to frustration from such news. Bureaucrats are racking their brains as to why a high-ranking guest is coming to them. IN medical institution They are hastily trying to “put things in order”, and even so that patients do not abuse smoking, and perhaps so that there are as few of them as possible. Mr. Judge was recommended to drive the geese out of the front door and eat onions to get rid of unpleasant odor and start attending church. At school, teachers teach not science, but pantomime or, to put it simply, making faces.
D1 Phenomenon 2
In addition to the above characters, the post office manager also appears. He suggests that the auditor is news of an imminent war with the Turkish army. The mayor, in a private atmosphere, asks the head of the post office to read other people's letters in order to identify negative information. The postmaster agrees to such a scam; by his nature, he likes to poke “his nose into other people’s affairs.”
D1 Phenomenon 3
More heroes appeared on the stage - Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. They vying with each other, confused in thoughts and words, declare that the auditor is Mr. Khlestakov Ivan Aleksandrovich, who is passing through their city, but has been living there for fourteen days and almost does not pay for his stay. The mayor was interested in this event, because it was during this period of time that a large number of “unpleasant events” occurred in the town. All officials go to their workplaces.
D1 Phenomenon 4
Satirical scene. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky want to “prove themselves.” The street leading to the tavern is swept until the stones that pave it shine.
D1 Phenomenon 5.
The mayor continues to “restore order” in the town. He sees the worthlessness of the bailiff, whose subordinates are completely drunk. He decides to “reconstruct” the bridge and put a tall Pugovitsyn on it for show. There is also an urgent need to remove the dam near the shoemaker's house. He begins to wonder what to do with the huge piles of all kinds of rubbish on the streets. The thought also dawns on him that the soldiers do not have decent clothes and then it was decided to keep them locked up.
D1 Phenomenon 6
Next to the mayor appear his wife and daughter - a girl of marriageable age. They are not interested in the problems of their father and husband, but they are very curious to know what an auditor looks like. They order the maid to find out everything and report to them.
D2 Phenomenon 1
Events take place in a county hotel. Osip, the servant, lies on his master’s bed and complains that there is nothing to eat. He says that his owner has squandered all his savings and, most importantly, that they are not loaned anything under any pretext.
D2 Phenomenon 2
In addition to Osip, Khlestakov is also visible. He orders the servant to go to the buffet and demand lunch. Osip advises calling the owner-master to this place.
D2 Phenomenon 3
Khlestakov alone in a hotel room. He conducts a monologue about how he lost money and is brutally hungry...
D2 Phenomenon 4
Osip returns to the room, but not alone, but with sex. Polovoy says that the owner does not intend to feed the guests until they cover their previous debts.
D2 Phenomenon 5
Khlestakov indulges in dreams of how he will return to St. Petersburg on a rich carriage, but his dreams are crushed by reality - hunger...
D2 Phenomenon 6
A waiter enters the hotel room and brings in plates of food. He says that the owner took pity and fed his unfortunate guests in last time. Everything has been eaten.
D2 Phenomenon 7
Osip returns to the room and conveys to Khlestakov the mayor’s request that he immediately come to the office. Khlestakov assumes that they are planning to arrest him and he is overcome by horror from everything that is happening.
D2 Phenomenon 8
The mayor came to the room, and Dobchinsky stood outside the door of the room to be aware of everything that was happening. Khlestakov begins to complain about his joyless life, and the Mayor is confused and agitated and therefore decides to move Khlestakov to a new place. Khlestakov assumes that he will be sent to jail, so he breaks out in a scream... Then the Mayor was scared to death and admitted to bribery, slander about someone else’s wife, and in the end he slips a certain amount of money to Khlestakov. The following is a friendly conversation. The mayor absorbs every word of Khlestakov. At the end of the conversation, Khlestakov was invited as a guest to the Mayor’s chambers.
D2 Phenomenon 9
Dispute with a sex worker about paying for a hotel stay.
D2 Phenomenon 10
The mayor takes Khlestakov on a tour of the town and its establishments. It is worth noting that Khlestakov does not want to inspect the prison. While the excursion is underway, Dobchinsky is instructed to secretly convey two certain messages to Strawberry and the mayor’s wife.
D3 Phenomenon 1
The events take place in the Governor's mansion. The mayor's household is exhausted from agonizing anticipation. Finally, they see Dobchinsky.
D3 Phenomenon 2
The message was sent to the wife. Confused and rearranging words, Dobchinsky tells Gorodnichy’s wife about the auditor. She orders the chambers to be prepared for the high-ranking guest.
D3 Phenomenon 3
The women of Gorodnichy almost came to blows, arguing over who would wear what when the auditor arrived.
D3 Phenomenon 4
Osip brings his owner's things into new house and learns the news that Khlestakov is a self-made general. On this occasion, he begs for something to eat.
D3 Phenomenon 5
Khlestakov and Gordnichy ate for free at a medical institution. Khlestakov begins to like this life. Strawberry crucifies before him that the sick, like flies, get better. Khlestakov wants to play cards, but the Mayor refuses in every possible way from such a pastime.
D3 Phenomenon 6
In the mayor’s house, a ceremony is taking place to introduce Khlestakov to the mayor’s wife and daughter. Khlestakov is trying to inflate his worth in every way, in other words, he lies and lies. He is a writer, a commander-in-chief, a department manager, and the owner of the best house in St. Petersburg. And what they serve at his table is generally the best, one watermelon costs only 700 rubles. He lies to such an extent that he falls asleep mid-sentence.
D3 Phenomenon 7
In Gorodnichy’s living room, there is a debate about Khlestakov’s current position: is he a general or a generalissimo? Everyone was gripped by an incomprehensible anxiety and fear.
D3 Phenomenon 8
Gorodnichy’s wife and daughter discuss Khlestakov’s masculine qualities until they are hoarse, and even quarrel a little about this.
D3 Phenomenon 9
The mayor is terrified, and his wife revels in her charm.
D3 Phenomenon 10
Osip leaves his master's chambers. The mayor's household questions him. Osip takes advantage of the situation and turns the situation in his favor.
D3 Phenomenon11
The mayor orders Derzhimorda and Svistunov, patrolmen, to keep watch on the porch of their own house in order to protect Khlestakov’s peace.
D4 Phenomenon1
The action is still the same as in the previous scenes. All the officials of a given city arrive in full dress. Lyapkin-Tyapkin marshals everyone as if at a parade and the decision is made to introduce himself to everyone personally and give Vyatka personally. Everyone is a little confused by this decision. The postmaster suggests saying that this money is a postal order to the auditor. While they bicker, Khlestakov leaves his chambers.
D4 Phenomenon 2
Khlestakov is great. He even likes Gorodnichy’s daughter, and he doesn’t mind flirting with her mother.
D4 Phenomenon 3
The judge introduces himself to Khlestakov. By accident he dropped a sum of money, and Khlestakov asks him to borrow it. The problem is solved, and the judge goes into the living room.
D4 Phenomenon 4
Shpekin goes to the auditor and gives him a bribe.
D4 Phenomenon 5
They shoved a judge into Khlestakov’s room, they had a meaningless conversation for some time, and in the end Khlestakov again borrowed money in the amount of 300 rubles.
D4 Phenomenon 6
Strawberry “knocks” on his colleagues. This information is not important for Khlestakov, but he still borrows money.
D4 Phenomenon 7
Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky rush into Khlestakov’s room. He sees their stupidity and demands 1000 rubles from them. But, unfortunately, between them they only have 65. These twins also manage to express their requests to Khlestakov and then leave the auditor’s chambers.
D4 Phenomenon 8
Khlestakov realizes that he was mistaken for an important statesman. He decides to inform his old friend Tryapichkin about this event. The most important thing that impresses Khlestakov is that, in his opinion, he is rich.
D4 Phenomenon 9
Osip realizes the precariousness of his master’s position and advises him to leave the town. While they are bickering, visitors come to Khlestakov again - merchants.
D4 Phenomenon 10
Merchants talk about their difficult life. They offer the auditor goods, but he is not interested in them, but the merchants’ money is very appropriate. He promises to look into the current situation.
D4 Phenomenon 11
The widow of a non-commissioned officer came. She demands payment of moral damages. The locksmith complains that her husband was not drafted into the army according to the rules. Khlestakov agrees to do everything in his power.
D4 Phenomenon 12
Khlestakov shows signs of attention to the mayor's daughter. She fears that he, as they say, will become a sailor and abandon her, but Khlestakov speaks of the seriousness of his intentions and even kisses her on the shoulder. He falls on his face before her.
D4 Phenomenon 13
The scene of the love meeting is seen by the mayor's wife. To avoid a scandal, Khlestakov hit on her and even asks for her hand in marriage, despite the fact that she is a married lady.
D4 Phenomenon 14
Gorodnichy’s daughter appears, then Khlestakov takes the position of a young man infatuated with her. The mayor's wife is perplexed and even tries to discipline her daughter.
D4. Phenomenon 15
The Mayor appears. He wants Khlestakov not to punish him for his mistakes, because in this town there are no honest people, but only liars, slanderers and bribe-takers. They tell him that Khlestakov is wooing their daughter. The mayor benefits from this outcome. The young are blessed.
D4 Phenomenon 16
Khlestakov wants to visit his uncle. Goes to him.
D5 Phenomenon 1
Events in the mayor's house. He and his wife dream of life in St. Petersburg.
D5 Phenomenon 2.
The merchants come to apologize to the Mayor.
D5 Phenomena 3-6
The mayor is congratulated on his daughter’s wedding. The whole flower of society gathers.
D5 Phenomenon 7
The mayor and his wife outline the events connected with their daughter’s matchmaking.
D5 Phenomenon 8
The postmaster comes running with a letter. This is a letter from Khlestakov to his friend. It turns out that Khlestakov is not an auditor. There is turmoil in society.
The poem appears in the form of a letter from the narrator to his beloved. In the first lines there is a hint of Onegin’s message to the well-known Tatyana. IN in this case the hero tells the lady that after a long separation there is no point in awakening
A Little Ghost lived in a chest in an old castle. Every night it got out of there, only the clock hands showed 12. The ghost loved to wander through the rooms and corridors, talking to portraits
Soviet time. The beginning of monetary reform. A large shortage is revealed during an audit in one store. The saleswoman could be jailed. Her husband turns to his fellow villagers for help.
The genre defined by Gogol is a comedy in 5 acts. “Notes for Gentlemen Actors” are included in the text of the play.
List of main characters:
Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky - mayor.
Anna Andreevna is his wife.
Marya Antonovna is his daughter.
Luka Lukich Khlopov - superintendent of schools.
Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin - judge.
Artemy Fillipovich Strawberry is a trustee of charitable institutions.
Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin - postmaster.
Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky is a city landowner.
Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky is a city landowner.
Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov is an official from St. Petersburg.
Osip is his servant.
Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov is a private bailiff.
Svistunov, Pugovitsyn, Derzhimorda are policemen.
Action 1
A room in the Mayor's house.
Yavl. 1
The mayor informs the assembled officials of “the most unpleasant news”: an auditor is coming to the city. The crowd is horrified. Officials assume that the auditor is specially sent to find out whether there is any treason in the city before the war. Mayor: “Where does treason come from in a district town? Even if you jump from here for three years, you won’t reach any state.” He advises everyone to restore a semblance of order in the institutions under their jurisdiction (in the hospital, put clean caps on the sick, write illnesses in Latin; remove geese from the court reception area, hide hunting equipment). He reproaches officials for bribery (Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin takes bribes with greyhound puppies), inappropriate behavior (in the gymnasium, teachers make faces at their students).
Yavl. 2
The postmaster expresses concern that the arrival of the auditor may mean a quick war with the Turks. The mayor asks him to print out and read every letter that arrives in the mail. The postmaster readily agrees, since he did exactly that before the Mayor’s request.
Yavl. 3
Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky appear and spread a rumor that the auditor is a certain Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, who has been living in the hotel for a week without paying the owner any money. The mayor decides to visit the passing person. Officials disperse to their subordinate institutions.
Yavl. 4
The mayor orders the quarterly to sweep the streets clean.
Yavl. 5
The mayor orders that police officers should be placed around the city, the old fence should be demolished, and any questions from the auditor should be answered by saying that the church that was under construction burned down, and was not at all taken apart in parts.
Yavl. 6
The mayor's wife and daughter run in, burning with curiosity. Anna Andreevna sends a maid to fetch her husband’s droshky in order to independently find out everything about the visiting auditor.
Act 2
A room in a hotel.
Yavl. 1
Hungry Osip lies on the master’s bed and talks to himself (They left St. Petersburg with the master two months ago. On the way, the master squandered all his money, living beyond his means and losing at cards. The servant himself likes life in St. Petersburg - “haberdashery treatment” for “you.” The master leads a stupid life because he “doesn’t care about business”).
Yavl. 2
Khlestakov appears and tries to send Osip to the owner for lunch. He refuses to go, reminds Khlestakov that they have not paid for their accommodation for three weeks and the owner was going to complain about them.
Yavl. 3
Khlestakov alone. He really wants to eat.
Yavl. 4
Khlestakov orders the tavern servant to demand lunch on credit from the owner.
Yavl. 5
Khlestakov imagines how he, in a chic St. Petersburg suit, will roll up to the gates of his father’s house, and will also pay visits to neighboring landowners.
Yavl. 6
The tavern servant brings a small lunch. Khlestakov is dissatisfied with the soup and roast, but eats everything.
Yavl. 7
Osip announces that the Mayor has arrived and wants to see Khlestakov.
Yavl. 8
Gorodnichy and Dobchinsky appear. Bobchinsky, the eavesdropper, peeks out from behind the door throughout the entire phenomenon. Khlestakov and Gorodnichy each, for their part, begin to make excuses to each other (Khlestakov promises that he will pay for the stay, Gorodnichy swears that order will be restored in the city). Khlestakov asks Gorodnichy for a loan of money, and Gorodnichy gives him a bribe, slipping him four hundred rubles instead of two hundred, assuring him that he just came to check on people passing by, and this is a normal activity for him. He does not believe Khlestakov’s words that he is going to his father in the village; he believes that he is “casting bullets” in order to disguise his real goals. The mayor invites Khlestakov to live in his house.
Yavl. 9
On the advice of the Mayor, Khlestakov decides to postpone settlements with the tavern servant for an indefinite period.
Yavl. 10
The mayor invites Khlestakov to inspect various establishments in the city and make sure that order is maintained everywhere. He sends Dobchinsky with notes to his wife (to prepare the room) and to Strawberry.
Act 3
A room in the Mayor's house.
Yavl. 1
Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna are sitting by the window waiting for news. They notice Dobchinsky at the end of the street.
Yavl. 2
Dobchinsky appears, retells the scene in the hotel to the ladies, and gives the landlady a note. Anna Andreevna makes the necessary orders.
Yavl. 3
The ladies are discussing what clothes to wear for the guest's arrival.
Yavl. 4
Osip brings Khlestakov’s suitcase and “agrees” to eat “simple” dishes - cabbage soup, porridge, pies.
Yavl. 5
Khlestakov and Gorodnichy appear, surrounded by officials. Khlestakov had breakfast in the hospital and was very pleased, especially since all the patients recovered - they usually “recover like flies.”
Khlestakov is interested in card establishments. The mayor replies that there are no such people in the city, he swears that he himself never knew how to play, and uses all his time “for the benefit of the state.”
Yavl. 6
The mayor introduces the guest to his wife and daughter. Khlestakov shows off in front of Anna Andreevna, assures that he does not like ceremonies and is “on friendly terms” with all the important officials in St. Petersburg (including Pushkin), that he himself invents in his spare time that he wrote “Yuri Miloslavsky”, that he most famous house in St. Petersburg, that he gives balls and dinners, to which he is delivered “a watermelon worth seven hundred rubles,” “soup in a saucepan from Paris.” He goes so far as to say that the minister himself comes to his house, and once, meeting the requests of 35,000 couriers, he even managed the department. “I’m everywhere, everywhere... I go to the palace every day.” It's completely screwed up. The mayor invites him to rest from the road.
Yavl. 7
The officials are discussing the guest. They understand that even if half of what Khlestakov said is true, then their situation is very serious.
Yavl. 8
Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna discuss Khlestakov’s “masculine virtues.” Each is sure that Khlestakov paid attention to her.
Yavl. 9
The mayor is scared. The wife, on the contrary, is confident in her feminine charms.
Yavl. 10
Everyone rushes to ask Osip about the master. The mayor gives him generously not only “for tea,” but also “for bagels.” Osip reports that his master “loves order.”
Yavl. eleven
The mayor places two policemen on the porch - Svistunov and Derzhimorda - so that petitioners are not allowed to see Khlestakov.
Act 4
A room in the Mayor's house.
Yavl. 1 and 2
In full regalia, on tiptoe, enter: Lyapkin-Tyapkin, Strawberry, Postmaster, Luka Lukich, Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. Lyapkin-Tyapkin builds everyone up in a military manner. Decides that he should introduce himself one by one and give bribes. They argue about who should go first.
Yavl. 3
Presentation of Lyapkin-Tyapkin to Khlestakov: “And the money is in the fist, and the fist is all on fire.” Lyapkin-Tyapkin drops the money on the floor and thinks that he is lost. Khlestakov agrees to “loan” the money. Happy Lyapkin-Tyapkin leaves with a feeling of accomplishment.
Yavl. 4
Postmaster Shpekin, who came to introduce himself, only echoed Khlestakov, who was talking about the pleasant city. Khlestakov takes a “loan” from the Postmaster, and Shpekin leaves reassured: Khlestakov has no comments regarding the postal business.
Yavl. 5
Presentation by Luka Lukic. Luka Lukich is trembling all over, speaks at random, his tongue is slurred. Scared to death, he still hands the money to Khlestakov and leaves.
Yavl. 6
Presentation of Strawberries. Strawberries remind the “auditor” of yesterday’s breakfast. Khlestakov thanks. Confident of the “auditor’s” disposition, Strawberry informs on the rest of the city officials and gives a bribe. Khlestakov takes it and promises to sort everything out.
Yavl. 7
Khlestakov directly demands money from Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky who came to introduce themselves. Dobchinsky asks to recognize his son as legitimate, and Bobchinsky asks Khlestakov, on occasion, to tell the sovereign “that Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky lives in such and such a city.”
Yavl. 8
Khlestakov realizes that he was mistakenly taken for an important government official. In a letter to his friend Tryapichkin, he describes this funny incident.
Yavl. 9
Osip advises Khlestakov to get out of the city as soon as possible. A noise is heard: the petitioners have come.
Yavl. 10
Merchants complain to Khlestakov about Gorodnichy, who demands that gifts be given to him on his name day twice a year, and takes away the best goods. They give Khlestakov money because he refuses the food offered.
Yavl. eleven
A non-commissioned officer's widow, who was flogged without any justification, and a locksmith, whose husband was taken into the army out of turn, appear, demanding justice, because those who were supposed to go in his place made an offering on time. The non-commissioned officer's widow demands a fine, Khlestakov promises to look into it and help.
Yavl. 12
Khlestakov talks with Marya Antonovna.
Ta is afraid that the capital's guest will laugh at her provincialism. Khlestakov swears that he loves her, kisses her shoulder, and kneels.
Yavl. 13-14
Anna Andreevna comes in and shoos her daughter away. Khlestakov kneels before Anna Andreevna, swears that he really loves her, but since she is married, he is forced to propose to her daughter.
Yavl. 15
The Mayor appears and begs Khlestakov not to listen to the opinions of merchants and townspeople about him (the non-commissioned officer’s widow “flogged herself”). Khlestakov makes an offer. The parents call their daughter and hastily bless her.
Yavl. 8
The Postmaster appears and reads aloud Khlestakov’s letter to Tryapichkin, from which it turns out that Khlestakov is not an auditor: “The mayor is stupid, like a gray gelding... The Postmaster... drinks bitter... The overseer of the charitable establishment, Strawberry, is a perfect pig in a skull cap.” The mayor was killed by the news on the spot. It is impossible to return Khlestakov, since the Mayor himself ordered to give him the best horses. Mayor: “Why are you laughing? - you’re laughing at yourself!.. I still can’t come to my senses. Now, truly, if God wants to punish, he will first take away reason. Well, what was there in this helipad that looked like an auditor? There was nothing!" Everyone is looking for the culprit of what happened and decide that Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky are to blame for everything, who spread the rumor that Khlestakov is the auditor.
Yavl. last thing
A gendarme enters and announces the arrival of a real auditor. Silent scene.
Petr Ivanovich Bobchinsky - city landowners
Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov - official from St. Petersburg
Osip - his servant
Christian Ivanovich Gibner - district doctor
Svistunov, Pugovitsyn, Derzhimorda - policemen
Fedor Ivanovich Lyulyukov, Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin - retired officials, honorary persons in the city
Abdulin - merchant
Fevronya Petrovna Poshlepkina – mechanic
Non-commissioned officer's wife
Mishka - the mayor's servant
Inn servant
Guests, merchants, townspeople, petitioners
Action 1
Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, a petty official from St. Petersburg, who has the lowest rank in the Table of Ranks, goes to the Saratov province to visit his father. His servant Osip travels with him. Finding himself in a small county town, from which “you can ride for three years and never get anywhere,” Khlestakov lost at cards and was left with nothing. At the same time, unpleasant news comes to the city authorities, mired in bribes: an auditor from St. Petersburg is coming to the city, and even with a secret order. The mayor, Anton Antonovich, convenes all officials to announce this news. The officials are at a loss; they believe that they want to convict them of high treason, and even on the eve of the war. The mayor himself is also concerned, but not to such an extent. He advises everyone to make everything look decent.
At night, Anton Antonovich did not sleep well, he dreamed of two huge rats, he had a presentiment of bad things and was at a loss as to the reasons for the arrival of the auditor. Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, who has read five or six books and is therefore a bit of a free-thinker, suggests that this is because of the war being started by Russia. Meanwhile, the mayor advises the trustee of charitable institutions to bring all hospitals into proper shape, put clean caps on the sick, reduce the number of tobacco smokers, and write words in Latin above each bed. Strawberries show sympathy and understanding. He recommends to the judge not to dry the hunting rifle over the work table and to take a closer look at the assessor, who has reeked of vodka since childhood.
Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, a good-natured postmaster, comes in. The mayor asks him to look through all passing letters, as he is afraid of denunciation. And Shpekin has been reading everything himself for a long time out of pure curiosity and does it with pleasure. He says that he has not yet met anything about the St. Petersburg auditor. Then Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky appear out of breath. They vied with each other to talk about the “observant” young man they met in the tavern. They think that this is the auditor. After all, he didn’t pay any money and looked into their plates. Just like an auditor. The officials disperse with concern, and the mayor decides to go to the hotel where the young auditor is staying to pay his respects. In the meantime, the mayor's daughter and wife appear and ask Anton Antonovich through the window whether the newcomer has a mustache, and if so, what with which one.
Act 2
In a small hotel room, Osip lies on the master’s bed and complains of hunger. He tells how they have been traveling from St. Petersburg for the second month, and the owner loses everything along the way, but wants to order the best. He says that he likes it in St. Petersburg, especially when Khlestakov’s father sends him money, but now they don’t even lend him money. A young and stupid Ivan Alexandrovich appears and hesitantly sends Osip to the kitchen to ask for food, and if they don’t give it, then go after the owner. The inn servant still gives them bad food. Having emptied the plates, Khlestakov swears out loud. Osip and the tavern servant take away the dishes. Then Osip reports that the mayor has come to see them. Frightened that he will be sent to prison for debts, Khlestakov turns pale.
Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky remain outside the door. Anton Antonovich enters the room. He greets the guest with honor and says that he always takes care of those passing by. Khlestakov begins to make excuses, promises to pay the debt and at the same time complains about the innkeeper. Bobchinsky peeks out from behind the door. These complaints make the mayor shy and invite the guest to move to another, more comfortable apartment. At first, Khlestakov refuses, because he thinks that he is being offered to go to prison. He starts screaming, asking for mercy, saying that his wife and children are waiting at home. Out of surprise, the mayor repents of bribes.
Khlestakov says that he will soon pay off all his debts, but so far there is no money, not a penny. The mayor thinks this is a sly hint at a bribe. He offers the guest money, adding that he always tries to help those passing by. Since the guest has decided to be incognito, then he will behave accordingly. The mayor slips in a double amount - four hundred rubles, but Khlestakov takes only two hundred. In all this, Anton Antonovich is trying to grasp the cunning meaning. They continue to talk. At the end, the mayor writes two notes on the tavern bill: one to Strawberry, the other to his wife. He sends Dobchinsky with them, and Bobchinsky, who has been listening outside the door all this time, falls to the floor with her. He himself is traveling with Khlestakov. He came up with a plan to get the guest drunk and find out his plans. To begin with, he offers to inspect charitable institutions, and then invites them to his home.
Act 3
The action takes place in the mayor's house. Anna Andreevna finds no place for herself while waiting for news from her husband. Dobchinsky brings a note in which the mayor wrote “not a general, but will not yield to a general,” further about his formidability and subsequent softening. Then she asks to prepare a room for the guest and bring wine from the merchant Abdulin. Marya Antonovna and Anna Andreevna are arguing about which dress is better to wear. The mayor and Khlestakov appear, accompanied by Strawberry, who had just treated them to labardan in the hospital. Behind them are Khlopov, Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. Everyone is discussing the successes of Artemy Filippovich. They say that since he took office, patients have done nothing but get better. To Khlestakov’s question whether it is possible to play cards somewhere in the city, the mayor, sensing a catch, resolutely answers that no.
Seeing Marya Antonovna and Anna Andreevna, the guest decides to show off. He begins to talk about St. Petersburg social life, about how he was friends with Pushkin, how he was appointed commander-in-chief, how he managed a certain department, etc. He says that he doesn’t like various ceremonies, so he never manages to slip unnoticed. Adds that in free time writes essays and is published in magazines. For example, he composed “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Yuri Miloslavsky”. Marya Antonovna timidly objects, noting that the author of “Miloslavsky” is Zagoskin. The mother stops her remark. Tired of chatter, Khlestakov goes to bed, and Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna argue about which of them he looked at more. Then they decide to ask Osip about his owner. Noticing that he answers evasively and ambiguously, they only become convinced of the “importance” of their guest.
Act 4
The mayor posts policemen on his porch so that no complaining merchants or petitioners are allowed in. After consulting, the officials decide to go one by one to the “auditor” and give him a bribe. It was decided to start with Lyapkin-Tyapkin, since he was distinguished by “Cicero” eloquence. As soon as Khlestakov woke up, Lyapkin-Tapkin came in to him. Completely afraid, he accidentally dropped the money from his hands and was afraid that he was completely in trouble. Khlestakov, seeing the money, picked it up and asked to borrow it, explaining that he “wasted money on the road.” Then the postmaster, the superintendent of schools, Zemlyanika and other officials came in turn. Khlestakov borrowed money from everyone, citing the same reason - large expenses on the road.
If he simply talked with the postmaster about life in the district town, then he offered the superintendent of schools a cigar and asked who he preferred: brunettes or blondes. Strawberry finally diversified the situation. He not only reported on all his colleagues, but also offered to write everything down in detail. Next came Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. If the first talked about his illegitimate child, then the second asked to mention him to all the senators and admirals in St. Petersburg.
Having sent the guests away, Khlestakov sits down to write a letter to his friend Tryapichkin, a great wit. He says that in the district town of N they took him for some “statesman” and gave him more than a thousand rubles. While he is writing a letter, the servant Osip persuades the master to leave quickly before the deception is revealed. Having sent Osip with a letter and three horses, Khlestakov receives merchants who complain about unfair treatment on the part of the mayor. A Derzhimord policeman is trying to hold them back. Following the merchants are the mechanic's wife and the non-commissioned officer's wife, who also complain about the mayor. Khlestakov promises everyone everything, everything, everything. The hopeful guests leave.
There is a meeting with Marya Antonovna. She says that she happened to pass by here. The lying Khlestakov first flirts with her, then confesses his love, kisses her and, repenting, falls to his knees. Anna Andreevna sees all this. She angrily drives her daughter away. Left alone with her, Khlestakov confesses his love to her too. When she says she's "sort of married," he says that's no problem with love. Suddenly, Marya Antonovna runs in and in the bustle receives first a reprimand from her mother, and then a marriage proposal from Khlestakov. The mayor comes running and asks not to trust the merchants who have broken through. He does not hear his wife's words about matchmaking. Then he finally understands what the matter is and blesses the young people. Osip enters and says that the horses have been served. Khlestakov tells the confused family that he needs to go to his rich uncle for just one day. Finally, he borrows some more money and leaves.
Action 5
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. The mayor and his wife dream of how they will live in St. Petersburg. The mayor even imagines himself as a general. Complaining merchants appear, but the mayor no longer cares, because unexpected success has befallen him. He strikes fear into the merchants and lets them go with God. One after another, the “honorable people” of the city appear to congratulate the mayor. In the midst of congratulations, the postmaster runs in. He brought a message that the official who was mistaken for an auditor was not an auditor at all. Then he provides a printed letter from Khlestakov to Tryapichkin and everyone reads it in turn. Each reader, having reached his description, becomes blind and stalls.
The mayor is saddened and annoyed. He talks to himself, he can't believe he was fooled like that. Everyone attacks Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky for bringing the news about the imaginary auditor. In the midst of the commotion, a gendarme appears and announces that an important official from St. Petersburg has arrived in the city and demands the mayor to come to him. This news shocks everyone. It all ends with a silent scene.
Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General" is certainly one of the best and most famous Russian literary comedies. The number of theatrical productions is so great that it can rightfully be considered the best. To remember the main points, we give you below summary comedies.
All the officials of the district town gather in the mayor's room. They learn “very unpleasant news” - an auditor is coming to see them. Panic begins among the officials: judge Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin thinks that war is approaching, and the auditor will look for traitors. However, the mayor does not agree with him; he begins to give orders to eliminate the city's problems as much as possible. In particular, it is necessary to provide patients with clean clothes, remove geese from public places, and eliminate the smell of vodka that constantly accompanies the assessor. The mayor is not worried about bribes, justifying the officials by saying that “this is how God himself arranged it.” The judge who accepts bribes not with money, but with greyhound puppies, is also absolutely calm.
Then the postmaster Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin appears. Having learned about the arrival of the auditor, he also thought that war was approaching, but the mayor managed to convince him. After this, the mayor shares with Ivan Kuzmich his fears about possible denunciations against him; he asks the postmaster “for the general benefit” to carefully read the letters that come to him. Shpekin agrees and says that he reads all the letters out of interest.
After this, two landowner friends Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky come into the room and say that they saw the auditor at the hotel. He turned out to be a young man of “not bad appearance”; He has been living in the tavern for two weeks now, without paying any money and with no intention of moving out. The mayor is very worried and decides to immediately go to the hotel. He demands a horse-drawn carriage and a new hat, having previously given instructions to the policeman to sweep the street leading to the tavern.
A private bailiff comes to the mayor and receives orders for the improvement of the town. There should be a high quarter mark on the bridge, and the old fence should be broken down, because this will create the impression that construction activity is taking place in the city. Then the quarreling wife and daughter of the mayor, Anna Andreevna and Maria Antonovna, run into the room. Anna Andreevna forces her daughter to go to the hotel and find out some details about the auditor; She is especially interested in the color of his eyes.
Next, the action moves to the hotel. In the room, on the master’s bed, the old servant Osip lies and is angry with his master, who lost all the money, which is why they can’t return home from St. Petersburg. Osip is hungry, but the tavern is no longer going to feed them on credit. Then Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov returns - the same young man who is considered an auditor. He scolds the servant for lying on his bed, and then asks him to go downstairs for dinner. Osip refuses at first, but then he still goes downstairs to call the owner of the inn to Khlestakov.
Left alone, Ivan thinks about how hungry he is. He blames the bad financial situation on the infantry captain who won against him at cards. A tavern servant comes into his room, and Khlestakov begins to beg him to bring dinner, because he is a master, and he can’t go hungry. Then he begins to dream of returning home; at home he wants to present himself as a St. Petersburg official. Lunch is brought here; Khlestakov is unhappy that there are only two dishes, but he eats everything. The servant warns him that this was the last time his master will feed him on credit.
At this moment Osip enters the room, who says that the mayor wants to see Khlestakov. Ivan Aleksandrovich is afraid that he will be taken to prison due to non-payment of debts. However, the mayor who entered says that he wants to see how the guest lives, because he must take care that everyone who comes to the city is happy. Khlestakov first begins to make excuses and says that he will pay for everything, but then he says that the innkeeper feeds him very poorly and threatens to write a complaint. Now the mayor is frightened, who promises to settle everything and calls the “auditor” to live in a more comfortable apartment. He also gives Khlestakov money to pay off the owner of the tavern (and twice the required amount). After this, the young master agrees to live with the mayor, who thinks that you need to be careful with the auditor.
After some time, the mayor, together with Dobchinsky and Khlestakov, set off to inspect the city’s institutions. The “auditor” refuses to visit the prison, preferring to pay a visit to a charitable institution. The mayor tells Dobchinsky to give his wife a note in which he asks her to prepare to receive an important guest, and Osip to take the master’s things to his house. Dobchinsky leaves the room under the door of which Bobchinsky was eavesdropping; from the sudden opening of the door he falls to the floor and breaks his nose.
When Dobchinsky comes to the mayor's house, Anna Andreevna scolds him for the delay and asks many questions about the auditor. Then she and her daughter begin to preen themselves, preparing for the young man’s visit. Then Osip comes, bringing the master’s things. When asked to give him something to eat, he is refused, explaining that all the food in the house is too simple for such a thing. important person, as a servant of the auditor.
Khlestakov tells the mayor that he is pleased with the structure of the city, he was tasty fed and shown “ good establishments" He replies that this happens because here the city governor does not care about his own benefit, but about pleasing his superiors.
The mayor introduces his daughter and wife to the “auditor”, after which everyone has lunch together. During the meal, Ivan Aleksandrovich boasts that he is a very important person in St. Petersburg, plays cards with foreign ambassadors, is friends with Pushkin himself, and sometimes writes very good things himself, for example, “Yuri Miloslavsky.” When the governor's daughter remembers that this work was written by another person, she is sharply pulled back. Everyone respectfully listens to Khlestakov’s stories, and then invites him to rest. When he leaves, everyone says that he looks like a respectable man; Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky even think that Khlestakov is a general or generalissimo. The mayor's wife and daughter argue about which of them the “auditor” looked at more often. The mayor himself is worried, because even if only half of everything the young man tells can be trusted, he will be in trouble. He is surprised that the “auditor” was able to achieve such heights at such a young age.
When Osip enters the room, he is surrounded with questions: what does the master pay attention to, is he sleeping; women are interested in what eye color he likes best. The servant is given money for tea and bagels; after that everyone disperses.
After some time, all the officials gather again to give a bribe to the “auditor”. They think about how best to do this and decide to talk to Khlestakov one at a time. Meanwhile, Ivan Alexandrovich wakes up; he is pleased with the way he was received, and besides, he likes the mayor’s wife and daughter.
Judge Ammos Fedorovich is the first to enter the “auditor’s” room. He falls out of money, and Khlestakov asks for a loan, to which Lyapkin-Tyapkin readily agrees. After him to young man the postmaster, the superintendent of schools and the trustee of charitable institutions come in, from each of whom the “auditor” asks for a loan. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky come in last; Khlestakov demands money from them directly. Bobchinsky asks the “auditor” to tell everyone in St. Petersburg that “Peter Ivanovich Bobchinsky lives in such and such a city.”
Khlestakov realizes that he was mistaken for an auditor, and writes about this in a letter to his journalist friend. Osip asks the owner to quickly leave the city. Merchants come here with requests and gifts; Khlestakov takes money from them, and Osip takes all the gifts, even the rope, believing that this too may be useful on the road. Then the young man talks to the mayor’s daughter and kisses her; She is afraid that the “auditor” is simply laughing at her, and he kneels to prove the truth of his love. At this moment, the governor's wife enters and drives her daughter away; Khlestakov kneels in front of her, swearing vows of eternal love and asking for her hand. Then Marya Antonovna returns; in order not to create a scandal, the “auditor” asks Anna Andreevna for consent to marry her daughter. The mayor's wife tells her husband the good news who entered the room, and he blesses the newlyweds.
Osip hurries the master to leave, saying that the horses are already ready. Khlestakov tells the mayor that he is going to visit his rich uncle for one day, and at parting he again asks for a loan of some money. The mayor, his wife and daughter dream of life in St. Petersburg. All officials bring congratulations to their boss and ask not to forget them.
Then the postmaster arrives, holding a printed letter. It turns out that Khlestakov was not actually an auditor. The postmaster reads out loud: “First of all, the mayor is stupid, like a gray gelding...”. The mayor does not believe that this is written there. The postmaster lets him read it himself; After this, each official reads the letter and learns the bitter truth about himself. Everyone is angry, and the mayor is afraid that Khlestakov’s friend will write a comedy about him. The officials are surprised how they could mistake “this helipad” for an auditor. The blame is placed on Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky. At this moment, a gendarme appears, who reports that an auditor has arrived from St. Petersburg, is staying at the hotel and immediately demands all officials to come to him.
