In "The Inspector General" I decided to collect in one pile

everything bad in Russia ... and at one time

laughed at everything.

N. Gogol

The comedy "The Inspector General" is the first "great composition" by N. V. Gogol. The great satirist believed that “if you laugh, it’s better to laugh hard and at what is really worthy of the universal ridicule”. And Gogol did an excellent job with this difficult task.

In fact, Gogol "invented" little in his comedy. The prototypes of the prototypes of the main characters - an official, people in power - were always before the eyes of the writer. The characters, manner of speech, life attitudes of the heroes are directly taken from life.

The action in the comedy takes place in a small county town, from where "you can ride for three years, you won't reach a single state." This town itself is a small state, whose life is governed by a group of officials in power. What kind of people are they? Turning the pages of the comedy, we understand that they are bribe-takers, embezzlers, liars, unprincipled accomplices. These officials know that the fate of many townspeople depends on their actions and decisions, but they think and worry only about themselves. Fear of an inspector who comes to the city with "secret prescriptions" unites those in power into a single organism, despite the fact that they have always had low opinions of each other and worked according to the principle "do not interfere, but do not help another. ".

In a very short period of observation of the life and relations of officials, in all their disgrace, their dishonest and limited talent is revealed to us.

Governor Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky is the most main person in the town. He is rude and quirky, but not stupid in his own way. The mayor values ​​his official position very much, since it brings him income, gives him power. Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky is greedy, he, like other officials, will never miss what is floating in his hands. The mayor's love for profit and greed know no bounds: he robbing merchants, spending state money on his own needs. However, he does not feel guilty for his misdeeds. “There is no person who does not have any sins behind him,” the mayor is firmly convinced.

The power of the other city officials is more limited and narrow, but in all other respects they are very similar to the city officials.

Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, as is evident from the surname, fulfills his duties carelessly. He rarely looks into court cases, since he is a passionate lover of hound hunting. He, too, without a twinge of conscience, takes bribes, but with greyhound puppies, so he is sure of his honesty: “Sins are not alike. I tell everyone openly that I take bribes, but why bribes? Greyhound puppies. This is a completely different matter. "

The trustee of charitable establishments Strawberry is a quick-witted and helpful person, a rogue, a sneak, and, moreover, an informer. People who are admitted to the hospital run by Strawberry walk around dirty and hungry. And Strawberry does not heal his patients, believing that “a simple man: if he dies, he will die anyway; if he recovers, he will get better anyway. " That is why people in the hospital "die like flies."

Khlopov, the superintendent of schools, is terribly afraid of all sorts of revisions and reprimands at his own expense. He is timid, fearful, he always has a reason to complain about his part. However, this wretched man is looking for the possibility of abuse of office. Material from the site

Postmaster Shpekin is extremely stupid and narrow-minded. On the announcement of the visit of the auditor, he declares: “What do I think? There will be a war with the Turks. " This is a man devoid of moral principles: satisfying petty curiosity, he prints and reads other people's letters, doing it "with pleasure."

This is how the images of the “pillars of the city” appear before us. These people do not want and do not know how to work honestly and conscientiously. The visit of the inspector stirred up and united the whole city, but I think that this is not for long, because they also communicate with the inspectors in the language that they know - clerical pleasures, bribes and promises.

Gogol's merit is that he managed to show a dramatic but real life, life and customs of bureaucratic-bureaucratic Russia in the 30s of the XIX century. “Gathering everything bad in Russia in one heap,” Gogol allowed us to laugh heartily at careerism, theft, bribery, unscrupulousness and narrow-mindedness. The images created by Gogol are so realistic and vital that they continue to excite us today.

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On this page material on topics:

• essay on the auditor of the county town and its inhabitants
• essay about the county town continued
• the image of the county town in the comedy of n.v. gogol auditor
• the county town and its inhabitants in the comedy examiner

The comedy "The Inspector General", written by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol in 1835 and staged for the first time in 1836, reflected contemporary writer reality - Russia was the first half of the XIX century. On the stage, the comedy went on with great success: the events described in it were so realistic and the recognizable features of the main actors... They say that Nicholas I, having watched the play, forced his ministers to attend the performance of The Inspector General. And critics characterized the comedy as "filled with life's truth." At the same time, thanks to The Inspector General, Gogol had many enemies. "The author invented some kind of Russia and in it some kind of city, into which he dumped all the abominations that you find only occasionally on the surface of real Russia: he has accumulated so much rogue, meanness, and ignorance." But I think that such negative assessments only confirm the genius of a literary work and testify to the depth and extreme accuracy (which is not to everyone's taste) of the shown life phenomena.

So, before us is a provincial county town. Or rather, Russia in miniature contemporary to Gogol. What is it like?

Present places, where in the front hall, underfoot, domestic geese with goslings "dart about". The assessor, from whom he always "gives off a little vodka." Hospitals, along the corridors of which "there is such cabbage that take care only of your nose."

On the streets "tavern, uncleanness". Near the old fence "all kinds of rubbish are piled on forty carts."

The private bailiff "cannot be used to the case," as he is dead drunk. “Two tubs of water have already been poured, I still haven’t sober up”. The quarter steals silver spoons "into the boots".

And the townspeople? Some are whipped without any guilt, who are beaten by Derzhimorda.

Such is the depressing way of life in a county town. And the blame for its unsightlyness, in my opinion, lies with county officials... After all, it was their attitude to their duties that brought the city to such a state. But officials have no time to serve for the good of the state. They spend their time at endless dinners, drinking parties, card games, and they spend their efforts on vulgar talk and stupid gossip.

In the comedy "The Inspector General" there is no such character who would consider the bribery flourishing in the town a vice. On the contrary, bribery, and embezzlement, and robbery of residents are perceived by officials, that is, people in public service, as a completely ordinary, even routine part of life. And how could it be otherwise, if the chief bribe-taker himself is the mayor ?! No wonder he self-confidently declares: "I have been living in the service for thirty years ... I have deceived swindlers on swindlers, scoundrels and rogues such that they are ready to steal from the whole world.

Perhaps that is why the mayor, having learned that the quarterly “stole” a “piece of cloth” from the merchant, considers it his duty to only slightly reproach him: “Look! you take it out of order! " And to the judge's “open” confession of bribery, he, apparently, is quite calm: “Well, what if you take bribes with greyhound puppies? But you do not believe in God ... "

What other traits do comedy characters have? The low level of their education and insignificance of interests are immediately striking.

Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, who has mastered five or six books in his entire life, is considered the most "well-read". Postmaster Shpekin "death loves to learn what is new in the world." But he draws information about the news from other people's letters, not considering it shameful to open them. The wife and daughter of the mayor hunt only for suitors, fresh gossip and new outfits.

But the main feature noted by Gogol inherent in officials is, perhaps, reverence for rank. That, apart from the desire to please the higher authorities, could make the mayor, who has become skilled in office intrigues ("He deceived three governors! .."), see in Khlestakov, quite young man, a pitiful "elistress", "fake" and "dummy",

formidable auditor? It is the fear of the metropolitan inspector (and, as you know, the cap is on fire on the thief) that overshadows the mind of the mayor so much that the mayor takes the heap of fables in the speeches of the drunk Khlestakov at face value: and the princes hustle and buzz there like bumblebees "," tomorrow I will now be promoted to field marshal "and so on.

It is characteristic that at first the mayor seeks to bribe the capital inspector ("Well, thank God, he took the money. It seems that things will go well now"), and then treat him to dinner without skimping on wine. There is no doubt that similar actions in relation to the inspectors were taken almost throughout the Nikolaev Russia.

The period of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol's creativity coincided with the dark era of Nikolai I. After the suppression of the Decembrist uprising, all dissidents were brutally persecuted by the authorities. Describing reality, N.V. Gogol creates brilliant, full of life realities literary works... All strata of Russian society are becoming the theme of his work - on the example of the customs and descriptions of a small district town. Gogol wrote that in The Inspector General, he finally decided to collect all that bad in a heap. Russian society, which he saw and laugh at everything at once.

The heroes of the comedy Gogol made officials of an ordinary district town. Thanks to a seemingly simple plot move (a minor official passing by is mistaken for an inspector), the author vividly and colorfully describes the types and heroes, their habits - in general, a description of Russia in miniature - a city from which you can ride for three years, but so no state can be reached. "There is a tavern on the streets, uncleanness!" Near the ancient fence, which is located near the shoemaker, "forty carts of all kinds of rubbish are piled on top of it." Even the church that is at charitable institution, for the construction of which money was allocated five years ago, began to be built, but then burned down, and so it stands.

How is life for the "merchants" and "citizenship"? Here, some are robbed, some are flogged by an official, some are beaten from Derzhimorda's hard work. In prisons, prisoners are not fed, in hospitals there is mud, and the sick "all get well like flies." Having learned that the visit of the inspector is imminent, officials immediately try to restore at least some order in the city. Their actions are reduced to window dressing, to the observance of only external decency (removal of the hunting arapnik, who was hanging in the presence, cleaning and cleaning only the street along which the arriving inspector will drive). “As for the internal order ... I can say nothing ... There is no person who would not have any sins behind him. This is how God himself arranged it, ”says the mayor. Gogol shows the reader that life in a particular city directly depends on the attitude of officials to their service.

Those who, by virtue of their duty, are called upon to resist the violation of the rule of law and take care of the welfare of the townspeople, are mired in bribery, drunkenness, gambling and gossip.

The governor proudly declares: “I have been living in the service for thirty years! He deceived three governors! "The judge does not lag behind him either:" I tell you frankly that I take bribes ... Greyhound puppies. This is ... a different matter. " Even the postmaster is ridiculed by Gogol. When he is instructed to print out all the letters slightly, he naively admits: "I am doing this not so much out of precaution, but more out of curiosity: I love to know death what is new in the world." All images created by Gogol in the comedy "The Inspector General" embody typical features, typical for officials from Nikolaev Russia. Vulgar, two-faced, poorly educated - the most "educated" of the characters in the comedy is the judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin. He read five or six books in his entire life, therefore he is considered the most "well-read" and "somewhat free-thinker."

Unscrupulousness, self-interest, various abuse of office — these are the customs of the district officials. It is interesting that embezzlement, bribery, robbery of the population, all these terrible social vices are shown by Gogol as everyday and even natural phenomena.

How much do we have kind people,
but how much there is also chaff, from which
who have no good life ...
On stage! Let him see the whole
people! Let them laugh!
Oh, laughter is a great thing!
N.V. Gogol

It is known that the only time Gogol had the opportunity to observe a Russian provincial city was in Kursk, where he had to stay for a week due to a breakdown in the crew. By the power of the writer's talent, these impressions turned into images that were mysterious for the whole of Russia during the time of Nicholas I. It is curious that Nicholas himself confirmed this. On the way from Penza to Tambov, the tsar was injured and was treated for two weeks in Chembar. Having recovered, he wished to see local officials. They say that the sovereign carefully examined those who came and said to the provincial leader of the nobility: "I know them ..." And then he added in French that he had seen them at the performance of Gogol's "Inspector General". Indeed, Gogol made the officials of the district town the heroes of the comedy. Thanks to a seemingly simple plot, a passing petty official is mistaken for an inspector - the author reveals the life and customs of not only a provincial state town, but all of Russia.
What is Russia in miniature - a city from which "if you jump for three years, you won't reach any state." "There is a tavern on the streets, uncleanness!" Near the old fence, "what is near the shoemaker, ... all kinds of rubbish are piled on forty carts." A church at a charitable institution, "for which a sum was allocated five years ago, began to be built, but burned down ..." A depressing picture.
And how is life for "merchants" and "citizenship"? Some have been robbed, some have been whipped, some have bruises on their cheekbones from Derzhimorda's zeal; the prisoners are not fed, in hospitals there is a stench, uncleanness, and the sick "all get well like flies."
And all the fault is the extreme cynicism of actions and arbitrariness of the "pillars of the city" - those who, by virtue of their public duty, are called upon to resist lawlessness and to take care (take care) of the welfare of the townspeople. However, the conical effect in the play is precisely based on the discrepancy between the actions of the heroes and their social vocation. The governor, for example, proudly announces: "I have been living in the service for thirty years! I deceived three governors!" The judge echoes him: "I tell you frankly that I take bribes, but what bribes? Borzoi puppies. This is a completely different matter." The postmaster, having listened to the instruction: "print every letter a little like this," naively admits: "I know, I know, don't teach this, I am doing this not so much as a precaution, but more out of curiosity:" I love to know death what is new in the world. " ...
So, completely unscrupulousness, selfish calculation, abuse of official position - this is what constitutes the basis of the consciousness and activity of the "masters of life." But most importantly, Gogol will pull off the veil of secrecy from bribery - the most dangerous and widespread vice of the huge bureaucratic apparatus of Russia. No wonder during the monologue of the Governor "What are you laughing at? You are laughing at yourself!" the actor Shchepkin came close to the ramp and threw these words into the prim stalls, where there were many prototypes of Gogol's heroes, among whom, according to Mikhail Semyonovich himself, were half the "takers" and half the "givers".
And yet embezzlement, bribery, robbery of the population - all these inherently horrible phenomena - are shown by Gogol as everyday and completely natural. According to the deep conviction of Anton Antonovich, "there is no person who does not have any sins behind him," who would miss what "floats into his hands."
And now in the city the "incognito" inspector is an unexpectedly impending danger for all officials, but especially for the Governor. After all, the first demand from the father of the city, and his sins are more impressive: “not only fur coats and shawls, but coolies of goods from merchants, but also the state treasury, funds allocated for the improvement of the city, social needs are floating into his hands. you will correct: "you cannot take out mountains of garbage, you cannot cover voids and ruins with a straw milestone, you cannot build a church, and most importantly, you cannot silence all the offended."
But the whole point is that it is not an auditor who lives in the hotel, but a pitiful "elistress" who has squandered some money in St. Petersburg. According to the laws of the conical, Gogol endows his hero with a frightening surname, formed from the word to whip - to beat backhand. And the officials are in awe. The Governor himself did not recognize the "trick", "dummy". The even more frightened Anton Antonovich perceives each remark of the frightened Khlestakov in a completely different sense. However, everything was decided by a repeatedly tested remedy - a bribe. She confirmed the idea that the game went by all the rules. Now I would like to get the guest drunk and find out everything completely. Who among the auditors refused a tasty treat!
Eventually events turn in such a way that the inspector "field marshal" is already Anton Antonovich's son-in-law and patron of the family. The viewer is convinced that an extraordinary lightness of thought is characteristic not only of Khlestakov. She takes the Governor and his wife to St. Petersburg, where Anton Antonovich is going to "kill" the rank of general, there is hazelnut and smelt. And Anna Andreevna must have in her room "such an amber that it would be impossible to enter." And the newly-minted general is already triumphant, before whom everyone trembles and trembles: titular, mayor ... Despite the fact that the Governor had just experienced panic when he learned that the merchants complained about him, he is immensely happy. After all, now this fear will sneak through others in front of his person. It is tempting to see those trembling and trembling! Contempt for the lower and servility to the higher ranks - this is what lies at the basis of relationships in the bureaucratic world. Therefore, Gogol depicts the scene of congratulating the Gorodnichy's family with their happiness as a parade of hypocrisy, envy and arrogance.
Gogol promised Pushkin that the comedy would be "funnier than the devil," laughter permeates every episode, every scene of the comedy. However, by showing not private, but officials in whose hands is power over people, Gogol takes the stage action beyond the bounds of an anecdotal incident. His cheerful, but sharp and harsh word fights for the high calling of a person, an intelligent, noble life. I recall the words of Chernyshevsky: Gogol "was the first to introduce us to us in our present form ... The first taught us to know our shortcomings and to disdain them."

The period of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol's creativity coincided with the dark era of Nikolai I. After the suppression of the Decembrist uprising, all dissidents were brutally persecuted by the authorities. Describing reality, N.V. Gogol creates brilliant literary works full of life realities. All strata of Russian society are becoming the theme of his work - on the example of the customs and descriptions of a small district town. Gogol wrote that in The Inspector General, he finally decided to put together everything that was bad in Russian society that he saw and laugh at everything at once. The heroes of the comedy Gogol made officials of an ordinary district town. Thanks to a seemingly simple plot move (a minor official passing by is mistaken for an inspector), the author vividly and colorfully describes the types and heroes, their habits - in general, a description of Russia in miniature - a city from which you can ride for three years, but so no state can be reached. "There is a tavern on the streets, uncleanness!" Near the ancient fence, which is located near the shoemaker, "forty carts of all kinds of rubbish are piled on top of it." Even the church, which is located at a charitable institution, for the construction of which money was allocated five years ago, began to be built, but then burned down, and so it stands. How is life for the "merchants" and "citizenship"? Here, some are robbed, some are flogged by an official, some are beaten from Derzhimorda's hard work. In prisons, prisoners are not fed, in hospitals there is mud, and the sick "all get well like flies." Having learned that the visit of the inspector is imminent, officials immediately try to restore at least some order in the city.

Their actions are reduced to window dressing, to the observance of only external decency (removal of the hunting arapnik, who was hanging in the presence, cleaning and cleaning only the street along which the arriving inspector will drive). “As for the internal order ... I can say nothing ... There is no person who would not have any sins behind him. This is how God himself arranged it, ”says the mayor. Gogol shows the reader that life in a particular city directly depends on the attitude of officials to their service. Those who, by virtue of their duty, are called upon to resist the violation of the rule of law and care for the welfare of the townspeople, are mired in bribery, drunkenness, gambling and gossip. The governor proudly declares: “I have been living in the service for thirty years! He deceived three governors! "The judge does not lag behind him either:" I tell you frankly that I take bribes ... Greyhound puppies. This is ... a different matter. " Even the postmaster is ridiculed by Gogol.

When he is instructed to print out all the letters slightly, he naively admits: "I am doing this not so much out of precaution, but more out of curiosity: I love to know death what is new in the world." All images created by Gogol in the comedy "The Inspector General" embody typical features characteristic of officials from Nikolayev's Russia. Vulgar, two-faced, poorly educated - the most "educated" of the characters in the comedy is the judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin. He read five or six books in his entire life, therefore he is considered the most "well-read" and "somewhat free-thinker." Unscrupulousness, self-interest, various abuse of office — these are the customs of the district officials. It is interesting that embezzlement, bribery, robbery of the population, all these terrible social vices are shown by Gogol as everyday and even natural phenomena.