Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol needs no introduction. He is known, in particular, for combating the shortcomings of modern society with the help of laughter. In 1835, Gogol decided to compose a play that would represent truly Russian vices and characters. So in 1836 the comedy "The Inspector General" was born. Its main character is Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov. Today we will talk about why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor, a large official from St. Petersburg. After all, it would seem that his true position in society was not difficult to guess.
News of the imminent arrival of the auditor
In order to answer the question of why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor, it is necessary to turn to the very beginning of the work. Gogol's comedy begins with the fact that Anton Antonovich, the mayor, gathers officials together and says that he has "unpleasant news" for everyone. It turns out that soon an auditor should come from St. Petersburg with an inspection. At the same time, it is not known how he will look and when exactly he is going to arrive. This news, naturally, shocked the officials of the city N. It brought some confusion to their measured and lazy life.
State of affairs in town N
It should be said that the officials were bribe-takers. Each of them is concerned only with how to get more money. It seems that at that time in the city of N, spending by officials of the city treasury and receiving bribes were common things. Even the law was powerless against this.
The governor, for example, justified himself by the fact that his salary was insufficient. It was allegedly not enough even for tea with sugar. As for the city judge, he did not at all consider that he was a bribe-taker, since he took not money, but puppies. The postmaster of the city of N. also distinguished himself. To obtain information, he opened other people's letters.
Undoubtedly, such an irresponsible attitude of officials to their official duties ultimately led to the fact that the city fell into desolation. It is clear that the news of the upcoming inspection alarmed the local elite. It's no wonder why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor in this turmoil.
Preparing for the arrival of the auditor
While waiting for the arrival of the authorities with a check, each of the officials began to frantically remember what needs to be done. Finally, they all began to make attempts to restore order in their departments. There was a lot of work. Servants in the courthouse were drying clothes and raising geese. Patients in the local hospital smoked tobacco and wore dirty clothes. The church was supposed to be built a long time ago, 5 years ago, but its opening did not take place. The governor told everyone to say that the fire destroyed this building. It was ordered to demolish the old fence near the shoemaker. In its place it was ordered to put a model made of straw. The mayor Anton Antonovich himself, looking at such a deplorable state of affairs, self-critically admitted that it was a "nasty city".
Arrival of Khlestakov
City officials, of course, were afraid of their superiors. Therefore, they were ready to see an inspector from the capital in any visitor. That is why the officials took Khlestakov for an auditor. When the rumor spread that some unknown person had been living in the hotel in the city of N for a long time, everyone decided that this stranger was bound to be an inspector. In addition, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov (that was the name of the guest) arrived from St. Petersburg and was dressed in the latest metropolitan fashion. Indeed, why should a resident of the capital come to a district town? There can be only one answer: to check! We hope that it is now clear to you why the officials took Khlestakov for an auditor.
Meeting of the "auditor" with the mayor
Ivan Alexandrovich's meeting with the mayor is very curious. The latter, in a panic, put a box on his head instead of a hat. The governor distributed the last assignments to his subordinates on the way before meeting with an important guest.
The comic scene of the meeting of these heroes lies in the fact that both of them are afraid. Khlestakov was threatened by the innkeeper that he would hand him over to the mayor, and he would be sent to prison. And then the mayor appears ... Both heroes are afraid of each other. Ivan Aleksandrovich also shouts loudly and gets excited, which makes his guest tremble even more with fear. The mayor tries to bribe him to appease him, invites the "inspector" to stay with him. Having met an unexpectedly warm welcome, Khlestakov calms down. At first Ivan Alexandrovich does not even suspect who the mayor thinks he is. He does not immediately think about why he was received so warmly. Khlestakov is completely sincere and truthful. He turned out to be simpler, not more cunning, because he did not intend to deceive at first. However, the mayor believes that the auditor is thus trying to hide who he really is. If Ivan Aleksandrovich were a conscientious liar, he would have a much better chance of being unraveled and understood. The way Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor is very significant. The general fear did not allow the officials and the governor to open their eyes.
How Khlestakov played his role in the comedy "The Inspector General"
Note that Ivan Alexandrovich was not at a loss in the future either. He performed the role imposed by the circumstances superbly. At first Khlestakov thought, seeing the officials and the mayor, that they had arrived in order to put him in prison for non-payment of the hotel debt. However, then he realized that he was mistaken for some high-ranking official. And Ivan Alexandrovich was not averse to taking advantage of this. At first, he easily borrowed money from each of the city officials.
Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General" became a respected person and a welcome guest in any home. He charmed the mayor's daughter and wife, and even offered his daughter to marry him.
Scene of lies
The scene of Ivan Alexandrovich's lies is the culmination of the work. Khlestakov as an auditor, having drunk a fair amount, says that he has an excellent position in the capital. He is familiar with Pushkin, dines with the minister, is an irreplaceable employee. And in his free time, Khlestakov allegedly writes musical and literary works.
It seems that because of his lies, he is about to be exposed, but the local public catches his every word and believes in all kinds of absurdities. Osip, Ivan Alexandrovich's servant, turns out to be the only one who understood the mistake made by Khlestakov. Fearing for his master, he takes him out of town N.
Deception is revealed
Imagine the city officials when they discovered that they had been deceived by some petty clerk who had arrived from St. Petersburg! In the play, a fight further ensues between them. Each of them seeks to find out who failed to recognize the impostor, why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor. However, the misadventures of city N officials do not end there. After all, the news comes that a real auditor has arrived! This concludes the play.
The goodie of the play
Nikolai Vasilievich was often reproached for the fact that there are no positive characters in his work. Gogol replied that there is still one such character - laughter.
So, we answered the question: "Why was Khlestakov mistaken for an auditor?" Briefly summarizing what has been said above, we note that fear is the main cause of universal error. It is he who is the engine of the plot in the work of Gogol and creates a situation of delusion. It is the fear of losing warm places and the fear of verification that gives rise to which absolutely all the characters of the comedy fall.
answer the questions promptly (("The Inspector General" N.V. Gogol 1 act 1. Why each of the officials gathered at the mayor's, and most of all himselfmayor, afraid of the auditor?
2. Why did Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky take Khlestakov for an auditor? What finally convinced their listeners that the visiting official was really an auditor?
3. What causes laughter in the behavior and speech of the characters (for example, the mayor, Ammos Fedorovich, postmaster, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky)?
4. In "Notes for Messrs. Actors" Gogol characterizes the governor as "a very intelligent person in his own way." Is it possible to draw such a conclusion based on the first act of the comedy?
5. How does the speech of the mayor change when he addresses the district and private bailiff? Why?
6. Prepare a written or oral report on the topic "What orders prevail in the county town"?
In Gogol's comedy, there is no name for the district town in which the events take place. By this the writer wanted to show that such a state of power, officials,order in the city was typical for most cities of that time. Describe the city to which the inspector arrived: its location relative to the capital, the border, how well-equipped the city is, what disturbances the author draws our attention to. (D.1)
Why did the mayor believe that the young man, eagerly looking at what the hotel guests eat and not paying for two weeks money for housing and food, is the inspector? (D.1)
Khlestakov just can't decide with whom to flirt: with the governor's wife Anna Andreevna or his daughter Marya Antonovna. But how did the heroines themselves react to the "inspector" Khlestakov? (D.4)
How did each of the officials who visited Khlestakov at the mayor's house with petitions and money presentations behaved?
The officials, reflecting on the rank of Khlestakov, assume that "the general will not stand a candle to him! And when the general, then really the generalissimo himself." Meanwhile, out of fear of the "important" person, they did not notice that Khlestakov himself let slip about his true rank: "They even wanted to make a collegiate assessor, yes, I think why." That is, the rank of the young man was even lower than that. What was Khlestakov's rank actually? (D 2)
Once again, carefully reread The Silent Scene in the comedy finale. What is its significance, in your opinion?
This official is a passionate hunter. Even in the institution subordinate to him there is "a hunting arapnik" above the cabinet with papers. Name the hero, what is he in charge of in the city? (D.1)
It was this hero who began to report to the "auditor" Khlestakov about how things really are in city institutions, when he visited him at the mayor's house, along with other officials. Name it. (D.4)
One of the employees of this institution has such a violent disposition that he is ready not only to beat furniture, but to lose his life - "for science." Name the institution and the official who is in charge of it. (D.1)
This hero asked Khlestakov: "As you go to Petersburg, tell all the different nobles there: senators and admirals, that, your Excellency, he lives in such and such a city :." Who wanted to inform all the capital's nobles about themselves? (D.4)
mayor, afraid of the auditor?
2. Why did Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky take Khlestakov for an auditor? What finally convinced their listeners that the visiting official was really an auditor?
3. What causes laughter in the behavior and speech of the characters (for example, the mayor, Ammos Fedorovich, postmaster, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky)?
4. In "Notes for Messrs. Actors" Gogol characterizes the governor as "a very intelligent person in his own way." Is it possible to draw such a conclusion based on the first act of the comedy?
5. How does the speech of the mayor change when he addresses the district and private bailiff? Why?
6. Prepare a written or oral report on the topic "What orders prevail in the county town"?
In Gogol's comedy, there is no name for the district town in which the events take place. By this the writer wanted to show that such a state of power, officials,order in the city was typical for most cities of that time. Describe the city to which the inspector arrived: its location relative to the capital, the border, how well-equipped the city is, what disturbances the author draws our attention to. (D.1)
Why did the mayor believe that the young man, eagerly looking at what the hotel guests eat and not paying for two weeks money for housing and food, is the inspector? (D.1)
Khlestakov just can't decide with whom to flirt: with the governor's wife Anna Andreevna or his daughter Marya Antonovna. But how did the heroines themselves react to the "inspector" Khlestakov? (D.4)
How did each of the officials who visited Khlestakov at the mayor's house with petitions and money presentations behaved?
The officials, reflecting on the rank of Khlestakov, assume that "the general will not stand a candle to him! And when the general, then really the generalissimo himself." Meanwhile, out of fear of the "important" person, they did not notice that Khlestakov himself let slip about his true rank: "They even wanted to make a collegiate assessor, yes, I think why." That is, the rank of the young man was even lower than that. What was Khlestakov's rank actually? (D 2)
Once again, carefully reread The Silent Scene in the comedy finale. What is its significance, in your opinion?
This official is a passionate hunter. Even in the institution subordinate to him there is "a hunting arapnik" above the cabinet with papers. Name the hero, what is he in charge of in the city? (D.1)
It was this hero who began to report to the "auditor" Khlestakov about how things really are in city institutions, when he visited him at the mayor's house, along with other officials. Name it. (D.4)
One of the employees of this institution has such a violent disposition that he is ready not only to beat furniture, but to lose his life - "for science." Name the institution and the official who is in charge of it. (D.1)
This hero asked Khlestakov: "As you go to Petersburg, tell all the different nobles there: senators and admirals, that, your Excellency, he lives in such and such a city :." Who wanted to inform all the capital's nobles about themselves? (D.4)
mayor, afraid of the auditor?
2. Why did Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky take Khlestakov for an auditor? What finally convinced their listeners that the visiting official was really an auditor?
3. What causes laughter in the behavior and speech of the characters (for example, the mayor, Ammos Fedorovich, postmaster, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky)?
4. In "Notes for Messrs. Actors" Gogol characterizes the governor as "a very intelligent person in his own way." Is it possible to draw such a conclusion based on the first act of the comedy?
5. How does the speech of the mayor change when he addresses the district and private bailiff? Why?
6. Prepare a written or oral report on the topic "What orders prevail in the county town"?
In Gogol's comedy, there is no name for the district town in which the events take place. By this the writer wanted to show that such a state of power, officials,order in the city was typical for most cities of that time. Describe the city to which the inspector arrived: its location relative to the capital, the border, how well-equipped the city is, what disturbances the author draws our attention to. (D.1)
Why did the mayor believe that the young man, eagerly looking at what the hotel guests eat and not paying for two weeks money for housing and food, is the inspector? (D.1)
Khlestakov just can't decide with whom to flirt: with the governor's wife Anna Andreevna or his daughter Marya Antonovna. But how did the heroines themselves react to the "inspector" Khlestakov? (D.4)
How did each of the officials who visited Khlestakov at the mayor's house with petitions and money presentations behaved?
The officials, reflecting on the rank of Khlestakov, assume that "the general will not stand a candle to him! And when the general, then really the generalissimo himself." Meanwhile, out of fear of the "important" person, they did not notice that Khlestakov himself let slip about his true rank: "They even wanted to make a collegiate assessor, yes, I think why." That is, the rank of the young man was even lower than that. What was Khlestakov's rank actually? (D 2)
Once again, carefully reread The Silent Scene in the comedy finale. What is its significance, in your opinion?
This official is a passionate hunter. Even in the institution subordinate to him there is "a hunting arapnik" above the cabinet with papers. Name the hero, what is he in charge of in the city? (D.1)
It was this hero who began to report to the "auditor" Khlestakov about how things really are in city institutions, when he visited him at the mayor's house, along with other officials. Name it. (D.4)
One of the employees of this institution has such a violent disposition that he is ready not only to beat furniture, but to lose his life - "for science." Name the institution and the official who is in charge of it. (D.1)
This hero asked Khlestakov: "As you go to Petersburg, tell all the different nobles there: senators and admirals, that, your Excellency, he lives in such and such a city :." Who wanted to inform all the capital's nobles about themselves? (D.4)