Relevance of images

In the artistic space of one of the most famous works of Gogol, landowners and persons in power are interconnected. Lies, bribery and desire for profit characterize each of the images of officials in Dead Souls. It's amazing how easily and naturally the author draws essentially disgusting portraits, and so skillfully that you don't doubt the authenticity of each character for a moment. Using the example of officials in the poem "Dead Souls" were shown the most pressing problems of the Russian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. In addition to serfdom, which hindered natural progress, the real problem was the vast bureaucratic apparatus, for the maintenance of which huge sums were allocated. The people in whose hands the power was concentrated worked only for the sake of accumulating their own capital and improving their well-being, robbing both the treasury and ordinary people. Many writers of that time addressed the topic of exposing officials: Gogol, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Dostoevsky.

Officials in Dead Souls

In "Dead Souls" there are no separately prescribed images of civil servants, but nevertheless the life and characters are shown very accurately. The images of the officials of the city of N appear from the first pages of the work. Chichikov, who decided to pay a visit to each of the mighty of this world, gradually acquaints the reader with the governor, the vice-governor, the prosecutor, the chairman of the chamber, the police chief, the postmaster and many others. Chichikov flattered everyone, as a result of which he managed to win over every important person, and all this is shown as a matter of course. The bureaucratic world was dominated by pomp, bordering on vulgarity, inappropriate pathos and farce. So, the governor's house during the usual dinner was lit up as if for a ball, the decoration dazzled the eyes, and the ladies were dressed in their best dresses.

Officials in the county town were of two types: the first were subtle and everywhere chased the ladies, trying to charm them with bad French and greasy compliments. Officials of the second type, according to the author, resembled Chichikov himself: not fat or thin, with round pockmarked faces and slicked hair, they looked sideways, trying to find an interesting or profitable business for themselves. At the same time, everyone tried to spoil each other, do some meanness, usually because of the ladies, but no one was going to shoot over such trifles. But at dinners they pretended that nothing was happening, discussed the Moskovskie Vesti, dogs, Karamzin, delicious dishes and gossip about officials from other departments.

When characterizing the prosecutor, Gogol combines the high and the low: “he was neither fat nor thin, he had Anna on his neck, and it was even said that he was presented to a star; however, he was a great good-natured person and sometimes even embroidered tulle himself ... "Note that nothing is said here about why this man received the award - the Order of St. Anne is awarded" to those who love truth, piety and fidelity, "and is also awarded for military merit. But after all, no battles or special episodes where piety and fidelity would be mentioned are not mentioned at all. The main thing is that the prosecutor is engaged in needlework, and not in his official duties. Sobakevich speaks unflatteringly about the prosecutor: the prosecutor, they say, is an idle person, therefore he sits at home, and works for him as a solicitor, a famous grabber. There is nothing to talk about - what order can there be if a person who does not understand the issue at all is trying to solve it while an authorized person is embroidering on tulle.

A similar trick is used when describing the postmaster, a serious and silent person, a short but witty and philosopher. Only in this case, various qualitative characteristics are combined in one row: "low", "but a philosopher." That is, here growth becomes an allegory for the mental abilities of this person.

The reaction to worries and reforms is also shown very ironically: from new appointments and the number of papers, civil servants are losing weight ("And the chairman lost weight, and the inspector of the medical board lost weight, and the prosecutor lost weight, and some Semyon Ivanovich ... and he lost weight"), but there were and those who courageously kept themselves in their former form. And the meetings, according to Gogol, were successful only when it was possible to have a party or dine, but this, of course, is not the fault of the officials, but the mentality of the people.

In Dead Souls, Gogol portrays officials only at dinners, playing whist or other card games. Only once does the reader see officials at the workplace, when Chichikov came to draw up a bill of sale for the peasants. In the department, Pavel Ivanovich is unequivocally hinted that things will not be done without a bribe, and there is nothing to say about a quick solution to the issue without a certain amount. This is confirmed by the chief of police, who “has only to blink, passing by the fish row or cellar,” and he gets balyks and good wines. No request is considered without a bribe.

Officials in "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin"

The most cruel is the story of Captain Kopeikin. A disabled war veteran, in search of truth and help, travels from the Russian hinterland to the capital to ask for an audience with the tsar himself. Kopeikin's hopes are dashed against a terrible reality: while cities and villages are in poverty and receive less money, the capital is chic. The meeting with the king and dignitaries is constantly postponed. Completely desperate, Captain Kopeikin sneaks into the reception room of a high-ranking official, demanding that his issue be immediately brought up for consideration, otherwise he, Kopeikin, will not leave the office. The official assures the veteran that now the assistant will take the latter to the emperor himself, and for a second the reader believes in a happy outcome - he rejoices with Kopeikin riding in the chaise, hopes and believes in the best. However, the story ends disappointingly: after this incident, no one else met Kopeikin. This episode is actually frightening, because human life turns out to be an insignificant trifle, from the loss of which the entire system will not suffer at all.

When Chichikov's scam was revealed, they were in no hurry to arrest Pavel Ivanovich, because they could not understand whether he was the kind of person who needed to be detained, or one who would detain everyone himself and make everyone guilty. The characterization of officials in Dead Souls can be the words of the author himself that these are people who sit quietly on the sidelines, accumulate capital and arrange their lives at the expense of others. Excitement, bureaucracy, bribery, nepotism and meanness - this is what characterized the people who ruled in Russia in the 19th century.

Product test

In what works of Russian classics are the customs of the bureaucracy depicted and in what way do these works have something in common with Gogol's "The Inspector General"?

Read the passage below and complete tasks B1-B7; C1-C2.

Bobchinsky<...> We were just at the hotel, when suddenly a young man ...

Dobchinsky (interrupting). Not bad-looking, in a particular dress ...

: Bobchinsky. Not bad-looking, in a particular dress, she walks around the room that way, and in her face there is such reasoning ... physiognomy ... actions, and here (twirls his hand near his forehead)... many, many things. As if I had a presentiment and say to Pyotr Ivanovich: "There is something here for a reason, sir." Yes. And Pyotr Ivanovich had already blinked his finger and called the innkeeper, the innkeeper Vlas: his wife gave birth to him three weeks ago, and such a perky boy will, like his father, maintain the inn. Calling Vlas, Pyotr Ivanovich and ask him on the sly: “Who, he says, is this young man? "- and Vlas replies to this:" This, "- says ... Eh, don't interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich, please don't interrupt; you won't tell, by God, you won't tell: you whisper; you, I know, have one tooth in your mouth with a whistle ... “This, he says, is a young man, an official — yes, sir — traveling from Petersburg, and by his last name, he says, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, sir, he says to the Saratov province and, he says, he attests himself strangely: he has been living for another week, does not go from the tavern, takes everything into account and does not want to pay a penny. " As he told me this, and so above and enlightened me. “Eh! "- I say to Pyotr Ivanovich ...

Dobchinsky. No, Pyotr Ivanovich, I said: “eh! "

Bobchinsky. First you said, and then I said. “Eh! - Pyotr Ivanovich and I said. - And why should he sit here when his road lies in the Saratov province? "Yes, sir. But he is this official.

Governor. Who, what official?

Bobchinsky. The official, the one about whom they deigned to receive the notation, is the auditor.

Governor (in fear)... What are you, the Lord be with you! It's not him.

Dobchinsky. Is he! and does not pay money and does not travel. Who would be if not him? And the road is registered in Saratov.

Bobchinsky. He, he, by God he ... So observant: he looked at everything. I saw that Pyotr Ivanovich and I were eating salmon - more because Pyotr Ivanovich about his stomach ... yes, so he looked into our plates. I was filled with fear.

Governor. Lord, have mercy on us sinners! Where does he live there?

Dobchinsky. In the fifth room, under the stairs.

Bobchinsky. In the same room where the visiting officers fought last year.

Governor. How long has he been here?

Dobchinsky. And two weeks already. Came to Vasily Egyptian.

Governor. Two weeks! (To the side.) Fathers, matchmakers! Endure, holy saints! In these two weeks a non-commissioned officer's wife was carved! The prisoners were not given provisions! There is a tavern on the streets, filth! A shame! reproach! (Grabs his head.)

Artemy Filippovich. Well, Anton Antonovich? - parade to the hotel.

Ammos Fedorovich. No no! Put your head forward, clergy, merchants; that's in the book "Acts of John the Freemason" ...

Governor. No no; let me myself. There were difficult cases in life, went, and even received thanks. Perhaps God will endure now. (Turning to Bobchinsky.) You say he's a young man?

Bobchinsky. Young, about twenty-three or four years old.

Governor. So much the better: you will soon get a taste of the young. The trouble is, if the old devil, and the young one is all above. You, gentlemen, get ready for your part, and I will go on my own, or at least with Pyotr Ivanovich, privately, for a walk, to visit, whether the passing people are not in trouble ...

N. V. Gogol "The Inspector General"

Indicate the genre to which the play by N. V. Gogol "The Inspector General" belongs.

Explanation.

The play "The Inspector General" by N. V. Gogol belongs to the genre of comedy. Let's give a definition.

Comedy is a dramatic work, by means of satire and humor ridiculing the vices of society and man.

In the comedy, Gogol denounces the lazy and careless officials who rush about because of the arrival of the "inspector". The small town is a miniature copy of the state.

Answer: comedy.

Answer: comedy

Name the literary trend that flourished in the second half of the 19th century and whose principles were embodied in Gogol's play.

Explanation.

This literary movement is called realism. Let's give a definition.

Realism is a true portrayal of reality.

Realism in "The Inspector General" is shown by typical characters of that time: careless officials.

Answer: realism.

Answer: Realism

The above fragment conveys a lively conversation between the characters. What is the name of this form of communication between characters in a work of art?

Explanation.

This form of communication is called dialogue. Let's give a definition.

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more persons in a work of art. In a dramatic work, the dialogue of the characters is one of the main artistic means for creating an image and character.

Answer: dialogue.

Answer: dialogue | polylogue

Indicate the term used for the author's remarks and explanations during the course of the play ("interrupting", "in fear", etc.)

Explanation.

Such author's comments are called remarks. Let's give a definition. A remark is a commentary by an author that supplements the content of a work.

Answer: remark.

Answer: remark | remarks

The play is based on the confrontation between city officials and an imaginary inspector. What is the name of opposition, opposition, which serves as a stimulus for the development of action?

Explanation.

This confrontation is called conflict. Let's give a definition.

Conflict is a clash of opposing views of the characters in the epic, drama, in the works of the lyric-epic genre, as well as in the lyrics, if there is a plot in it. The conflict is realized in the verbal and physical actions of the actors. The conflict unfolds through the plot.

Answer: conflict.

Answer: Conflict

Julia Milach 02.03.2017 16:26

In training books, the answers to such tasks are written "antithesis / contrast", which implies the correctness of both options. Even among the tasks on your site, which ask the same thing, somewhere the correct answer is recognized as an antithesis, and somewhere a contrast.

Tatiana Statsenko

Conflict is not the same as contrast. What does contrast have to do with this task?

Scenes of reading the letter and the appearance of Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky with the news of the auditor give a course to the main events of the play. Indicate a term for this stage in the development of an action.

Explanation.

This stage of development is called the set. Let's give a definition.

A set is an event that begins the development of an action in a literary and artistic work.

Governor. I invited you, gentlemen, in order to tell you the unpleasant news: an auditor is coming to us.

Ammos Fedorovich. How is the auditor?

Artemy Filippovich. How is the auditor?

Governor. An auditor from St. Petersburg, incognito. And also with a secret prescription.

Ammos Fedorovich. Here are the ones on! "..."

Answer: a tie.

Answer: Stitch

Explanation.

The morals of the bureaucracy are a topical topic for Russian classical literature of the 19th century. The theme raised by Gogol in The Inspector General, The Overcoat, brilliantly developed by him in Dead Souls, was reflected in the stories of A. P. Chekhov: "Thick and Thin", "Death of an Official" and others. Distinctive features of officials in the work of Gogol and Chekhov are bribery, stupidity, money-grubbing, inability to develop and fulfill the main function assigned to them - the management of the city, province, state. Let's remember the officials of the county town from "Dead Souls". Their interests are limited to their own pocket and entertainment, they see the meaning of life in reverence for rank, and the officials in the above passage from The Inspector General appear to be such a prerogative. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, Ammos Fedorovich, even the mayor - each of them has something to fear, this fear does not allow them to see the true face of Khlestakov, but they frantically try to extricate themselves from an unpleasant situation by any means. In Chekhov's stories, the official is so insignificant that he is ready to die of fear of a higher rank (“Death of an official”), this is the path from the official Gogol to the official of Chekhov - complete degradation.

The main character of N. V. Gogol's play "The Inspector General" is the county town N. This is a collective image that includes both the city itself and its inhabitants, their manners, customs, outlook on life, etc.
The work is preceded by an epigraph taken by the playwright from folklore: "There is no reason to blame the mirror if the face is crooked." Thus, the author warns readers that everything that he described is true, and not fiction, or, even more so, slander.

Gogol depicts the life of a typical city, of which there were many throughout Russia. It is no coincidence that he does not give him a specific name. The author has in mind a certain city, of which there are many examples. We find out that he is in the very outback ("from here, even if you ride for three years, you won't get to any state"). The "set" of officials who run the city is quite typical: a judge, a trustee of charitable institutions, a superintendent of schools, a postmaster. And all this, like a little king, is ruled by the mayor.
The author shows us the life of all areas of the city, how they are managed. And we understand that everything here is absolutely typical for Russia and relevant today.
It is important that we get a fairly complete picture of the county town. In our head we get the idea of \u200b\u200bit as an architectural object. The main action of the play takes place in the mayor's house. In addition, we are transported to the tavern where the imaginary auditor stopped. From the remarks and words of the characters, we get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe meager atmosphere in Khlestakov's room.
In addition, from the dialogues of the heroes, we learn other information about the city: about the bridge, about the old fence near the shoemaker, about that and near this fence "a lot of all sorts of rubbish", about the booth where pies are sold. We also know that the city has a school, offices, post office, hospital, and so on. But all this is in an abandoned and deplorable state, because officials do not care about this at all. They are, first of all, interested in their own benefit. Based on this, the entire city administration is built.
Apart from the bureaucracy, other estates also inhabit N. The auditor, giving orders, speaks of citizenship, clergy, merchants, philistines. From the very beginning, we learn that all these estates endure oppression and insults from officials: “What have you done with the merchant Chernyaev - huh? He gave you two arshins of cloth for your uniform, and you pulled off the whole thing. Look! you take it out of order! "
We get acquainted with representatives of different classes and directly. They all come with requests to the "official" Khlestakov. First, the merchants beat him with the forehead. They complain about the mayor, who "inflicts such offenses that cannot be described." It is important that merchants are ready to give bribes, but "there should be a measure for everything."
In addition, a locksmith and a non-commissioned officer's wife come to Khlestakov. And they also complain about the mayor, who creates in the city, whatever he wants. And nothing is a decree to him - neither the law, nor the conscience.
Thus, we understand that all residents of the city, regardless of their social and material status, are united by one thing - the arrogant atrocities of officials.
We are convinced of them throughout the play. The very first sin of the mayor and his charges is bribery and theft. All officials care only about their pockets, thinking little about the inhabitants of the city. At the very beginning of the play, we see how the sick are treated in N., how children are taught, how justice works there. The sick in the city "die like flies", public places are messy and dirty, the teachers of the school are drunk every day, and so on. We understand that city dwellers are not considered people - this is just a way to live well and fill your wallet.
But the officials themselves are not satisfied with life in N. We see that the governor, like his family, dreams of Petersburg. That's where real life is! And Khlestakov, with his invented stories, awakens these dreams in Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, makes him hope.

In my articles, I have repeatedly mentioned that the Trans-Urals has always been a well-fed and rich region. Not only merchants, but also peasants had large capital. For example, the fortune of some trading peasants exceeded by several times the capital of merchants of the III, and sometimes the II guilds. And nevertheless, the peasants, for some reason, did not enter the merchant class. I would like to publish a short story (memoirs) from the life of a trading peasant from Kurtamysh (now the Kurgan region), and then a merchant of the II guild Kuzma Aleksandrovich Yugov, which in some way explains why he became a merchant, although he did not really want to. And also about the arbitrariness of officials of tsarist Russia. But first I would like to mention that between the young peasant Yugov and the Zemsky chief Peter Vladimirovich Lavrentyev, there was a small conflict, which, due to the revenge and abuse of official position, the Zemsky chief grew to enormous proportions. And, of course, a lot of money was involved in such cases. Began all kinds of checks Yugov, as a volost clerk, revisions, which took a lot of time and effort. Not finding any legitimate reasons for Yugov's dismissal, nit-picking began against him on any occasion. However, a legally literate peasant easily repelled all the attacks of the local "bosses".

“Zemsky chief has turned into a strict auditor. For two days and two evenings he carried out his thorough revision, but he did not find any shortcomings, and even less abuse. About a month later, a certain type comes to the volost with an order from Zemsky to conduct a thorough audit. The consequences of this revision came to light in the fact that the investigator Chikov came to Kaminskaya with a resolution on bringing me to trial for abuse of service. However, all the charges were denied by me, and the investigator wrote out a resolution to dismiss the case. Can you imagine Lavrentyev's irritation ?! But he continues to attack me.

The volost foreman Makhov is riding a pair of horses. I stood at my shop, far from the road and put the goods in the cart, preparing for the fair in Kurtamysh. The watchman runs with the order of the foreman: immediately go to the parish. I come, the foreman asks:

Did you see how I drove?

If you saw, why didn't you bow?

Is it really necessary? Hats are removed only in front of the Bishop's carriage when they see him.

A clerk write a resolution to arrest Yugov for two days for disrespecting his superiors. Wrote? Subscribe Yugov.

I take a pen and roll it out to all the crusts: that he was driving so fast that at first I could not recognize behind the distance and clouds of dust, but only when he passed, I guessed that it was the foreman who passed, i.e. "Boss," as he calls himself. Please give a copy of the resolution.

When you have served, then you will receive.

I answer that I am going to the fair, and if you arrest me, you will disrupt my trade. Then, for your information, I inform you that your resolution of the Peasant Presence will be canceled as illegal, and then I will prosecute you for wrongful imprisonment and sue for the damages caused by my trade by delaying me under arrest, since I am deprived of my trip to fair.

Well, when you didn't recognize me at first, then I forgive you for that.

Then you write that you consider this decree invalid, and cancel it.

After checking what the clerk wrote and the foreman signed, I sit down on the bench, along with the driver and the peasant Ivan Postovalov. And again I heard the call of the foreman:

Now you are in again - why sat down in a public place? Clerk! Write a new resolution - For two days!

He grimaced and began to write. Signing the new decree, I make the remark that when I had an explanation for the first decree, out of respect for his position, I stood in front of the foreman all the time, sat down, when the whole incident had already been settled. They even sit in state courts and institutions when the interrogation of the accused is over. I sat with me: the coachman and the peasant Postovalov, but for some reason the foreman does not make these demands to them. I repeated it all out loud, and my interlocutors quickly fled from the volost.

Kurtamysh. n. XX century.

From the window of my room I see: the watchman is leading the driver and the peasant Postovalov, and their foreman arrested them because they were sitting in a public place. After some time, the foreman calls me and says:

Forgive me, Kuzma Alexandrovich, because I didn’t want to do this just now, but by order of the Zemsky chief. He ordered, as soon as I arrive in the parish, then immediately arrest you, finding fault with something.

Well, so what do you intend to do with me now?

I threw it all away and released the arrested driver and Postovalov.

To make sure, I went to the volost, it turned out that the Resolution was canceled, "fucked up", as the foreman said. Having survived these troubles, I twisted with my goods and went to the fair, but seeing no end to such incidents, I chose merchant rights in my name in Kurtamysh. This guaranteed me against such attacks from various "bosses". Here's a story.

In what works of Russian classics are the customs of the bureaucracy depicted, and in what way do these works have something in common with Gogol's "Inspector General"?

Bobchinsky We were just at the hotel, when suddenly a young man ...

Dobchinsky (interrupting). Not bad-looking, in a particular dress ...

Bobchinsky. Not bad-looking, in a particular dress, walks around the room that way, and in her face there is a sort of reasoning ... physiognomy ... actions, and here too (twirls his hand near his forehead). many, many things. As if I had a presentiment and say to Pyotr Ivanovich: "There is something here for a reason, sir." Yes. And Pyotr Ivanovich had already blinked his finger and called the innkeeper, the innkeeper Vlas: his wife gave birth to him three weeks ago, and such a perky boy will, like his father, maintain the inn. Calling Vlas, Pyotr Ivanovich and ask him on the sly: “Who, he says, is this young man? "- and Vlas replies to this:" This, "- says ... Eh, don't interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich, please don't interrupt; you won't tell, by God, you won't tell: you whisper; you, I know, have one tooth in your mouth with a whistle ... “This, he says, is a young man, an official — yes, sir — traveling from Petersburg, and by his last name, he says, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, sir, he says to the Saratov province and, he says, he attests himself strangely: he has been living for another week, does not go from the tavern, takes everything into account and does not want to pay a penny. " As he told me this, and so above and enlightened me. “Eh! "- I say to Pyotr Ivanovich ...

Dobchinsky. No, Pyotr Ivanovich, I said: “eh! "

Bobchinsky. First you said, and then I said. “Eh! - Pyotr Ivanovich and I said. - And why should he sit here when his road lies in the Saratov province? "Yes, sir. But he is this official.

Governor. Who, what official?

Bobchinsky. The official, the one about whom they deigned to receive the notation, is the auditor.

Governor (in fear). What are you, the Lord be with you! It's not him.

Dobchinsky. Is he! and does not pay money and does not travel. Who would be if not him? And the road is registered in Saratov.

Bobchinsky. He, he, by God he is ... So observant: he looked at everything. I saw that Pyotr Ivanovich and I were eating salmon - more because Pyotr Ivanovich about his stomach ... yes, so he looked into our plates. I was filled with fear.

Governor. Lord, have mercy on us sinners! Where does he live there?

Dobchinsky. In the fifth room, under the stairs.

Bobchinsky. In the same room where the visiting officers fought last year.

Governor. How long has he been here?

Dobchinsky. And two weeks already. Came to Vasily Egyptian.

Governor. Two weeks! (Aside.) Fathers, matchmakers! Endure, holy saints! During these two weeks a non-commissioned officer's wife was carved! The prisoners were not given provisions! There is a tavern on the streets, filth! A shame! reproach! (Grabs his head.)

Artemy Filippovich. Well, Anton Antonovich? - parade to the hotel.

Ammos Fedorovich. No no! Put your head forward, clergy, merchants; that's in the book "Acts of John the Freemason" ...

Governor. No no; let me myself. There were difficult cases in my life, I went, I even received thanks. Perhaps God will endure now. (Turning to Bobchinsky.) You say he is a young man?

Bobchinsky. Young, about twenty-three or four years old.

Governor. So much the better: the young one will sooner smell. The trouble is, if the old devil, and the young one is all above. You, gentlemen, get ready for your part, and I will go on my own, or at least with Pyotr Ivanovich, privately, for a walk, to visit, whether the passing people are not in trouble ...

N. V. Gogol "The Inspector General"

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Russian classics in their works often covered the customs of officials in Russia. So, in the comedy of Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov "Woe from Wit" shows "Famus society". It depicts "servants of the people" who defend the old order, advocate worship and groveling before the higher ranks. A prominent representative of this society is Molchalin, a hypocritical and unprincipled young man. He is obsequious and immoral ("After all, one must depend on others ... // We are small in ranks"). The comedies "The Inspector General" and "Woe from Wit" are similar in that the officials described in them (mayor, Strawberry