What a mayor was. The governor in Gogol's comedy “The Inspector General. The character of the mayor in Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General"

The mayor in the district town is the hero of the famous comedy N.V. Gogol's "The Inspector General", one of the colorful representatives of the work.

His name is Anton Antonovich Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky, he is over 50 years old, most of which he gave to the service.

At the beginning of the comedy, he informs the city that an inspector is coming to them, thereby causing general panic.

It is he who owns the famous phrase "The inspector is coming to us."

Characteristics of the hero

Anton Antonovich is a local mayor, he manages all affairs in the city, has great authority among local residents. Thanks to his managerial qualities and a special outlook on life, the city is in ruin, a mess. The unfinished church, the disorder, all this is the work of our hero.

He is a representative of a greedy, thieving bureaucracy who will always find benefits for himself. Despite his position, he is afraid of people who are higher in rank or career ladder. Has a difficult character.

Anton Antonovich loves money very much. He never abandons a business if he knows that it will bring benefits and material benefits to him. The governor takes bribes, he is not ashamed of it.

As for social status, in his environment he is considered an intelligent and noble person who is worth listening to. He has weight in society and it is customary to reckon with his word.

Periodically, the mayor goes to church and tries to atone for his sins, sincerely believing that after visiting the church he becomes a pure soul. The hero feels in the depths of his soul that he is behaving incorrectly, but he cannot and does not want to change anything.

(Marya - daughter and Anna Andreevna - wife of the Governor)

Anton Antonovich has a speaking surname Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky. He was stealing so much that he is afraid even of his own shadow. But, despite all the negative traits, he is an excellent organizer and speaker. Despite the fact that the mayor comes from a simple family, he managed to achieve a fairly high position in society.

The image of the hero in the work

The hero personifies human vices - greed, stinginess, love of money, collected in a single character. Gogol described the character and appearance of his character in great detail, making notes for the actors:

“... The governor, who has already grown old in the service and is a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; rather serious;

somewhat even reasonable; speaks neither loudly nor softly, neither more nor less.

His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and tough, like anyone who has begun a heavy service from the lowest ranks.

The transition from fear to joy, from baseness to arrogance is quite quick, as in a person with roughly developed inclinations of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is cropped, with gray ... "

(The central plot of the comedy: "The governor informs about the arrival of the inspector", Artist A.I. Konstantinovsky)

Governor. "Inspector". Quotation characteristic
Author's characteristic
"... The governor, already aged in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very solidly; rather serious; somewhat even reasonable; speaks neither loudly, nor quietly, neither more nor less. His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and harsh, like anyone who has begun a heavy service from lower ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from baseness to arrogance is quite quick, like a man with roughly developed inclinations of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform. with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is cropped, with gray ... "(N. V. Gogol," Notes for Messrs. Actors ")
Quotation characteristic
Name - Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky: "... Anton Antonovich Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky, mayor ..."
Appearance: "... bring a sword and a new hat from there ..." "... Oh, you fat-nosed! .."
Age: he has been serving as an official for 30 years, that is, he, apparently, is about 50 years old: "... I have been living in the service for thirty years ..."
Attitude to the service: performs his duties poorly and offends citizens: "... There has never been such a governor, sir. He mends such offenses that cannot be described ..."
An experienced cheater. He knows how to deceive even the most cunning people: "... I have been living in the service for thirty years; not a single merchant or contractor could cheat; he cheated swindlers on swindlers, rascals and rogues such that they are ready to steal from the whole world, cheated three governors. deceived! .. That the governors! (waved his hand) there is nothing to say about the governors ... "" ... Really? Oh, what a swindler he is! "... Yes, it's just a robber! .."
The attitude of officials. It makes money wherever possible, therefore, among officials, it is considered an intelligent person: "... Since I know that you, like everyone else, have sins, because you are an intelligent person and do not like to miss what floats into your hands .. . "
Silly man. Even a fool Khlestakov comes to this opinion: "... First, the mayor is as stupid as a gray gelding" (Khlestakov's opinion) "... how am I, an old fool? myself) "... Oh, what a blockhead really! .." (wife about the governor)
Greedy, insatiable: "... No, you see, all this is not enough for him - hey! He will come to the shop and, whatever it gets, takes everything. The cloth will see the thing, says:" Eh, dear, this is a good cloth: I took it down to me. ”Well, you’re talking about it, and there will be no less than fifty arshins in the piece ...”
Takes bribes from merchants and other citizens: "... The merchants and citizenship embarrasses me. They say that I came to them well, and I, for her, if I took it from another, then, really, without any hatred ..." " ... You should have taken the tailor's son, he was also a drunkard, but the parents gave a rich gift, so he stuck to the merchant's son Panteleeva, and Panteleeva also sent three canvases to her wife; so he came to me ... "
Works slipshod. Doesn't keep order and cleanliness in the city. He cleans up the city only for the inspector: "... The prisoners were not given provisions!. There is a tavern on the streets, uncleanness! Shame! Vile! .."
Steals money from the treasury. He stole money to build a church. To the auditor, he is going to explain that the church was built, but burned down: "... But if they ask why the church was not built at a charitable institution, for which five years ago there was an allocation
· If the amount is new, then do not forget to say that it began to be built, but it burned down. I presented a report on this. And then, perhaps, someone, having forgotten, will foolishly say that it did not even begin ... "(the church, apparently, did not begin to build)
Breaks the laws. For example, he takes into the soldiers those who are not supposed to go to the army: "... Yes, my husband ordered my husband to shave his forehead into the soldiers, and the queue did not fall on us, such a swindler! And according to the law it is impossible: he is married ... "
A slacker, but at the same time he knows how to "paint", it is beautiful to talk about what he supposedly does: "... Eka, a slacker ..." "... as he paints! God gave such a gift! .." The governor always makes promises, but does not fulfill them: "... You, Antosha, are always ready to promise ..."
Oppresses low-class people. He offends merchants, threatens and blackmails them. The merchants of town N are ready to "go into a noose" from his "insult": "... Do not ruin, sir! We endure the insult in vain ... Yes, everything from the local mayor ..." be: just at least get into the noose ... "" ... Yeah! And try to contradict, he will bring a whole regiment to your house to stand. And if anything, he will tell you to lock the doors. "I will not, - he says, - - he says, - to subject to corporal punishment or torture by torture - this, he says, is prohibited by law, but here you are, my dear, eat herrings! ".."
A simple person who came from the bottom: "... you are a simple person, you have never seen decent people ..." ... "(wife about the mayor)
He knows how to behave importantly: "... After all, he has importance, the evil one would not take him, that's enough ..."
The purpose of life. She dreams of being a general, although she does not at all deserve this title: "... He will throw the thing out when he actually becomes a general! That's who the generals should be like a saddle for a cow! Well, brother, no, the song is still far from that. Here and you are cleaner, but still not generals ... "
He goes to church every Sunday: "... Oh, oh, ho, ho, x! Sinful, sinful in many ways ..." "... you, like everyone else, have sins ..." "... you never go to church; but at least I am firm in the faith and every Sunday I go to church ... "
Likes to play cards, like the rest of the officials of the city N: "... And I, a scoundrel, repaid a hundred rubles yesterday ..." (Luka Lukich about the fact that the mayor plays cards)
Marital status: there is a wife and children. Apparently, in addition to his adult daughter Marya, he also has younger children. As you know, at the end of the play Marya becomes Khlestakov's bride: "... Anna Andreevna, his wife ..." "... Marya Antonovna, his daughter ..." "... Have mercy, do not ruin! Wife, small children do not make a person unhappy ... "
He treats his wife affectionately, in letters he calls her "darling": "... I hasten to notify you, darling, that my condition was very sad ..." "... Kissing, darling, your hand, I remain yours: Anton Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky ... "

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

Groups of actors

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

Officials play the leading role in this hierarchy. The mayor belongs to them. They are followed by unserviceable nobles, who have recently turned into ordinary gossips. A striking example is Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. The third group is made up of burghers, merchants and serfs, who are treated as people of the lowest class.

A special place in the social structure of society in the district town of Gogol is given to police officers. As a result, the writer manages to depict the whole of Russia using the example of one city, to show all the existing estates and groups.

Gogol is especially interested in portraying the public mores and characters of Russian bureaucrats and officials.

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

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

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

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

The character of the mayor

But, besides the impression that the other officials will make, Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, that is the name of the mayor, is even more worried about his own fate. He, like no one else, knows what he can be held accountable for. The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" (you can write an essay on this topic if you read this article) shows his great concern.

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

Caring for others

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

It looks especially funny that the mayor keeps hinting to Khlestakov that such a virtue should be appreciated, meaning that it deserves some kind of reward.

Act without a mayor

It is interesting that during practically the entire fourth act, the mayor does not appear on the stage, appearing only in the very finale. But at the same time, he remains one of the main characters, about which everyone around him speaks.

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

A string of petitioners comes to Khlestakov with complaints, who complain about the atrocities committed by the mayor. A large number of representatives of various strata of the population appear in front of the false auditor. This is a merchant, a non-commissioned officer's widow. Through their stories, a real image of the mayor is drawn. In the scene in which Khlestakov accepts all these appeals, the viewer can independently compose a picture of the life of the district town, based on trickery, selfishness, bribery and self-interest.

Switching principle

Gogol uses the principle of abrupt switches in the fifth act to complete the formation of the image of the mayor. He goes from the defeat of the hero to the triumph, and then immediately to his debunking.

At first, Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, feeling himself on the verge of death, not only realizes that he can get out of the water, but also believes that he is becoming a relative of a high-ranking St. Petersburg official, whom he took Khlestakov for. In general, it should be noted that the images of the mayor and Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General" are in many ways similar. Both of them are characterized by greed and insincerity.

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

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

Collapse of dreams

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

Having lifted the hero to such a peak, Gogol destroys all his hopes in one fell swoop. The final monologue of Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, which he utters when he learns that a real inspector has arrived in the city, expresses his condition. The governor is shocked, first of all, by the fact that he, a notable swindler, could be deceived. He himself begins to admit how many people he has deceived during his career. Among them are governors, merchants and other chiefs.

His true essence and the scale of his deeds become clear. This monologue finally sets all the points, the audience is convinced that in front of them is a fraudster, and a very serious one.

Paphos comedy

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

The governor is crushed by the fact that he was so impudently deceived, moreover, such a petty and insignificant person. But in reality, this nonentity is the best part of himself. Khlestakov became a kind of auditor of the social system, which gave rise to such self-confident and dishonest officials.

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

The appearance of the mayor

The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" is completed by the appearance of the hero. Gogol describes him as a man with harsh and rough features, who went through a difficult path to the top from the lowest ranks.

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

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

The characterization of the mayor in Gogol's "The Inspector General" deserves special consideration, since Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky is the most illustrative example of a deceived person who trembles before any higher power and can see it even in an insignificant person. The governor is not at all stupid, practical and reasoning chief. He does not see the disorderly management of the city as something outside the framework of Russian life. He never misses something “that floats into his hands,” and every time he develops new mechanisms in order to better hide it.

The news of the arrival of the noble inspector from St. Petersburg helps the gradual disclosure of the character of the mayor in the "Inspector General". First, he calls on all the main officials of the city - the trustee of charitable institutions, the superintendent of schools, etc. - in order to give everyone the appropriate instructions: what measures should be taken so that a complaint from a visitor does not fly incognito to the capital. Put on white caps on the patients, make their number smaller (of course, without any medicines, let the doctors recover with delight), the streets where the inspector can drive, sweep out, take away poultry from the guards in institutions and send them to the kitchen, order the police officer Derzhimorda to hold his fists. All these manipulations seem to the governor as salvation from the wrath of the inspector. It was also necessary to skillfully lie that the non-commissioned officer's widow "whipped herself", and the church, which was ordered to be built, burned down - and God forbid someone to let someone slip out that it "did not begin."

The description of the governor and his actions is given by the writer as a kind of personification of panic fear and, as a result, chaos in action - in the face of power that can destroy. It is fear that misleads the mayor about Khlestakov. All the initial confusion, cowardice, stories about lack of money and a stern father seem to Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky to be a calculated move on the part of the auditor. And the fact that he is an auditor is also suggested by Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky, who say: "He has been living for the second week and has not paid." This, in the minds of the county man in the street, is one of the first signs of a noble nobleman.

The mayor himself receives Khlestakov at his place, nourishingly feeds this lover of picking "flowers of pleasure", constantly talks about his zeal for service and love for his superiors. He listens obsequiously to the monstrous lies of the young man, every now and then trying to get up from the chair. Nearby, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, who have never been in the presence of such an important person, are cowardly with a "shallow shiver". Of course, the mayor himself was seized with awe: no joke - his house honored an unusually important rank, which keeps the State Council in awe and gives balls every day!

The image of the mayor in the comedy "The Inspector General" undoubtedly complements his relationship with women - Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna. When he tries to find out from Osip the details of the character of his master, the ladies interrupt and rattle about Khlestakov's beautiful nose and brilliant manners. The governor is angry, his fate depends on the most successful reception, so the free treatment of his wife with the inspector seems to him offensive and inappropriate. He knows that in the event of a catastrophe his head will fly in the first place, women will be "whipped, and that's all, but remember your husband what his name was", so he cannot recover from fear after the "opportunity."

Gogol gives a characterization of the mayor from the comedy "The Inspector General" not only with the help of fear, but also with quick wit, which, paradoxically, also helps to be deceived. All the actions of the governor seem to be grasping, if you do not take into account one thing - the fictitiousness of the auditor. Sometimes he finds something on the mayor: he realizes that the guest has a little "lied" for a catchphrase, describing balls and watermelons, but does not suspect to what extent. In the understanding of Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, the young man revealed himself due to inexperience and a good portion of intoxicating drinks, therefore, it is necessary to oil it as much as possible so that he does not have time to come to his senses.

If it were not for the postmaster's nasty habit of reading other people's letters, the truth would not have been revealed until the arrival of a genuine auditor. But Khlestakov's letter shows the degree of his personal emptiness, contentment, and the degree of deception with which the mayor allowed himself and his main subordinates to be fooled. The one who is "stupid as a gray gelding" (according to Khlestakov), could not understand how such a dummy, like this Khlestakov, managed to deceive him, who was wise by everyday experience of the boss, around his finger? Honor was elevated to a cult and did not allow Khlestakov's true face, that is, his facelessness, to manifest itself. In a rank, even invented, one could behave in any way, the greatness and beauty in you would be immediately recognized and no one would be allowed to doubt it. The entire bureaucracy, headed by the mayor, lived according to this unwritten law, therefore, it could not resist the lie, and was subject to complete ridicule.

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The character of the mayor in Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General"

The governor - Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsiy, is written out quite brightly in the comedy. He is one of the central figures, and it is around him and Khlestakov that the main action develops. The rest of the characters are given by half-casts. We only know their surnames and status, otherwise they are people very similar to the mayor, because they are of the same berry field, they live in the same county town, where “if you ride for three years, you won't reach any state”. Yes, they are not so important, otherwise they would overshadow all the "splendor" of the Governor's figure.

We meet a lot of “speaking” surnames in Gogol. This technique is everywhere in his works. The Governor was no exception. Let's see what his surname tells about the character. According to Dahl's dictionary, a pass-through is "a cunning, sharp-sighted, perceptive person, a pass, a rogue, an experienced rogue and a creep." But this is obvious. From the first lines of the work, we learn that the Governor will never miss what floats into his hands, and he does not hesitate to take bribes, even with greyhound puppies. His prudence also speaks of vigilance or clairvoyance. In society, this is a decent head of the city who constantly goes to church, has a prosperous family and stands up for its residents. But let’s not forget that a pass-through is also a rogue, and therefore he also oppresses merchants, and spends state money, and flogs the people. There is also the second part of the surname. Let's open Dahl again and read that dmukhan is “pomp, pride, arrogance. arrogance, arrogance. " And, indeed, Anton Antonovich's arrogance and swagger are not to be missed. How glad he was to learn that his daughter is not marrying someone, but a minister: “I myself, mother, is a decent person. However, really, as you think, Anna Andreevna, what birds we have become now! huh, Anna Andreevna? High flight, damn it! Wait, now I will ask all these hunters to submit requests and denunciations to the pepper. This is our mayor.

However, let's see how the author himself describes Anton Antonovich in the author's remarks “for gentlemen actors”. “The governor, who has already grown old in the service and is a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; rather serious; somewhat even reasonable; speaks neither loudly nor softly, neither more nor less. His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and harsh, like those of anyone who began service from the lowest ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from rudeness to arrogance is quite quick, as in a person with roughly developed inclinations of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is cropped and gray. " Everything is important in these remarks, they allow us to understand how Gogol himself wanted to portray the hero, as opposed to how we, the readers, see him. Just as his surname can tell us a lot about the mayor, so the appearance can add finishing touches to the portrait. A uniform with buttonholes tells us that this is, indeed, a respectable person who does not like his orders to be discussed. In his town, he is the king and God, respectively, and the appearance must be befitting. But how interesting it is to observe his transformation when meeting with the so-called incognito-auditor. The governor begins to stutter and cringe, and may even give a bribe if he does so. But the veneration of rank was in use at that time, however, with the governor it reaches its highest limit, he experiences such a panic fear: “Governor (trembling). Out of inexperience, by God, out of inexperience. Lack of wealth ... You can judge for yourself: the state salary is not even enough for tea and sugar. If there were any bribes, then just a little: something to the table and a couple of dresses. As for the non-commissioned officer's widow, who is engaged in merchants, whom I allegedly whipped, then this is slander, by God, slander. This is invented by my villains; they are such a people that they are ready to encroach on my life. "

The governor is also rude, Gogol also informs us about this. Despite the high office he occupies, he is an uneducated person, there are many bad inclinations and vices in his soul, but he does not try to eradicate them, since he believes that this is the way it should be. Stupidity and ignorance - these are the traits that dominate the character of the Governor. Even his assurances that he serves honestly and impeccably are sewn through with white thread, and lies shout from every window. He does not even have enough intelligence to come up with something plausible in the face of the formidable Khlestakov, although before that he very deliberately warned his officials about the impending danger: “There the merchants complained to your Excellency. I can assure you that half of what they say is not. They themselves deceive and measure the people. The non-commissioned officer lied to you that I whipped her; she's lying, by golly, lying. She whipped herself. " These are the curiosities found in the county town.

But, of course, just as there are no only good or only bad people in the world, so book heroes cannot be only positive or only negative. Although it can hardly be said about the characters of The Inspector General. But nevertheless, for some reason we feel sorry at the end of the Governor, who was so cruelly deceived in Khlestakov. In general, it turns out that there is not a single positive hero in the comedy, with the exception of Osip, Khlestakov's servant, who, however, is also a drunkard and a cheat. We are sad to see the collapse of the dreams of the Governor, who dreamed of blue ribbons and a house in St. Petersburg. Maybe he did not deserve such a fate, maybe his petty sins are not so terrible. But, I think, this punishment is quite fair, because we understand that the Governor will never get it right, and it is unlikely that the incident with the inspector will serve him as a lesson. Yes, and he gets upset first of all because he did not see the rogue in Khlestakov, he himself is a rogue of rogues. And it’s also a shame that “look, look, the whole world, all Christianity, everyone, look how the mayor is fooled! Fool him, fool, old scoundrel! (Threatens himself with a fist.) Oh, you fat-nosed! Icicle, rag took for an important person! There he is now flooding the whole road with a bell! Will spread history all over the world. Not only will you go into a laughing stock - there is a clicker, a scribbler, he will insert you into a comedy. That's what's insulting! He will not spare the rank, he will not spare, and they will all bite their teeth and clap their hands. Why are you laughing? “You are laughing at yourself!” - he says sacramental at the end.

But indeed, the character of the Governor is a collective portrait of all the officials of that time. He absorbed all the shortcomings: servility, honor, envy, arrogance, flattery. This list can be continued for a long time. The governor becomes a kind of “hero of our time”, which is why he is written out so clearly, that is why his character is so clearly manifested, especially in crisis situations, and the whole life of the governor during The Inspector General is a crisis. And in such crisis situations, Anton Antonovich is not used to it, apparently, from a weakness of character. That's why the electrical effect is at the end. It is doubtful that the mayor will be able to agree with a real official. After all, all his life he deceived the same rogues as himself, and the rules of the game of another world are inaccessible to him. And therefore, the arrival of an official from St. Petersburg for Anton Antonovich is like God's punishment. And there is no salvation from this, except to obey. But knowing the nature of the mayor, we can safely say that he will still try to appease the new auditor, without thinking about the fact that for a bribe "you can go to prison", he does not see beyond his own nose, for this he pays in the finale: in the middle in the form of a pillar, with outstretched arms and thrown back head. " Silent stage ... Curtain!