Generalizing the meaning of the image of the mayor. The image and characteristics of the mayor from N. V. Gogol’s comedy “The Inspector General. Actor groups

/V.G. Belinsky about Gogol/

The basis of "The Inspector General" is the same idea as in "The Quarrel of Ivan Ivanovich with Ivan Nikiforovich": in both works the poet expressed the idea of ​​negating life, the idea of ​​illusoryness, which received, under his artistic chisel, its objective reality. The difference between them is not in the main idea, but in the moments of life captured by the poet, in the individuals and positions of the characters. In the second work we see emptiness, devoid of all activity; in The Inspector General there is an emptiness filled with the activity of petty passions and petty egoism.<...>

So exactly, why do we need to know the details of the mayor’s life before the comedy begins? It is clear even without the fact that in childhood he was educated on copper money, played knucklebones, ran through the streets, and as he began to gain insight, he received lessons from his father in worldly wisdom, that is, in the art of warming up his hands and burying his ends in water . Deprived in his youth of any religious, moral and social education, he inherited from his father and from the world around him the following rule of faith and life: in life one must be happy, and for this one needs money and rank, and to acquire them - bribery, embezzlement , sycophancy and subservience to authorities, nobility and wealth, deceit and bestial rudeness to those inferior to oneself. Simple philosophy! But note that in him this is not debauchery, but his moral development, his highest concept of his objective duties: he is a husband, therefore, is obliged to decently support his wife; he is the father, therefore, must give a good dowry for his daughter in order to provide her with a good match and, thereby arranging her well-being, fulfill the sacred duty of the father. He knows that his means to achieve this goal are sinful before God, but he knows this abstractly, with his head, not with his heart, and he justifies himself with the simple rule of all vulgar people: “I’m not the first, I’m not the last, everyone does this.” This practical rule of life is so deeply rooted in him that it has become a rule of morality; he would have considered himself an upstart, a proud, proud man if, even though he had forgotten himself, he had behaved honestly during the week.<...>

Our mayor was not a lively person by nature, and therefore “everyone does this” was too sufficient an argument to calm his calloused conscience; This argument was joined by another, even stronger for a rude and base soul: “wife, children, the government salary does not go towards tea and sugar.” Here's the whole Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky before the comedy begins.<...>The end of “The Inspector General” was again made by the poet not arbitrarily, but due to the most reasonable necessity: he wanted to show us Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky all as he is, and we saw him all as he is. But here lies another, no less important and deep reason that comes from the essence of the play.<...>

“Fear has big eyes,” says a wise Russian proverb: is it surprising that a stupid boy, a tavern dandy who had squandered on the road, was mistaken by the mayor for an auditor? Deep idea! It was not a formidable reality, but a ghost, a phantom, or, better to say, a shadow from the fear of a guilty conscience, that was supposed to punish the man of ghosts. Gogol's mayor is not a caricature, not a comic farce, not an exaggerated reality, and at the same time not at all a fool, but, in his own way, a very, very smart person who is very effective in his field, knows how to deftly get down to business - and steal the ends bury him in the water, slip him a bribe and appease a person who is dangerous to him. His attacks on Khlestakov in the second act are an example of clerk diplomacy.

So, the end of the comedy should take place where the mayor learns that he was punished by a ghost and that he still faces punishment from reality, or at least new troubles and losses in order to evade punishment from reality. And therefore the arrival of the gendarme with the news of the arrival of the true auditor perfectly ends the play and conveys to it all the completeness and all the independence of a special world closed in itself.<...>

Many find the mayor’s mistake in mistaking Khlestakov for an auditor to be a terrible stretch and a farce, especially since the mayor is, in his own way, a very smart man, that is, a rogue of the first category. A strange opinion, or, better said, a strange blindness that does not allow one to see the obvious! The reason for this is that every person has two visions - the physical, which only has access to external evidence, and the spiritual, which penetrates internal evidence as a necessity arising from the essence of the idea. Now, when a person has only physical vision, and he looks at internal evidence, then it is natural that the mayor’s mistake seems to him a stretch and a farce.

Imagine a thief-official like you know the venerable Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky: in his dream he saw two extraordinary rats, the likes of which he had never seen - black, of unnatural size - they came, sniffed and walked away. The importance of this dream for subsequent events has already been very correctly noted by someone. In fact, pay all your attention to it: it reveals the chain of ghosts that make up the reality of comedy. For a person with such an education as our mayor, dreams are the mystical side of life, and the more incoherent and meaningless they are, the greater and more mysterious their meaning for him. If, after this dream, nothing important had happened, he might have forgotten it; but, as luck would have it, the next day he receives a notification from a friend that “an official has set off incognito from St. Petersburg with a secret order to revise everything related to civil administration in the province.” Sleep in hand! Superstition further intimidates an already frightened conscience; conscience strengthens superstition.

Pay special attention to the words “incognito” and “with secret instructions.” Petersburg is a mysterious country for our mayor, a fantastic world whose forms he cannot and cannot imagine. Innovations in the legal sphere, threatening criminal trial and exile for bribery and embezzlement, further aggravate the fantastic side of St. Petersburg for him. He is already asking his imagination how the inspector will arrive, what he will pretend to be and what bullets he will cast in order to find out the truth. There is talk from an honest company about this subject. The dog judge, who takes bribes with greyhound puppies and therefore is not afraid of the court, who has read five or six books in his time and is therefore somewhat freethinking, finds a reason for sending an auditor worthy of his thoughtfulness and erudition, saying that “Russia wants to wage war, and That’s why the ministry deliberately sends an official to find out if there is any treason.” The mayor realized the absurdity of this assumption and answered: “Where is our county town? If it were borderline, it would still be possible to guess somehow, otherwise it’s standing God knows where - in the wilderness... From here you can jump for at least three years, to no state.” you won't get there." Therefore, he advises his colleagues to be careful and be prepared for the arrival of the auditor; arms himself against the thought of sins, that is, bribes, saying that “there is no person who does not have some sins behind him,” that “this is already arranged this way by God himself,” and that “the Voltaireans are in vain speaking against this”; there follows a small squabble with the judge about the meaning of bribes; continuation of advice; murmur against the damned incognito. “Suddenly he’ll look in: ah! you’re here, my dears! And who, say, is the judge here? - Tyapkin-Lyapkin. - And bring Tyapkin-Lyapkin here! And who is the trustee of charitable institutions? - Strawberry. - And bring Strawberry here! That’s what’s bad !"...

It's really bad! A naive postmaster enters, who loves to print out other people's letters in the hope of finding in them "various passages... edifying even... better than in the Moskovskie Vedomosti." find out if it contains some kind of report or just correspondence." What depth is in the image! Do you think that the phrase “or just correspondence” is nonsense or a farce on the part of the poet: no, this is the mayor’s inability to express himself, how soon he even a little leaves the native spheres of his life. And this is the language of all the characters in the comedy! The naive postmaster, not understanding what is going on, says that he is doing this anyway,” the rogue mayor answers the simpleton. - to the postmaster, “this is good in life,” and seeing that you won’t get much out of the way with him, he bluntly asks him to deliver any news to him, and simply delay the complaint or report. The judge treats him to a dog, but he replies that he now I have no time for dogs and hares: “All I can hear in my ears is the damned incognito; You just expect that the doors will suddenly open and someone will walk in..."

Mayor Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky is a man without any education, but not at all stupid by nature. By nature, he is perspicacious: he immediately sees the absurdity of the judge’s assumption that the auditor was sent to find out whether there is treason in the city. But the mayor’s mind is predominantly of a practical nature and is manifested mainly in his cunning, in the ability to manage his affairs, in practical dexterity. He himself boasts: “Not a single merchant or contractor could deceive me; I deceived swindlers upon swindlers, swindlers and swindlers such that they are ready to rob the whole world, I cheated on them!” ...

Also, when he hears about the auditor, he does not lose his head and immediately takes his measures to get out of the water as far as possible. If he is nevertheless deceived and mistakes Khlestakov for an auditor, then the fear of a criminal conscience is mainly to blame for this, depriving him of the opportunity to calmly discuss the situation; It’s not without reason that they say that fear has big eyes: therefore, the mayor’s mistake seems not only psychologically probable, but even inevitable.

The mayor's lack of education is reflected in his rudeness, his superstition (for example, he believes in dreams), and the absence of any spiritual interests and needs. He considers himself a religious person, says that he is “firm in faith,” but his religiosity is purely external, expressed only in the observance of church rituals.

Instead of repenting for his misdeeds, he only makes a promise: “I’ll light a candle that no one has ever lit before: for each merchant’s beast I’ll charge three pounds of wax.” However, he himself realizes that he is doing wrong, but he consoles himself with the thought that “there is no person who does not have some sins behind him. This is already arranged this way by God himself, and the Voltaireans are in vain speaking against it.”

With all this, the mayor is not at all some kind of villain, he just does not want to miss what is floating in his hands, he cannot resist the temptation to use his power for personal gain. He just doesn’t clearly realize how hard his methods affect his subordinates, and with great naivety says: “If I took anything, it was without any malice.”

Meanwhile, the merchants complain about him to Khlestakov: “There has never been such a mayor, sir. He inflicts such insults that it is impossible to describe... If, that is, they disrespected him in some way, otherwise we always follow the order: what should be on the dress of his wife and daughter - we do not stand against it. No, you see, he doesn’t have enough! - to her!". Wanting to take more, the mayor, according to the merchants, even celebrates his name day twice a year, on Anton and Onufry.

But his abuses are not limited to bribes from ordinary people: on occasion, he tries to profit from the treasury: he enters into a strike with merchants during contracts, appropriates money that was allocated for the construction of a church at a charitable institution. He often uses his power according to personal arbitrariness, contrary to the laws; for example, he ordered the flogging of a non-commissioned officer, gave the locksmith’s husband as a soldier out of turn, etc. That’s why, when rumors about the arrival of the inspector spread throughout the city, a whole crowd of petitioners came to Khlestakov with complaints about the mayor: he got so solo he is for the common people.

This work includes five acts. From the first minutes of reading the play, you can see how negative the mayor’s character is.

The image and characterization of the Governor in the comedy “The Inspector General” is collective. This is a single portrait of all officials of that time, still relevant today. This comedy will serve as a good lesson for dishonest people who take advantage of their position in society and break the law.

Image of the Mayor

“His facial features are coarse and hard, like those of anyone who began hard service from the lower ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from baseness to arrogance is quite rapid, like in a person with crudely developed inclinations of the soul.”

Full name Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky. Mayor. In service for about 30 years. Approximate age 50 years. Married. Of the heirs, only a daughter. The appearance is solid. The hair is covered with gray hair. He always wears a uniform and boots decorated with spurs. The facial features are rough, as if hewn with an axe. The mayor’s speech is unhurried, calm and measured.

“The mayor, already old in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; quite serious; speaks neither loudly nor quietly, neither more nor less..."

Characteristic

In the appearance of the mayor, universal human vices are intertwined. Among them are:

Duplicity. The mayor is a master of pretending in public to be a positive and pious citizen who loves work and family. In fact, he doesn't care about work. He does not care about people, he squanders the city treasury to please himself, and does not disdain bribes.

Passion for gambling. Anton Antonovich has a weakness for gambling. Prefers cards. Capable of losing a large sum.

Harsh and merciless. This can be seen in relation to merchants. Communicating with them can allow blackmail and threats. The merchants no longer had any strength left from such treatment.

“...We don’t know what to do, even if you climb into a noose...”

Try to contradict him, he will send a whole regiment to your house to billet. And if anything happens, he orders you to lock the doors.

“I will not subject you,” he says, “to corporal punishment or torture - this, he says, is prohibited by law, but here you are, my dear, eat herring!”

Important, swaggering. Pompous like a turkey. “He has importance, the evil one would not take him, enough...”

Greedy, greedy. He will never miss the profit floating in his hands. Money, money and more money. This is the meaning of life. Ready to buy everything in stores. It doesn’t matter whether he needs this product or not. Mired in bribes.

Slacker. All he can do well is speak beautifully. According to him, the city is thriving, there are no problems. In fact, he didn’t lift a finger to restore order in his possessions. Everything has long fallen into disrepair, but the mayor prefers to turn a blind eye to this and do nothing.

Lawbreaker. Representing power, he often uses his powers and violates the law. This can be seen in the recruitment of soldiers into the army. He takes everyone, even those who are not supposed to go there.

Stupid. Not far. What else can you call a person who can be fooled by an ordinary impostor? “How am I—no, how am I, old fool? The stupid ram is out of his mind! Look, look, the whole world, all of Christianity, everyone, look how the mayor has been fooled!”

Liar. I dared to lie about the church, for which money was allocated, but no one began to build it. The mayor came up with a story that the church burned down during a strong fire.

Thoughtful. Penetrating. Thanks to his daughter’s successful marriage, he wanted to receive general’s shoulder straps. Whether she would be happy with her chosen one or not did not matter. The main thing is to ensure a happy future for yourself and your wife, who dreams of a big house in St. Petersburg.

All life the mayor was quietly engaged in shady affairs, terribly afraid of exposure. The essence of the mayor was revealed to the maximum with the arrival of an auditor in the city, who turned out to be not an auditor at all, but an ordinary petty official who decided to take advantage of the situation and fool the local authorities.

The action of Gogol's comedy "" begins with the mayor Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky convening all city officials and telling them the unpleasant news about the arrival of the capital's auditor. From that moment on, life in the city of N began to boil. Being thieves and bribe-takers, all city officials tried to restore order and cover their tracks in their department. Chaos and disorder in city departments was a consequence of the disgusting attitude of Anton Antonovich and his subordinates to their official duties. We can say that the mayor brought the city of N into decline, because he was not at all involved in city affairs.

The worst thing is that he saw everything, but did not take any measures. For example, in the office of the city court, the servants raised chickens. Anton Antonovich makes a remark to Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, but the tone of his conversation is not particularly dissatisfied with the situation. And only the news of the inspector’s arrival forces the mayor and other officials to mobilize their forces in order to restore at least superficial order in their affairs.

It is worth noting that city officials feared and respected their mayor. Each of them understood that they were acting illegally, stealing from the city treasury and taking bribes, but all this happened with the tacit consent of Anton Antonovich. None of the officials dared to speak ill of their mayor. Everyone was looking for Anton Antonovich's mercy and condescension. Thus, in relations with subordinates, Anton Antonovich acts as a kind of patron and model of behavior.

Anton Antonovich had a completely different attitude towards ordinary merchants. He acted with him as a greedy, greedy and stingy person. No wonder the merchants came to Khlestakov to complain about their mayor. He starved them to death with his limitless extortions and demands for bribes. There was always not enough for him, and he took, took and took...

Only in relations with his wife and daughter was Anton Antonovich a caring father and loving husband. He certainly involved his ladies in all city affairs. Even about the arrival of the auditor, the mayor writes a note to his wife.

In general, we can say that Anton Antonovich was not a very stupid person. He managed to make the whole city work for his benefit.

But everything ends someday. The mayor was deceived by a simple young man who accidentally ended up in the city of N. This was a real shock for Anton Antonovich. He could not understand how someone so cunning and smart had been fooled. His plan failed, and an auditor was waiting for him at the hotel...

Anton Antonovich learned his lesson. I think that the comedy “The Inspector General” should become a parting word for modern officials who want to live like the mayor Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky.

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

His name is Anton Antonovich Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky, he is more than 50 years old, most of which he devoted to service.

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

It is he who owns the famous phrase “The auditor is coming to us.”

Characteristics of the hero

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

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

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

As for his social status, in his circle he is considered an intelligent and noble person who is worth listening to. He has weight in society and his word is taken into account.

Periodically, the mayor goes to church and tries to atone for his sins, sincerely believing that after visiting church he becomes pure in soul. The hero feels deep down 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 the telling surname Skvoznik Dmukhanovsky. He steals so much that he is even afraid of his own shadow. But, despite all the negative traits, he is an excellent organizer and speaker. Despite the fact that the mayor came 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, compiling notes for the actors:

“...The mayor, already old in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; quite serious;

a few are even resonant; speaks neither loudly nor quietly, neither more nor less.

His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and hard, like those of anyone who began hard service from the lower ranks.

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

(The central plot of the comedy: “The mayor announces the arrival of the auditor,” Artist A.I. Konstantinovsky)