description The Inspector General Overview
Nikolai Gogol's 1836 Russian satirical play in which officials of a corrupt provincial town lavish bribes on a penniless traveler they mistake for a government inspector, a landmark of world theatre and social satire.
insights Ranking position
The Inspector General ranks #15 of 107 in the Philosophical Fiction ranking, behind Krapp's Last Tape, ahead of Molloy.
help The Inspector General FAQ
What is the plot of Nikolai Gogol's *The Inspector General*?
The play follows the corrupt officials of a small Russian provincial town who panic when they hear a government inspector is arriving. They mistakenly lavish bribes on a penniless traveler, believing him to be the dreaded official sent from St. Petersburg.
Who is the mistaken inspector in *The Inspector General*?
The man mistaken for the inspector is Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov, a minor, broke civil servant who is passing through the town. He quickly realizes the officials' error and decides to play along to extort money from them.
When was *The Inspector General* first published?
Nikolai Gogol wrote the satirical play in 1835, and it was first published in 1836. It premiered in St. Petersburg and was initially misunderstood before becoming a landmark of world theatre.
What is the main theme of *The Inspector General*?
The play is a biting social satire that exposes the deep-seated political corruption, bribery, and moral decay within the Russian bureaucracy. Gogol famously stated that the true "main character" of the play is the audience's own corrupt conscience.
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