The government inspector is often said to be nikolai gogols masterpiece, a comedy of errors that provides clever commentary on the extensive political wrongdoing of imperial russia. The government inspector, by nikolai gogol, has also been translated into english under the titles the inspector general, and the inspector. The government inspector was brought to the attention of the tsar. His charisma influences both men and women into liking him and favoring him. However, he shares a similar position with the maniacof pretending to be something that he is not. Hamilton wright plays khlestakov, a petty clerk who is believed to be a powerful inspector from the capitol. The more naivete and ingenousness the actor puts into the character the better will he sustain the role. Thrown into a panic, the governor and his dysfunctional cronies desperately struggle to stifle public dissatisfaction whilst blaming their many.
Hamilton wright plays khlestakov in our production of the government inspector. The inspector general khlestakov and marya scene youtube. The quickthinking khlestakov realizes that the villagers have mistaken him for the government inspector and plays along, lining his pockets and making promises. When it opened, it caused an uproar in the russian press. Of course, the mayor himself is also a liar, trying desperately to wine and dine khlestakov and fill his head. This work is, because of its plot and many twists, recognized and appreciated in the worlds literature. In his works one can notice a widespread presence of food and drink, especially in the government inspector. Inspector, is a satirical play by the russian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. The whole town is in an uproar over the government inspector, including the mayors wife anna and his daughter marya. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to gogol by pushkin, the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing. The government inspector the information below is intended to give you a brief guide to the show and highlight some of the other the mandy network members who have also been involved in this show. Finally, tensions subside, with the mayor mistakenly believing khlestakov to be the government inspector and khlestakov feeling more at ease in the townespecially because the mayor has invited him to stay in his own home.
The government inspector features a cast of 12 actors. The government inspector theatrical play directory. Eventually, tsar nicholas i had to intervene in order for the production to move forward. The government inspector act 3, scenes 5 and 6 summary. In his notes on the characters, gogol describes her as still tolerably young, and a provincial coquette, who displays now and then a vain disposition. The government inspector project gutenberg selfpublishing. The government inspector or the inspector general by nikolai gogol c. The names and naming tradition use of first and family names have been left as in. Khlestakov, the fake government inspector, represents the frivolous conscience of the world. Inspector, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. The reader, or better the audience, immediately understands that khlestakov is not the inspector.
The mayors wife and maryas mother, anna is attractive but also. Ivan alexandrovich khlestakov is a central character in nikolai gogols 1836 play the government inspector. Character analysis of the government inspector by dario fo cram. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol.
The government inspector wikipedia republished wiki 2. He blinds us to the identity of the true inspector, who is. Apparently pushkin had actually been mistaken for a government inspector at one point in his life. Osip urges khlestakov to get out while the going is good. The comic structure of gogols government inspector by milton ehae gogols labored apologias for his great play, written in anxious defense against the miscomprehensions of critics, have been largely ignored or ridiculed. A crass comedy of errors, the government inspector follows a group of meddling citizens in a backwater russian town, who learn that a government inspector is set to visit them incognito and report back to the czar. The author observed a wide scale of negative social behavior and characteristics.
Her concern with appearance is indicated by the stage direction that she changes her dress four times during the play. Nov 23, 2018 the government inspector is intended to ridicule the extensive bureaucracy of the russian government under the era of tsar nicholas as a thoroughly corrupt system. Leblanc describes the main character of ivan khlestakov as a hedonistic layer. Who is khlestakov in nikolai gogols play the government. Well, im not so familiar with colloquial russian of the 19th century, so instead of trying to take any wild guesses i took the easy road and found someone on the internet explaining this for me. The government inspector police with his stagings of saint joan last season and this past falls timon of athens, director and national actors theater artistic adviser michael langham. Satire in the government inspector free essay example by. In this society those who are well off are fed salmon, while those who are not well off either do not eat at all or else are reduced to eating watereddown soup. The inspector general the government inspector, nikolai gogol the government inspector, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. He speaks and acts without stopping to think and utterly lacks the power of concentration.
The government inspector is a social and a moral satire that laughs out the human nature and the social conditions is russia at that time. Khlestakov, the protagonist of the government inspector, is a charming and appealing character. He is a poor civil servant who arrives in a small russian town and is charging his stay. A skinny young man of about twentythree, rather stupid, being, as they say, without a czar in his head, one of those persons called an empty vessel in the government offices. The government inspector was published in 1836 and revised in 1842 for a later edition. He mentioned this to gogol, who then turned it into a play. Tsar nicholas was in power and his fear of revolution forced a lot of writers at the time to limit what they intended to show and in some cases stop altogether in works they were producing. See more ideas about character costumes, costumes and shakespeare theatre. Set in a fictional small town in russia overseen by a. Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. The government inspector, revision notes notes english. The government inspector meyerholds interpretation meyerholds interpretation in 1926, the expressionistic production of the comedy by vsevolod meyerhold returned to this play its true surrealistic, dreamlike essence after a century of simplistically reducing it to mere photographic realism.
The plot is settled in russia in the first half of 19th century, and the theme is identity swap. Leonid grossman recalls that garins khlestakov was a character from hoffmanns tale, slender, clad in black. The written play was brought to the attention of the tsar nicholas i, who liked it so much that he insisted on its production. In his notes on the characters, gogol describes her as still. After being ignored, feeling humiliated and ignored at some of his first works that he begun to write, nikolai wrote found his turn around when he wrote two. All gogols staging instructions have been left in this edition. Play sporcle s virtual live trivia to have fun, connect with people, and get your trivia on.
By a turn of circumstances and khlestakovs funnily arrogant behavior, the governor, terrified of the upcoming control, suspects the stranger to be the incognito revizor. He is a poor civil servant who arrives in a small russian town and is charging his stay to the government. From the department of what goes around comes around, part 2. The inspector general, revizor, literally the inspector, also translated as the government inspector is a comedy play in five acts by nikolai gogol the corrupt mayor or governor, depending on the translation of a small town receives a message informing him that a government inspector will be visiting the town incognito to investigate how it is run, causing a panic as he. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general russian. The character of khlestakov in the government inspector is not insane in the same context as the maniac. A book nikolaj gogol didnt burn was the play the government inspector. I know i was explained this at school but that was. The play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human greed, stupidity, and the extensive political corruption of imperial russia. Join a live hosted trivia game for your favorite pub trivia experience done virtually. The government inspector, variously translated as the inspector general or the inspector is a play written by nikolai vasilyevich gogol, who was born in 1809, and originated in ukraine. The staging proposed by the georgian director robert sturua, who chose the famous russian actor aleksandr kalyagin for the main role of khlestakov, appears as a successful. When the mayor arrives and sees khlestakov, he is sure that he is the promised government inspector.
The government inspector wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The whole village flies into a tailspin attempting avert disaster through bribery, lies, and a comic web crooked deals. Dobchinsky also exaggerates aspects of khlestakovs character when he is talking to anna and marya, adding to khlestakovs mistaken identity. Originally published in 1836, the play was revised. However, he shares a similar position with the maniac. Oct 31, 2017 a crass comedy of errors, the government inspector follows a group of meddling citizens in a backwater russian town, who learn that a government inspector is set to visit them incognito and report back to the czar. He begins to grow imperious, further convincing the mayor that this is the man from st.
The character was the inspiration for the character of wayne in inspecting carol, a part originated by wright at seattle rep over 25 years ago. I fell in love with this play in graduate school of all places, said director allison. He is a young flamboyant character who has no consideration for others. The government inspector is intended to ridicule the extensive bureaucracy of the russian government under the era of tsar nicholas as a thoroughly corrupt system. Sep, 2017 the government inspector is a comedy about a group of local officials of a small town in tsarist, russia who hear about a government inspector who is investigating the town, travelling incognito. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for khlestakov from the government inspector. This scene reveals not only the character of khlestakov, but also the sociology of the world in which he lives.
The inspector general by nikolai vasilievich gogol. The government inspector is a comedy about a group of local officials of a small town in tsarist, russia who hear about a government inspector who is investigating the town, travelling incognito. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general original title. What do the character names in gogols play the government. The government inspector was written by gogol in 1835 during a time when government surveillance and censorship was at its height. Bribery, lust and appetite at the edge of the russian empire. The government inspector by nikolai vasilievich gogol context. The dreamlike scenes of the play, often mirroring each other, whirl in the endless vert. The government inspector character list the mayor anton antonovich skvoznikdmukhanovsky a typical russian public servant. Seattle shakespeare company presents the government.
The inspector general, revizor, literally the inspector, also translated as the government inspector is a comedy play in five acts by nikolai gogol the corrupt mayor or governor, depending on the translation of a small town receives a message informing him that a government inspector will be visiting the town incognito to investigate how it is run, causing a. The government inspector meyerholds interpretation. The comic structure of gogols government inspector by milton ehae. He can be considered insane for not realizing his limits. In the government inspector, a group of officials mistake an inventive clerk for an undercover inspector sent from st. Not only is there the wild khlestakov character, with his opportunism and arrogance that every time proofs to work, but everybody on stage is involved in one way or another in lying, cheating and bribing. This study guide consists of approximately 89 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the government inspector.
If a virtual private party is more your thing, go here for details. The teatro argentina in rome presented on 14 and 15 september the play the government inspector, a masterpiece by the russian author and dramatist of ukrainian origin nikolai gogol. Khlestakov is nervous when the mayor confronts him, and he thinks he is being unfairly targeted. Tsar nicholas was in vitality and his concern with revolution forced a great deal of writers at that time to limit what they designed to show and in some instances stop totally in works these were producing. The inspector general khlestakov and marya scene djordje janicijevic. The accidental death of an anarchist and the government. May 18, 2015 the government inspector, variously translated as the inspector general or the inspector is a play written by nikolai vasilyevich gogol, who was born in 1809, and originated in ukraine. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to gogol by pushkin, the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human greed, stupidity, and the extensive political corruption of imperial russia. Osip a character in the government inspector by nikolai vasilievich gogol author description. Nikolai gogols famous comedy the government inspector is considered a gift for actors. The government inspector, essential revision notes notes. Just let me laugh at the government inspector city arts. Dec 16, 2014 the inspector general khlestakov and marya scene djordje janicijevic.
Just let me laugh at the government inspector city. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for khlestakov from the government inspector join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. In nikolai gogols play the government inspector, set in provincial russia, more than 80 years before the russian revolution, the character ivan alexandrovich khlestakov is an upperclass gentleman. Government inspector a laugh riot at college of marin. The authorities inspector was written by gogol in 1835 during a time when authorities surveillance and censorship was at its level.
In nikolai gogols play the government inspector, set in provincial russia, more than 80 years before the russian revolution, the character ivan alexandrovich khlestakov is an. The government inspector study guide contains a biography of nikolai gogol, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Petersburg to root out corruption in their small russian town. Universal themes of human corruption and the folly of selfdeception are explored through this drama of russian life. Bribery, lust and appetite at the edge of the russian. Universal themes of human corruption and the folly of selfdeception. The question and answer section for the government inspector is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. This sets off a series of events that satirize corruption in russia at the time. Leonid grossman recalls that garins khlestakov was a character from hoffmanns tale, slender, clad in black with a stiff mannered gait, strange spectacles, a sinister oldfashioned tall hat, a rug and a cane, apparently tormented by some private vision. When two local men kevin kelly and arjun pande tell the mayor a blustery rob burgess that a mysterious man at the inn is surely.