Dec 29, 2009

The Government Inspector | Style

Russian Realism and Dramatic Comedy
Gogol has often been dubbed the ‘‘father of Russian realism.’’ The Government Inspector introduced the principles of dramatic realism to the Russian stage. Lindstrom in his book Nikolay Gogol notes that ‘‘the need for greater realism in the theater’’ was ‘‘one of Gogol's most pressing concerns.’’ Gogol consciously desired to counter the burlesque and sentimentality of popular Russian drama with a play that revealed everyday people in everyday life. Edward Braun, in an introduction to...