Characters
Anna Andreyevna
Anna Andreyevna, the governor's wife, is described by Gogol as "still tolerably
young, and a provincial coquette," who occasionally shows a vain nature. Her
preoccupation with appearance is highlighted by the stage direction that she
"changes her dress four times" throughout the play. Anna shamelessly flirts
with Hlestakov, and when he announces his engagement to her daughter Marya, she
eagerly anticipates the advantages she will gain in Saint Petersburg due to the
marriage.
Bobchinsky
Bobchinsky, along with his brother Dobchinsky, is a landowner in the town.
Gogol notes that the brothers are "remarkably like each other." Both are
"short, fat, and inquisitive," wearing short waistcoats and speaking quickly
with excessive gesticulation. Gogol distinguishes them by stating that
"Dobchinsky is the taller and steadier, Bobchinsky the more free and easy, of
the pair."
Dobchinsky
Dobchinsky, like his brother Bobchinsky, is a landowner in the town. The two
brothers are the first to spot Hlestakov at the inn and mistakenly believe he
is the government inspector. They rush to inform the governor of the
inspector's arrival, setting off the chain of mistaken identity that drives the
entire play.
The Governor
The town's governor has the most to lose with the arrival of the government
inspector, as he holds the most power and is the most corrupt. Gogol describes
him as "a man who has grown old in the state service," who "wears an air of
dignified respectability, but is by no means incorruptible." When Hlestakov
announces his engagement to the governor's daughter, the governor immediately
indulges in fantasies of a luxurious, high-status life in Saint Petersburg as a
result.
Hlestakov
Hlestakov, sometimes spelled Khlestakov, is a young man around twenty-three
years old. He works as a low-ranking government clerk and is traveling through
a small town with his servant, Ossip. Having squandered all his money gambling,
Hlestakov is unable to settle his bill at the inn. The townspeople mistakenly
believe he is the government inspector arriving incognito to audit the local
government. Initially, Hlestakov fears the governor will arrest him for not
paying his bill, but he soon realizes he is being treated as an esteemed guest.
Seizing the opportunity, Hlestakov spins elaborate tales about his life in
Saint Petersburg, indulges in a lavish feast provided by the townspeople,
extorts bribes from local officials, and even falsely proposes marriage to the
governor's daughter. He departs the town just before a letter he wrote to a
friend, revealing his deceit, is intercepted and read by the postmaster, who
then informs the governor. By this point, Hlestakov is long gone, beyond the
reach of any retribution the townspeople might have sought. Gogol emphasized
that Hlestakov is not a deliberate con artist but an opportunist exploiting the
mistaken identity.
Marya
Marya is the governor's daughter. She and her mother rush to the inn to meet
the supposed government inspector. Responding to Hlestakov's flirtations, she
accepts his marriage proposal. However, Hlestakov leaves the town, falsely
promising to return in a few days to marry her, with no intention of fulfilling
his promise.
Ossip
Ossip is Hlestakov's servant. Gogol portrays him as a middle-aged man who "is
fond of arguing and lecturing his master." Gogol also notes that Ossip is more
perceptive than Hlestakov and "sees things quicker." Ossip speaks to himself,
revealing Hlestakov's true identity and financial ruin to the audience. Sensing
the imminent discovery of their deceit, Ossip wisely urges Hlestakov to leave
the town as quickly as possible.
Postmaster
The postmaster is characterized as "an artless simpleton." He abuses his
position by opening and reading others' letters, sometimes keeping the ones he
finds intriguing. Although his role is minor, it is crucial to the plot because
he intercepts Hlestakov's letter to his friend, which exposes Hlestakov as a
fraud and not the government inspector.
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