A brief image of Khlestakov in the comedy "Inspector General": a man without moral principles

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

N. V. Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General" has long been sold with quotes and sharp comparisons, as they very accurately reflect human nature. This work, which the great writer wrote in 1835, is relevant to this day. Because it describes with the brightest accuracy the most diverse features of the human character, in particular its main character. A coward, a braggart, a self-confident person - this is a brief image of Khlestakov. In the comedy "The Inspector General" these features are revealed juicy and bright.

Deceit of the century

This work begins with the fact that in one county town they are waiting for a very important person - an auditor who is going with an important check. And here comes the gentleman, very modest and businesslike. The author draws a brief image of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Government Inspector" with very positive colors. Ivan Vladimirovich, that's the name of the visitor, very "pleasant appearance." It does not make a stunning impression and is not even remarkable. But if you look closely at the hero, he is quite worthy of attention.

Circumstances were such that Khlestakov was mistaken for an important person. And he, instead of immediatelycorrect the misunderstanding, instantly enters the image. This is where the most hidden qualities of his character appear.

The loser and the little man

An ordinary ordinary person of that time - here is a brief image of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General", which the author draws for us at the beginning. He lives in a big city, which is full of various temptations and temptations. But the secular society of the Northern capital refuses to accept him into their ranks. After all, Khlestakov’s position is not high enough, but he does not shine with a special mind, he does not have any sparkling talents. It can be safely attributed to the banal losers who came to conquer St. Petersburg. But his strength - both financial and moral - the hero clearly overestimated. He is an ordinary little man in a big capital.

But here fate gives such a chance - to demonstrate that you are an outstanding person. And Khlestakov enthusiastically rushes into this adventure.

County nobility

What society does the main character fall into? This is the environment of the small landed nobility, whose representatives are only concerned with emphasizing their significance and greatness. Each resident of the county town tries to emphasize the shortcomings of the other in order to prove that he is the best. The characters in Gogol's "Inspector General" are swaggering, sometimes stupid, but consider themselves to be the local aristocracy.

And Khlestakov, the most ordinary little clerk, falls into such a society, as the author writes about him - “neither this nor that.”

A reasonable question arises - why did the main character not immediately admit that he is not the one for whomis it accepted? But the author does not give an answer to this question - maybe he just wanted to play an important person?

A brief image of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Government Inspector" can be described as follows - this is a person who is too far from ideal, he is a player, he is a petty reveler. Khlestakov believes that comfort should prevail, and worldly pleasures should come first. He sees nothing shameful in fooling swindlers. Moreover, he is sure that he is doing a “holy work.”

Gogol brought out a wonderful image of a braggart and a coward who does not aspire to anything and simply burns his life. He is “one of those people who are called empty in the offices.”

By the way, Khlestakov's quotes from The Inspector General very aptly and vividly characterize a certain circle of people. The exact descriptions given to the characters in a few words quite accurately reflect their inner essence.

It is interesting that, in addition to the real face, there is a ghost in the hero who takes revenge on him with fantastic self-assertion. He tries with might and main to be not who he really is, but it desperately fails. But even Khlestakov's own lackey openly despises the master. Here is how he speaks of his master: “It would really be good to have something worthwhile, otherwise it’s a simple lady.”

Both a bouncer and a scoundrel

Khlestakov has a good pedigree. He was born into the family of an old-world landowner, in the outback of Russia. But for some reason he was unable to keep in touch either with his family, or with the people, or with the land. He does not remember his relationship and from this it becomes, as it were,an artificial person who jumped out of the "Peter's table of ranks." About his father, he speaks rather dismissively: "They, penny, do not know what it means to" order to accept "". Such Khlestakov's quotes from The Inspector General once again emphasize that the hero does not honor family traditions, and even tries to make fun of his old father.

But that doesn't stop him from taking money from his "uneducated father" and spending it as he pleases.

Narcissistic, gambling, boastful - this is a brief image of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Government Inspector". He arrived at the hotel and immediately demands the most delicious dinner for himself, because he supposedly was not used to anything else. He loses all the money, but he can't stop. He insults the servant and yells at him, but at some points he eagerly listens to his advice.

And how much boasting! Without batting an eye, he declares that he is excellent at writing, and he personally wrote such famous works as "Robert the Devil" and "Fenella" in one evening. He does not even suspect that these are not books, but operas!

And even when the mayor's daughter convicts him of a lie and remembers the real author of the work - "Yuri Miloslavsky", Khlestakov immediately declares that he has exactly the same composition.

One can only envy such an ability to instantly rebuild and not be shy! To impress the townsfolk, he now and then sprinkles French words, which he knows only a few. It seems to him that his speech becomes secular because of this, but in fact hethe flow of words causes laughter. He does not know how to finish his thought, so he quickly changes topics, jumping from one to another. When he needs something, he can be affectionate and polite. But as soon as Khlestakov gets his, he immediately begins to be rude and rude.

There is no morality, there is only benefit

There are no moral restrictions for Khlestakov. He is an empty and frivolous person who is concerned only with his own well-being. And when officials come to him to give him an elementary bribe, he takes it for granted. At first, when money is given for the first time, he is unusually shy and even drops it from excitement. But when the postmaster comes in, Khlestakov is already more confident in accepting the money. At Strawberries, he simply demands them with vigor. So far, he is sure in his heart that he borrows these funds and will certainly give them back. But as soon as he realizes that he was confused with an important person, Khlestakov instantly adapts to the situation and decides to take advantage of such a great chance.

The place of comedy in world literature

Gogol, The Inspector General, Khlestakov - these words have become firmly established in world literature. The concept of "Khlestakovism" has become a household symbol of deceit, cheating and narrow-mindedness.

The author managed to reflect the nature of the main character in his work so accurately that until now very often false and vicious people are called in one word - Khlestakov. A rogue and a rogue, he never learned from his situation, being in the mean confidence that next time he would certainly be lucky.