Khlestakov was made a nobleman by those fantastic, perverted relationships in which people are put to each other. But, of course, this also required some qualities of Khlestakov himself. When a person is scared (and in this case it is not one person, but the whole city), the most effective thing is to give people the opportunity to continue intimidating themselves, not to interfere with the catastrophic growth of "universal fear." The insignificant and narrow-minded Khlestakov does it with success. He unconsciously and therefore most faithfully leads the role that the situation demands of him.
Gogol immediately makes it clear to the viewer that Khlestakov is not an auditor (anticipating Khlestakov's appearance with Osip's story about him). However, the whole meaning of this character and his attitude to his auditor's "duties" do not become clear at once.
Khlestakov does not experience any orientation process upon arrival in the city - for this he lacks elementary observation. He does not make any plans to deceive officials - for this he does not have sufficient cunning. He does not consciously use the benefits of his position, because what it consists of, he does not think. Only just before his departure did Khlestakov vaguely realize that he was mistaken for "a statesman", for someone else; but for whom, he did not understand. Everything that happens to him in the play happens as if against his will.
The comedy of Phenomenon 8 (Action 2) is that everyone here says and believes what he says, although in reality everything is different. The mayor believes that Khlestakov skillfully lies, so as not to reveal his status as an inspector, Khlestakov brazenly and self-confidently tries to prove that although he lives on debt, he will return everything. Everyone says what he believes, although all this does not fit into the truth. Hence the comic of the situation.
The mayor has a lot of remarks aside, since this reveals his character, thoughts and emotions in relation to the false auditor and the whole situation.
Khlestakov is so stupid that he does not even immediately understand who he is mistaken for. He lives for one minute, he can lie with inspiration, but he does not do it consciously, not intending to deceive anyone. He is not aware of his actions, "extraordinary lightness in thoughts." The paradox is that everyone takes such an empty person for an important person. After the mayor invites Khlestakov to his place, everyone finally becomes confident that he is the auditor. After his inspired, lying to the point of absurdity, about what an important figure he is in St. Petersburg, the officials fear him even more and consider it their duty to come to him one by one and “repent”.
The development of the action culminates in Act III. The comic struggle continues. The governor deliberately goes to his goal: to force Khlestakov to "let it out", "to tell more" in order to "find out what he is and to what extent he should be feared." After visiting the charitable institution, where the guest was offered a magnificent breakfast, Khlestakov was at the height of bliss. “Cut off and cut off hitherto in everything, even in his manners to walk the trump card along Nevsky Prospect, he felt the spaciousness and suddenly turned around unexpectedly for himself, he got into a conversation, not knowing at the beginning of the conversation where his speech would go. The topics of conversation he are given are fervent. They kind of put everything in his mouth and create a conversation, "writes N. V. Gogol in the" Pre-Notice ". For a few minutes in the scene of lies, Khlestakov makes a dizzying career: from a petty official (“You may think that I’m just rewriting…”) to a field marshal (“The State Council itself is afraid of me”). The action in this scene develops with increasing energy. On the one hand, these are the tales of Ivan Alexandrovich, gradually losing all plausibility and reaching their climax at the end of the phenomenon. On the other hand, this is the behavior of the listeners, who are increasingly frightened by the guest's speeches. Their experiences are expressively conveyed by remarks: at the beginning of the conversation, "the governor and everyone sits down" at Khlestakov's gracious invitation, but when it is mentioned that in his hallway one can supposedly meet counts and princes, even the minister, "the governor and others timidly get up from their chairs." The words: "And it happened, as I pass through the department - just an earthquake, everything trembles and shakes like a leaf" - accompanied by the remark: "the governor and others are lost from fear." At the end of the scene, the mayor, “coming up and shaking with his whole body, tries to utter” something, but out of fright he cannot utter a word. Khlestakov himself believes in what he says. He, lying, presents himself as a great writer, and a general, and a public figure, almost the sovereign-emperor himself.
Without a twinge of conscience, this hero borrows money from officials, knowing that he will not return it. Khlestakov considers it permissible to drag right after two ladies - the wife and daughter of the mayor, both promising love to the grave: “It's nothing! There is no difference for love; and Karamzin said: "Laws condemn." We will retire under the canopy of the streams ... "
And all this "disgrace" could continue for a long time. And it would have ended very badly for Khlestakov himself, because the hero could not have stopped in time. By a lucky coincidence, he leaves the city, and soon the mayor and the whole city will find out that he was just a deceiver, a liar, a helper: “He took the icicle, a rag for an important person! There he is now filling the whole road with a bell! Will spread history all over the world. "
Khlestakov leaves the city, as he guesses that he will soon be exposed.
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Why is Khlestakov lying? Let's try to find the answer in this article.
Lies Khlestakov
Khlestakov is a deceitful person; in his inner emptiness, he even stands far below not only the governor and other officials, but also his lackey Osip. He is completely incapable of any coherent thinking; he has, in his own words, "a remarkable lightness in thought": his thought continually flies from object to object, so that he himself forgets what he was just talking about. His highest delight is to show off on a walk in a fashionable suit, to show off, especially in front of the ladies. Small vanity, a desire to show off, that's what guides all his actions.
To satisfy this passion, he resorts to the most shameless lies, especially when he sees that he is being listened to, that he is being looked after: he runs the department and goes to the palace, and plays cards with the messengers. Finally, he lies so deeply that even a frightened mayor notices this, although he explains it in his own way: “and he said more than necessary; it is clear that the man is young. "
However, Khlestakov is not at all a deliberate deceiver and not an impostor. He lies without any purpose, not out of any personal, selfish motives, but out of simple frivolity and fanfare. In the moments when he lies, he even believes his own words, although he immediately forgets about them and sometimes loses his tone and remembers his room on the fourth floor, about the cook Mavrushka. As there is little connection in his thoughts, there is also little connection in his actions. He is not at all aware of his actions, does not think about the result.
The thought that flashed in his head immediately turns into word or deed: in this sense Khlestakov is a purely impulsive nature. This feature of him is especially clearly manifested in the 4th act, when Khlestakov then accepts officials and takes money from them (borrowed, since he heard in St. Petersburg that taking bribes is ignoble), then promises merchants to "remove" the governor, then declares his love at the same time to his wife and daughter, then, finally, unexpectedly leaves, tempted by the prospect of rolling with style in a dashing troika, and thus, following Osip's prudent advice, gets rid of the troubles that awaited him when a real auditor arrived. Gogol attached great importance to the role of Khlestakov.
Khlestakov, according to Gogol, is not just a petty Petersburg vest, he is also a representative of a very widespread type; therefore, his image, in addition to the particular, also has a general meaning. A lot of people strive in life to seem not what they really are, and this contradiction between being and appearing is precisely the root of any "Khlestakovism", with the only difference that it does not always manifest itself as vividly and clearly as in the person of Khlestakov.
Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol needs no introduction. He is known, in particular, for combating the shortcomings of modern society with the help of laughter. In 1835, Gogol decided to compose a play that would represent truly Russian vices and characters. So in 1836 the comedy "The Inspector General" was born. Its main character is Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov. Today we will talk about why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor, a large official from St. Petersburg. After all, it would seem that his true position in society was not difficult to guess.
News of the imminent arrival of the auditor
In order to answer the question of why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor, it is necessary to turn to the very beginning of the work. Gogol's comedy begins with the fact that Anton Antonovich, the mayor, gathers officials together and says that he has "unpleasant news" for everyone. It turns out that soon an auditor should come from St. Petersburg with an inspection. At the same time, it is not known how he will look and when exactly he is going to arrive. This news, naturally, shocked the officials of the city N. It brought some confusion to their measured and lazy life.
State of affairs in town N
It should be said that the officials were bribe-takers. Each of them is concerned only with how to get more money. It seems that at that time in the city of N, spending by officials of the city treasury and receiving bribes were common things. Even the law was powerless against this.
The governor, for example, justified himself by the fact that his salary was insufficient. He was allegedly not even enough for tea with sugar. As for the city judge, he did not at all consider that he was a bribe-taker, since he took not money, but puppies. The postmaster of the city of N. also distinguished himself. To obtain information, he opened other people's letters.
Undoubtedly, such an irresponsible attitude of officials to official duties ultimately led to the fact that the city fell into desolation. It is clear that the news of the upcoming inspection alarmed the local elite. It's no wonder why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor in this turmoil.
Preparing for the arrival of the auditor
While waiting for the arrival of the authorities with a check, each of the officials began to frantically remember what needs to be done. Finally, they all began to make attempts to restore order in their departments. There was a lot of work. Servants in the courthouse were drying clothes and raising geese. Patients in the local hospital smoked tobacco and wore dirty clothes. The church was supposed to be built a long time ago, 5 years ago, but its opening did not take place. The governor told everyone to say that the fire destroyed this building. It was ordered to demolish the old fence near the shoemaker. In its place it was ordered to put a model made of straw. The mayor Anton Antonovich himself, looking at such a deplorable state of affairs, self-critically admitted that it was a "nasty city".
Arrival of Khlestakov
City officials, of course, were afraid of their superiors. Therefore, they were ready to see an inspector from the capital in any visitor. That is why the officials took Khlestakov for an auditor. When the rumor spread that some unknown person had been living in the hotel in the city of N for a long time, everyone decided that this stranger was bound to be an inspector. In addition, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov (that was the name of the guest) arrived from St. Petersburg and was dressed in the latest metropolitan fashion. Indeed, why should a resident of the capital come to a district town? There can be only one answer: to check! We hope that it is now clear to you why the officials took Khlestakov for an auditor.
Meeting of the "auditor" with the mayor
Ivan Alexandrovich's meeting with the mayor is very curious. The latter, in a panic, put a box on his head instead of a hat. The governor distributed the last assignments to his subordinates on the way before meeting with an important guest.
The comic scene of the meeting of these heroes lies in the fact that both of them are afraid. Khlestakov was threatened by the innkeeper that he would hand him over to the mayor, and he would be sent to prison. And then the mayor appears ... Both heroes are afraid of each other. Ivan Aleksandrovich also shouts loudly and gets excited, which makes his guest tremble even more with fear. The governor tries to bribe him to appease him, invites the "inspector" to stay with him. Having met an unexpectedly warm welcome, Khlestakov calms down. At first Ivan Alexandrovich does not even suspect who the mayor thinks he is. He does not immediately think about why he was received so warmly. Khlestakov is completely sincere and truthful. He turned out to be simpler, not more cunning, because he did not intend to deceive at first. However, the mayor believes that the auditor is thus trying to hide who he really is. If Ivan Aleksandrovich were a conscientious liar, he would have a much better chance of being unraveled and understood. The way Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor is very significant. The general fear did not allow the officials and the mayor to open their eyes.
How Khlestakov played his role in the comedy "The Inspector General"
Note that Ivan Alexandrovich was not at a loss in the future either. He performed the role imposed by the circumstances superbly. At first Khlestakov thought, seeing the officials and the mayor, that they had arrived in order to put him in prison for non-payment of the hotel debt. However, then he realized that he was mistaken for some high-ranking official. And Ivan Alexandrovich was not averse to taking advantage of this. At first, he easily borrowed money from each of the city officials.
Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General" became a respected person and a welcome guest in any home. He charmed the mayor's daughter and wife, and even offered his daughter to marry him.
Scene of lies
The scene of Ivan Alexandrovich's lies is the culmination of the work. Khlestakov as an auditor, having drunk a fair amount, says that he has an excellent position in the capital. He is familiar with Pushkin, dines with the minister, is an irreplaceable employee. And in his free time, Khlestakov allegedly writes musical and literary works.
It seems that because of his lies, he is about to be exposed, but the local public catches his every word and believes in all kinds of absurdities. Osip, Ivan Alexandrovich's servant, turns out to be the only one who understood the mistake made by Khlestakov. Fearing for his master, he takes him out of town N.
Deception is revealed
Imagine the city officials when they discovered that they had been deceived by some petty clerk who had arrived from St. Petersburg! In the play, a fight further ensues between them. Each of them seeks to find out who failed to recognize the impostor, why Khlestakov was mistaken for an auditor. However, the misadventures of city N officials do not end there. After all, the news comes that a real auditor has arrived! This concludes the play.
The goodie of the play
Nikolai Vasilyevich was often reproached for the fact that there were no positive characters in his work. Gogol replied that there is still one such character - laughter.
So, we answered the question: "Why was Khlestakov mistaken for an auditor?" Briefly summarizing what has been said above, we note that fear is the main cause of universal error. It is he who is the engine of the plot in the work of Gogol and creates a situation of delusion. It is the fear of losing warm places and the fear of verification that gives rise to which absolutely all the characters of the comedy fall.