The character of strawberries in the comedy The Examiner. Strawberries are a characteristic of a comedy hero. Some interesting essays

Gogol's idea to display everything bad in his work was completely successful at the time of the events he describes. All existing vices are mixed together in the image of the main and secondary characters. The image and characterization of Strawberries in the comedy "The Government Inspector" is similar to the image of many officials not only in tsarist Russia. In our time, people like Artemy Filippovich are no less common. The wrong side of the bureaucratic system will be exposed to the reader in all its glory, exposing in an unsightly light the employees of state structures, who are used to solving their problems bypassing the law.

Image of Strawberry

“Strawberry, the trustee of charitable institutions, is a very fat, clumsy and clumsy person, but for all that he is a sly and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy…”

Full name Artemy Filippovich Strawberry. Works as an official. Responsible for all charitable institutions in the city: hospitals, shelters, educational institutions, almshouses. Married. A father of many children with five children of different sexes. Appearance Strawberry makes a repulsive impression.

"... Strawberry is a perfect pig in a yarmulke ..."

Fat fat man with a good-natured physiognomy. In fact, behind the rustic appearance of Artemy Filippovich, there is a cunning, hypocritical person who is capable of substituting his neighbor without a twinge of conscience for the sake of his own interests.

Characteristic

Strawberry is a typical representative official world. His character will be revealed to the reader gradually, but from the first minutes it is clear how rotten and vile a person this character is.

Negligence. Like most officials, he is absolutely indifferent to work. God knows what is going on in the institutions entrusted to him. sick in dirty clothes walking down the corridor. The smell of tobacco interrupts all the others. Above the hospital beds there is not a single sign with the name of the patient. Medicines do not reach patients.

Arrogant. Strawberries have a high opinion of themselves. People who occupy a position in society lower than his automatically become inferior in his eyes. Patients in the institutions entrusted to him live their own lives. Nobody cares about them. With Khristian Ivanovich, they have their own view of mere mortals.

“... the closer to nature, the better; We do not use expensive drugs. A simple man: if he dies, then he will die; If he recovers, then he will recover.”

Liar. Pretending that he loves his job and faithfully performs duties for Strawberry is easy.

“I can say that I do not regret anything and zealously perform my service…”

“Since I took over as boss, it may even seem incredible to you, everyone has been recovering like flies. The patient will not have time to enter the infirmary, as he is already healthy; and not so much medicines, but honesty and order ... "

Traitor and careerist. It is not necessary to have such a friend, an enemy. strawberries for the sake of career development is able to betray and substitute those who have worked side by side with him for more than one year. Hooking up colleagues is his favorite pastime. According to Strawberry, in order to achieve the goal, you can use all means, as in war. Wanting to please Khlestakov, he handed over the judge and the postmaster with giblets.

“Here, the local postmaster does absolutely nothing: everything is in great neglect, the parcels are delayed ... if you please, look for it yourself on purpose. The judge also...

Strawberry always finds an excuse for his unseemly deeds, convincing everyone that they are beneficial. All, they say, for the good of the fatherland.

Briber. Bribes are common for Strawberry. He is accustomed to using cash to solve many problems. It is money that helps close their eyes to his sins before the law.

Flattering, helpful. Strawberries are used to fawning over superiors. He perfectly mastered this tactic and knows when and to whom you can sing sweet speeches for the sake of your own interests. His speech is hectic. The movements are clumsy. His whole appearance is comical, but it is worth remembering that the appearance this person deceptive. The good-natured fat man is actually cruel and prudent. He knows what he wants from life and how to get it.

The trustee of charitable institutions, a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man, but for all that he is a sly and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy. Strawberries are a rogue, embezzler and informer. He knows how, when and what to say. The trustee of charitable institutions, a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man, but for all that he is a sly and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy. Strawberries are a rogue, embezzler and informer. He knows how, when and what to say.

Artemy Filippovich Zemlyanika serves in a small county town and leads a life “according to his rank and position”, does not care about the state interest at all, while his own well-being is above all for him, mercy is in the hands of a swindler. Charitable institutions for Strawberries are a feeding trough, In the treatment of the sick, his credo: “The closer to nature, the better,” Artemy Filippovich Strawberry serves in a small county town and leads a life “according to his rank and position”, does not care at all about the state interest , while his own well-being is above all for him, mercy is in the hands of a swindler. Charitable institutions for Strawberries - a feeder, In the treatment of patients, his credo: "The closer to nature, the better,"

Artemy Filippovich does not bother to diagnose the patient's disease and treat it. He says in this regard: “A simple man: if he dies, then he will die anyway; If he recovers, then he will recover.” Artemy Filippovich does not bother to diagnose the patient's disease and treat it. He says in this regard: “A simple man: if he dies, then he will die anyway; If he recovers, then he will recover.”

Before the arrival of the Inspector General, in the charitable establishments of Strawberry, dirt and disorder reign. The cooks have dirty hats, and the sick have clothes that look like they worked in a forge. In addition, patients constantly smoke. Before the arrival of the Inspector General, in the charitable establishments of Strawberry, dirt and disorder reign. The cooks have dirty hats, and the sick have clothes that look like they worked in a forge. In addition, patients constantly smoke.

Strawberries are afraid of the inspector, and therefore, when he learns about the inspector's arrival, he is ready to "take cosmetic measures": put clean caps on the sick, inscribe the name of the disease on a sign over the beds, and reduce the number of sick people so that their excess is not attributed to bad looking or to the incompetence of the doctor. Strawberries are afraid of the inspector, and therefore, when he learns about the inspector's arrival, he is ready to "take cosmetic measures": put clean caps on the sick, inscribe the name of the disease on a sign over the beds, and reduce the number of sick people so that their excess is not attributed to bad looking or to the incompetence of the doctor.

When he found out that Dmukhanovsky's daughter is marrying a fictional Inspector, he hurries to congratulate the mayor on his upcoming wedding and future career. Artemy Filippovich sees the reason for the “rise” of the mayor in his merits. In his heart he curses his boss, who intends to receive the rank of general. True, he says this aside, as if to himself. At the same time, out of habit, he hurries to remind himself: “And don’t forget us ... When he found out that Dmukhanovsky’s daughter was marrying a fictional Inspector, he hurries to congratulate the mayor on his upcoming wedding and future career. Artemy Filippovich sees the reason for the “rise” of the mayor in his merits. In his heart he curses his boss, who intends to receive the rank of general. True, he says this aside, as if to himself. At the same time, out of habit, he hurries to remind himself: “And don’t forget us ...

After he finds out that the Inspector is not Khlestakov, he hostilely perceives reviews about himself from Khlestakov's letter, in anger tries to find out who "spread the rumor" that the auditor had arrived. After he finds out that the Inspector is not Khlestakov, he hostilely perceives reviews about himself from Khlestakov's letter, in anger tries to find out who "spread the rumor" that the auditor had arrived.

The work can be used for lessons and reports on the subject "Literature"

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Strawberry Artemy Filippovich is one of the most slippery, nasty and vile characters in Gogol's comedy The Inspector General. And although he occupies a secondary role, the ugliness of his human features can be seen in small details.

Who is he? First of all, a careerist who is engaged in intriguing his familiar officials. He was assigned the role of a trustee of charitable institutions.

The action of the comedy takes place in 1831, when denunciations and gossip against his comrades were widespread, and Strawberry succeeded in this more than others: as soon as the fake auditor meets him, Artemy Filippovich immediately lays out all the ins and outs on his colleagues. About one of them, he says that he does not understand how he was generally assigned the position of superintendent of schools. According to Strawberry, he is "worse than a Jacobin".

Strawberry looks impressive, though his body large sizes, clumsy movements. And his fussiness, the desire to serve as best as possible and as quickly as possible, makes him a funny elephant who first got into the apartment, behaves extremely accommodatingly to the "owner", does not dare to contradict. But as soon as the opportunity arises to overthrow the "owner", he is ready to sell his own mother for this. Artemy Filippovich did not give a damn about moral principles and moral aspects of his life. It is precisely because Strawberry knows how to curry favor better than others that the prospective auditor is led to him in the first place.

During the situation in the hospital, we realize that our clumsy friend is also very greedy. And he justifies his greed both for himself and for those around him with seemingly noble motives that literally make him not buy the necessary expensive drugs for his institution, because, according to him, “the closer to nature, the better.” By no means, these are not all the problems that exist in the hospital: the patients here do not hesitate to treat themselves to cigarettes, the cooks wear caps that have not been washed for a long time. In general, filth and despondency reign in the entire hospital. Strawberry himself does not deal with the affairs of the hospital: he does not treat and does not even make diagnoses.

Artemy Filippovich is a lazy person with a capital letter, who does not want to work, improve the lives of his patients and his hospital workers. He doesn't care how patients feel, he thinks about money, honor and status. The image of such a person was relevant during the life of Gogol, but now we can see exactly the same characters everywhere, which is very sad.

Composition about the character Strawberry

Strawberries are one of the minor characters in the comedy by N.V. Gogol's "Inspector". Artemy Filippovich Zemlyanika - head of churches, hospitals, orphanages, educational institutions, monasteries, in a word, establishments pleasing to God. Gogol describes the hero as an intriguer, a man stewing in gossip, lies and snitching. Strawberry tells Khlestakov all the rabble that his colleagues and city officials are dealing with. It was a description of the character in a nutshell. Now let's expand on this image in more detail.

Strawberry is a fat man with a kind face. But it's not. Behind his good face is a deceitful, hypocritical official who, for his own benefit, can easily step over any person.

Strawberries are a collective image of all officials. His essence will be revealed to the reader in stages, from chapter to chapter, but already from the first pages it becomes clear that nothing good can be expected from such a character.

Strawberry is extremely negligent. Almost like all his colleagues, he does not care about his own work. Chaos, confusion and absurdity unfold in the places he is supposed to lead. The visitors to his hospital are dirty, dressed in rags and smell terrible. The hospital smells of tobacco. Often patients forget to give medicines. Above their beds there are no signs that would indicate their names and surnames.

In addition, arrogance is highly developed in Strawberry. He considers himself better and smarter than others. Officials who occupy a rank below him are considered inferior invalids in his eyes.

The hero is lying. It is not difficult for him to pretend very plausibly that he loves his work, that he loves the visitors of his establishments. The whole activity of Strawberry lies in the fact that he imitates this activity.

A hero by nature is a person who can easily betray for the sake of his career. If there is such a friend, then the enemy is definitely not needed. For the sake of his well-being, Strawberry can betray those people who have worked with him for a very long time and will not blink an eye at the same time. Surviving colleagues from work is his hobby. Strawberry adheres to the principle "The end justifies the means." Say, in the work you need to do anything, for the sake of obtaining benefits. The most interesting thing is that the hero finds excuses for all his immoral actions. He tries to convince everyone that all his actions can be of great benefit to society.

Thus, there is not a single decent quality in Strawberry. Gogol believes that people like him can destroy Russian society.

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The remarkable comedy by N. V. Gogol "The Inspector General" was created by the author at the beginning of the 19th century, but still remains relevant. The perspicacious classic managed to draw portraits of officials - the children of his time, but meanwhile their features can be found in people - our contemporaries. Let's get acquainted with the characterization of Strawberry from The Inspector General, highlight the main features of the image of this official and find out why Gogol included him in the plot fabric of his play.

Brief introduction

For the first time, the reader meets with Strawberry when he gets acquainted with the list of characters. Then Gogol briefly describes his hero as a fat and extremely clumsy person, distinguished by helpfulness and fussiness.

Already after reading these introductory fragments, one can make a brief description of Strawberries from The Inspector General: this trustee of charitable institutions is dishonest, a swindler and a rogue is hiding behind his good-natured appearance. He achieves his goals not by honest work, but by fawning and currying favor with those who are higher than him in rank.

Further acquaintance with the play will show that Gogol, with amazing talent, created the image of an unscrupulous official, describing him in just two lines.

Character

Artemy Filippovich Strawberry from The Inspector General, whose characteristics are presented below, appears in the first phenomenon of the first act, by which the author emphasizes that this official is one of the key characters in the play. There were many charitable institutions at the time when the writer lived and worked. These are hospitals, and shelters, and nursing homes. Strawberry was supposed to help the weakest and most vulnerable people, from whom there is nothing to take away, but he cynically uses his position for personal gain.

Consider what character traits must be indicated when characterizing Strawberries from the "Inspector":

• Lie. The official lies that he conscientiously approaches his duties and takes care of the people entrusted to him.
• Cynicism. This person does not want to do anything, however, preparing for the arrival of the auditor, he is ready to give out clean caps to the sick, to hide the lawlessness that is happening in hospitals behind a mask of decency.
• Ignorance. The trustee of charitable institutions knows nothing about medicine, he does not acquire expensive medicines. He believes that a person is simple - "if he dies, then he will die anyway, if he recovers, then he will recover anyway." The patients in his institutions are more like blacksmiths than people in need of medical attention.

This official fawns over the imaginary auditor, but instead of trying to restore order in the institutions, he prefers an easier way - to give bribes.

Relations with other officials

Giving a characterization of Strawberries from The Inspector General, it should be mentioned that this hero is an informer and a traitor. Wanting to curry favor, he betrays all the secrets of his friends without a shadow of a doubt. In a conversation with Khlestakov, Strawberry begins to expose his colleagues to the false auditor, confidentially reporting that the postmaster is a loafer, delays all parcels and does nothing, the judge has a fairly close relationship with the wife of the landowner Dobchinsky. He is even ready to state all this information in writing, that is, to write a denunciation.

Speech Features

Consider the main speech features, helping in the characterization of Strawberries from the "Inspector". In conversations with other officials, he keeps on an equal footing, offers methods on how to appease the auditor. So, it was he who started talking about the need to give Khlestakov a bribe.

When talking with a guest, Strawberry is very polite, we note such turns of his: “I have the honor to introduce myself”, “I am glad to try”, “would you please ask”. They help him to be respectful, to show his respect to the imaginary auditor.

His side remarks are interesting, in which the true attitude of the hero towards other officials is displayed.

exposure

The characterization of Strawberries from The Inspector General should be continued in the text by an analysis of the last scenes, when officials, to their horror, find out that Khlestakov was mistaken for an inspector. How does Artemy Filippovich appear to readers in these actions?

• He is very pleased when, when reading a letter aloud, facts discrediting other officials are uttered, but he begins to lie and play up when he has to read aloud about himself.
• Khlestakov called him "a pig in a yarmulke", which sincerely offended the full hero. Here we are talking about comparison and features appearance, and behavior.
• Not getting out of the crowd of angry officials, Strawberry begins to actively accuse Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky that it was they who initially mistook the visiting gentleman for the inspector.

The characterization of Strawberries from The Inspector General becomes complete, the reader understands that this person is always trying to find the guilty, cannot take responsibility for his own actions, is envious and deceitful. If quite recently he was indignant at the mayor, who had the good fortune to marry off his daughter to an important official, now he is ready to unite with him and unleash anger on Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky.

Role and significance

Gogol deliberately does not indicate the place of action, saying only that all events unfold in the county town N. By this, the writer emphasizes that such unscrupulous officials can exist throughout Russia.

It was funny for viewers and readers to observe the behavior of the trustee of charitable institutions, who, however, for all his amusingness, appears to be a terrible person. He was given great power, the opportunity to do good deeds and help people, but Artemy Filippovich prefers only to profit by saving on the sick.

IN brief description Strawberries from The Inspector General should definitely indicate that this character, although endowed with Gogol's speech individuality (which is worth one phrase that the sick recover like flies), is typical of his time. An unscrupulous official who carelessly performs his duties; an envious person, a liar, a scammer and a licker - this is what the trustee of charitable institutions and many officials of his time are like. Gogol boldly laughs at them, exposing them in an absurd way, but in fact the writer is sad and painful to see that there are a lot of such unworthy people in life.

We examined the characterization of Strawberries in Gogol's The Government Inspector. It should be noted that this character is a combination of negative traits that were inherent in unscrupulous careerist officials of the 19th century.

Comedy in five acts

There is nothing to blame on the mirror if the face is crooked.

folk proverb

Characters

Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, mayor. Anna Andreevna, his wife. Marya Antonovna, his daughter. Luka Lukich Khlopov, superintendent of schools. His wife. Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin, judge. Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, trustee of charitable institutions. Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, postmaster.

Petr Ivanovich Dobchinsky Petr Ivanovich Bobchinsky

urban landowners.

Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg. Osip, his servant. Christian Ivanovich Gibner, county physician.

Fedor Andreevich Lyulyukov Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovskiy Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin

retired officials, honorary persons in the city.

Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, private bailiff.

Svistunov Buttons Derzhimorda

policemen.

Abdulin, merchant. Fevronya Petrovna Poshlepkina, locksmith. Non-commissioned officer's wife. Mishka, servant of the mayor. Servant of the tavern. Guests and guests, merchants, petty bourgeois, petitioners.

Characters and costumes

Notes for gentlemen actors

Mayor, already aged in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; quite serious; somewhat even a reasoner; speaks neither loudly nor softly, neither more nor less. His every word is significant. His features are rough and hard, like those of anyone who has begun a hard service from the lower ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from baseness to arrogance is quite quick, like a person with a crudely developed inclination of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is short, with grey. Anna Andreevna, his wife, a provincial coquette, not yet quite old, brought up half on novels and albums, half on chores in her pantry and girl's. Very curious and on occasion shows vanity. Sometimes she takes power over her husband only because he does not find what to answer her; but this power extends only to trifles and consists in reprimands and ridicule. She changes into different dresses four times throughout the play. Khlestakov, a young man of about twenty-three, thin, thin; somewhat stupid and, as they say, without a king in his head, one of those people who are called empty in the offices. He speaks and acts without any thought. He is unable to stop constant attention for any thought. His speech is abrupt, and words fly out of his mouth quite unexpectedly. The more the person who plays this role shows sincerity and simplicity, the more he will benefit. Dressed in fashion. Osip, the servant, is the way servants of a few older years usually are. He speaks earnestly, looks down a little, is a reasoner, and likes to lecture himself for his master. His voice is always almost even, in conversation with the master it takes on a stern, abrupt and even somewhat rude expression. He is smarter than his master and therefore guesses more quickly, but he does not like to talk much and is a rogue in silence. His suit is a gray or blue shabby frock coat. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, both short, short, very curious; extremely similar to each other; both with small bellies; both speak in a patter and help tremendously with gestures and hands. Dobchinsky is a little taller and more serious than Bobchinsky, but Bobchinsky is bolder and livelier than Dobchinsky. Lyapkin-Tyapkin, a judge, a man who has read five or six books, and therefore somewhat freethinking. The hunter is great at guessing, and therefore he gives weight to his every word. The person representing him must always keep a significant mine in his face. He speaks in a bass with an oblong drawl, wheezing and glanders like an old clock that hisses first and then strikes. Strawberry, the trustee of charitable institutions, is a very fat, clumsy and clumsy person, but for all that he is a sly and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy. Postmaster, a simple-minded person to the point of naivety. Other roles do not require special explanation. Their originals are almost always in front of your eyes. Gentlemen actors especially should pay attention to the last scene. The last spoken word should produce an electrical shock on everyone at once, all of a sudden. The whole group must change position in the blink of an eye. The sound of astonishment should break out from all women at once, as if from one breast. From non-observance of these remarks, the whole effect may disappear.

Act one

A room in the mayor's house.

Phenomenon I

Mayor, trustee of charitable institutions, superintendent of schools, a judge , a private bailiff , a doctor , two quarterly officers .

Mayor. I have invited you, gentlemen, in order to inform you of the unpleasant news: an auditor is coming to visit us. Ammos Fedorovich. How is the auditor? Artemy Filippovich. How is the auditor? Mayor. An auditor from St. Petersburg, incognito. And with a secret order. Ammos Fedorovich. Here are those on! Artemy Filippovich. There was no concern, so give it up! Luka Lukic. Lord God! even with a secret order! Mayor. I seemed to have a presentiment: all night long I dreamed of two extraordinary rats. Really, I've never seen anything like it: black, unnatural size! came, sniffed and went away. Here I will read you a letter that I received from Andrey Ivanovich Chmykhov, whom you, Artemy Filippovich, know. Here is what he writes: “Dear friend, godfather and benefactor (mumbles in an undertone, quickly running his eyes)...and notify you." A! Here: “I hasten, by the way, to notify you that an official has arrived with an order to inspect the entire province and especially our district (significantly raises a finger up). I learned this from the most reliable people, although he presents himself as a private individual. Since I know that you, like everyone else, have sins, because you are a smart person and do not like to let go of what floats into your hands ... "(stopping), well, here are your own ... "then I advise you take precautions, for he can arrive at any hour, unless he has already arrived and lives somewhere incognito... me and my husband; Ivan Kirilovich has become very fat and still plays the violin...” and so on and so forth. So here is the circumstance! Ammos Fedorovich. Yes, the circumstance is... extraordinary, simply extraordinary. Something out of the blue. Luka Lukic. Why, Anton Antonovich, why is this? Why do we need an auditor? Mayor. For what! So, apparently, fate! (Sighing.) So far, thank God, we have been approaching other cities; Now it's our turn. Ammos Fedorovich. I think, Anton Antonovich, that there is a subtle and more political reason. This means this: Russia ... yes ... wants to wage war, and the ministry, you see, sent an official to find out if there was treason somewhere. Mayor. Ek where enough! Another smart person! Treason in the county town! What is he, borderline, or what? Yes, from here, even if you ride for three years, you will not reach any state. Ammos Fedorovich. No, I'll tell you, you're not the right one ... you're not ... The authorities have subtle views: for nothing it's far away, but it winds its mustache. Mayor. Winds or does not shake, but I warned you, gentlemen. Look, in my part I made some orders, I advise you too. Especially to you, Artemy Filippovich! Without a doubt, a passing official will want first of all to inspect the charitable establishments under your jurisdiction, and therefore you will make sure that everything is decent: the caps are clean, and the sick do not look like blacksmiths, as they usually do at home. Artemy Filippovich. Well, that's nothing. Caps, perhaps, can be put on and clean. Mayor. Yes, and also inscribe above each bed in Latin or in some other language ... that’s in your line, Christian Ivanovich, any illness: when someone fell ill, on what day and date ... It’s not good that you have such patients they smoke strong tobacco so that you always sneeze when you enter. Yes, and it would be better if there were fewer of them: they would immediately attribute them to bad looking or to the lack of skill of a doctor. Artemy Filippovich. ABOUT! As for healing, Christian Ivanovich and I took our measures: the closer to nature, the better, we do not use expensive medicines. A simple man: if he dies, he will die anyway; if he recovers, then he will recover. Yes, and it would be difficult for Khristian Ivanovich to communicate with them: he does not know a word of Russian.

Khristian Ivanovich makes a sound, partly similar to the letter And and a few on e.

Mayor. I would also advise you, Ammos Fedorovich, to pay attention to government places. In your front hall, where petitioners usually go, the watchmen have brought domestic geese with little goslings, which dart around underfoot. It is, of course, commendable to anyone to start a household, and why shouldn’t I start a watchman? only, you know, it's indecent in such a place... I wanted to point this out to you before, but somehow I forgot everything. Ammos Fedorovich. But today I will order them all to be taken to the kitchen. Would you like to come to dinner. Mayor. Besides, it's bad that you have all sorts of rubbish drying up in your very presence and a hunting rapnik just above the cupboard with papers. I know you love hunting, but it’s better to accept him for a while, and then, as soon as the inspector passes by, perhaps you can hang him again. Also, your assessor ... he is, of course, a knowledgeable person, but he smells like he just left the distillery, this is also not good. I wanted to tell you about this for a long time, but I was, I don’t remember, entertained by something. There is against this remedy, if it is already real, as he says, it has a natural smell: you can advise him to eat onions, or garlic, or something else. In this case, Christian Ivanovich can help with various medications.

Christian Ivanovich makes the same sound.

Ammos Fedorovich. No, it is already impossible to drive him out: he says that his mother hurt him as a child, and since then he gives away a little vodka from him. Mayor. Yes, I just noticed that. As for the internal order and what Andrei Ivanovich calls in his letter sins, I can’t say anything. Yes, and it is strange to say: there is no person who would not have some sins behind him. It is already so arranged by God Himself, and the Voltairians speak against it in vain. Ammos Fedorovich. What do you think, Anton Antonovich, sins? Sins to sins strife. I tell everyone openly that I take bribes, but why bribes? Greyhound puppies. This is a completely different matter. Mayor. Well, puppies or whatever all bribes. Ammos Fedorovich. No, Anton Antonovich. But, for example, if someone has a fur coat that costs five hundred rubles, and his wife has a shawl ... Mayor. Well, what if you take bribes with greyhound puppies? But you don't believe in God; you never go to church; but at least I am firm in the faith and go to church every Sunday. And you... Oh, I know you: if you start talking about the creation of the world, your hair will just stand on end. Ammos Fedorovich. Why, he came by himself, by his own mind. Mayor. Well, otherwise a lot of intelligence is worse than none at all. However, I only mentioned the county court in this way; and to tell the truth, it is unlikely that anyone will ever look there: it is such an enviable place, God himself patronizes it. But you, Luka Lukich, as the superintendent of educational institutions, you need to take special care about teachers. They are people, of course, scientists and were brought up in different colleges, but they have very strange actions, naturally inseparable from the academic title. One of them, for example, this one, that has a fat face ... I don’t remember his last name, he can’t do without making a grimace, having ascended the pulpit, like this (makes a grimace), and then starts with his hand from - iron your beard under a tie. Of course, if he makes such a face to a student, then it’s still nothing: maybe it’s there and it’s needed so, I can’t judge about it; but you judge for yourself, if he does this to a visitor, it can be very bad: Mr. Auditor or another who can take it personally. From this the devil knows what can happen. Luka Lukic. What am I supposed to do with him? I've told him several times. Just the other day, when our leader came into the classroom, he cut a face like I've never seen before. He made it out of a good heart, and I reprimanded: why are free-thinking thoughts inspired in youth. Mayor. I must also remark to you about the teacher in the historical part. He is a learned head - this is evident, and he has gathered a lot of information, but he only explains with such fervor that he does not remember himself. I once listened to him: well, for the time being he was talking about the Assyrians and Babylonians nothing else, but how I got to Alexander the Great, I cannot tell you what happened to him. I thought it was a fire, by God! I ran away from the pulpit and that I have the strength to grab the chair on the floor. It is, of course, Alexander the Macedonian hero, but why break the chairs? from this loss to the treasury. Luka Lukic. Yes, he's hot! I have already noticed this to him several times ... He says: "As you wish, for science, I will not spare my life." Mayor. Yes, such is the already inexplicable law of fate: a smart person is either a drunkard, or he will build such a face that at least endure the saints. Luka Lukic. God forbid to serve in the scientific part! You are afraid of everything: everyone gets in the way, everyone wants to show that he is also an intelligent person. Mayor. That would be nothing, damn incognito! Suddenly he looks: “Ah, you are here, my dears! And who, say, is the judge here? Lyapkin-Tyapkin. “And bring Lyapkin-Tyapkin here! And who is the trustee of charitable institutions? "Strawberry". “And bring Strawberries here!” That's what's bad!

Phenomenon II

The same postmaster.

Postmaster. Explain, gentlemen, what official is coming? Mayor. Haven't you heard? Postmaster. I heard from Petr Ivanovich Bobchinsky. I just had it at the post office. Mayor. Well? How do you think about it? Postmaster. What do I think? there will be a war with the Turks. Ammos Fedorovich. In one word! I myself thought the same. Mayor. Yes, they both hit the sky with their fingers! Postmaster. Right, the war with the Turks. It's all French crap. Mayor. What a war with the Turks! It will just be bad for us, not for the Turks. This is already known: I have a letter. Postmaster. And if so, then there will be no war with the Turks. Mayor. Well, how are you, Ivan Kuzmich? Postmaster. What am I? How are you, Anton Antonovich? Mayor. What am I? There is no fear, but just a little... Merchants and citizenship confuse me. They say that I fell in love with them, and I, by God, if I took it from someone else, then, right, without any hatred. I even think (takes his arm and pulls him aside), I even think if there was any denunciation against me. Why do we really need an auditor? Listen, Ivan Kuzmich, can you, for our common benefit, every letter that arrives at your post office, incoming and outgoing, you know, sort of open a little and read: whether it contains some kind of report or just correspondence. If not, then you can seal it again; however, you can even give a letter printed out like that. Postmaster. I know, I know... Don't teach this, I do it not so much as a precaution, but more out of curiosity: I love death to know what's new in the world. I can tell you that this is an interesting read. You will read another letter with pleasure different passages are described in this way ... and what edification ... better than in Moskovskie Vedomosti! Mayor. Well, tell me, have you read anything about some official from St. Petersburg? Postmaster. No, there is nothing about St. Petersburg, but much is said about Kostroma and Saratov. It is a pity, however, that you do not read letters: there are wonderful places. Just recently, a lieutenant wrote to a friend and described the ball in the most playful ... very, very well: “My life, dear friend, flows, says, in the empyrean: there are many young ladies, music plays, the standard jumps ...” described with great feeling. I left it on purpose. Do you want me to read? Mayor. Well, it's not up to that now. So, do me a favor, Ivan Kuzmich: if a complaint or a report comes across by chance, then detain without any reasoning. Postmaster. With great pleasure. Ammos Fedorovich. See if you ever get it for it. Postmaster. Ah, fathers! Mayor. Nothing, nothing. It would be another matter if you made something public out of it, but this is a family affair. Ammos Fedorovich. Yes, something bad has happened! And I, I confess, was going to you, Anton Antonovich, in order to regale you with a little dog. Native sister the dog you know. After all, you heard that Cheptovich and Varkhovinsky started a lawsuit, and now I have the luxury of baiting hares on the lands of both. Mayor. Fathers, your hares are not dear to me now: I have a cursed incognito sitting in my head. So you wait for the door to open and walk ...

Phenomenon III

The same ones, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, both enter out of breath.

Bobchinsky. Emergency! Dobchinsky. Unexpected news! All . What, what is it? Dobchinsky. Unforeseen business: we arrive at the hotel ... Bobchinsky (interrupting). We arrive with Pyotr Ivanovich at the hotel ... Dobchinsky (interrupting). Eh, allow me, Pyotr Ivanovich, I'll tell you. Bobchinsky. Eh, no, let me... let me, let me... you don't even have such a style... Dobchinsky. And you will go astray and do not remember everything. Bobchinsky. I remember, by God, I remember. Don't interfere, let me tell you, don't interfere! Tell me, gentlemen, do me a favor so that Pyotr Ivanovich does not interfere. Mayor. Yes, for God's sake, what is it? My heart is out of place. Sit down, gentlemen! Take the chairs! Pyotr Ivanovich, here's a chair for you.

Everyone sits down around both Petrov Ivanovichs.

Well, what, what is it?

Bobchinsky. Let me, let me: I'm all right. As soon as I had the pleasure of leaving you after you deigned to be embarrassed by the letter you received, yes, so I ran in at the same time ... please don’t interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich! I know everything, everything, everything, sir. So, if you please, I ran to Korobkin's. And not finding Korobkin at home, he turned to Rastakovsky, and not having found Rastakovsky, he went to Ivan Kuzmich to tell him the news you received, yes, going from there, I met with Pyotr Ivanovich ... Dobchinsky (interrupting). Near the booth where pies are sold. Bobchinsky. Near the booth where pies are sold. Yes, having met with Pyotr Ivanovich, and I say to him: “Have you heard about the news that Anton Antonovich received from a reliable letter?” But Pyotr Ivanovich already heard about this from your housekeeper Avdotya, who, I don’t know, was sent to Philip Antonovich Pochechuev for something. Dobchinsky (interrupting). Behind the barrel for French vodka. Bobchinsky (pulling his hands away). Behind the barrel for French vodka. So we went with Pyotr Ivanovich to Pochechuev ... You, Pyotr Ivanovich ... this ... do not interrupt, please do not interrupt! .. Let's go to Pochechuev, but on the road Pyotr Ivanovich says: , in a tavern. In my stomach ... I haven’t eaten anything since morning, so gastric trembling ... " yes, sir, in Pyotr Ivanovich's stomach ... "And now they brought fresh salmon to the tavern, so we'll eat." We had just arrived at the hotel, when suddenly a young man... Dobchinsky (interrupting). Good-looking, in particular dress... Bobchinsky. Not bad appearance, in a particular dress, walks around the room, and in the face there is a sort of reasoning ... physiognomy ... actions, and here (wiggles hand around forehead) many, many things. It was as if I had a presentiment and I say to Pyotr Ivanovich: "There is something here for a reason, sir." Yes. And Pyotr Ivanovich already blinked his finger and called the innkeeper, sir, the innkeeper Vlas: his wife gave birth to him three weeks ago, and such a smart boy, like his father, will keep the inn. Having called Vlas, Pyotr Ivanovich and ask him quietly: “Who says this young man?” and Vlas answers this: “This”, says ... Eh, do not interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich, please do not interrupt; you won't tell, by God you won't tell: you whisper; you, I know, have one tooth in your mouth with a whistle ... “This, he says, is a young man, an official, yes, , traveling from Petersburg, and by last name, he says, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, sir, he says, to the Saratov province and, he says, he certifies himself in a strange way: he lives for another week, does not go from the tavern, takes everything to the account and does not want to pay a penny. As he told me this, and so I was enlightened from above. "Eh!" I say to Pyotr Ivanovich... Dobchinsky. No, Pyotr Ivanovich, it was I who said: "Eh!" Bobchinsky. First you said, and then I said. "Eh! said Petr Ivanovich and I. And why should he sit here when the road to him lies in the Saratov province? Yes, sir. But he is the official. Mayor. Who, what official? Bobchinsky. The official about whom they deigned to receive a notation is the auditor. Mayor (in fear). What are you, the Lord is with you! It's not him. Dobchinsky. He! and does not pay money and does not go. Who would be if not him? And the road trip is registered in Saratov. Bobchinsky. He, he, by God, he ... So observant: he looked at everything. I saw that Pyotr Ivanovich and I were eating salmon, more because Pyotr Ivanovich about his stomach ... yes, that's how he looked into our plates. I was so terrified. Mayor. Lord, have mercy on us sinners! Where does he live there? Dobchinsky. In the fifth room, under the stairs. Bobchinsky. In the same room where passing officers had a fight last year. Mayor. And how long has he been here? Dobchinsky. And two weeks already. Came to Basil the Egyptian. Mayor. Two weeks! (Aside.) Fathers, matchmakers! Take it out, saints! In these two weeks, a non-commissioned officer's wife was whipped! The prisoners were not given provisions! There is a tavern on the streets, uncleanness! A shame! vilification! (Grabs his head.) Artemy Filippovich. Well, Anton Antonovich? parade to the hotel. Ammos Fedorovich. No no! Let your head go forward, the clergy, the merchants; in the Acts of John Mason... Mayor. No no; let me myself. There were difficult cases in life, they went, and even received thanks. Perhaps God will endure even now. (Turning to Bobchinsky.) You say he is a young man? Bobchinsky. Young, about twenty-three or four years old. Mayor. So much the better: you'll sniff out the young sooner. The trouble is, if the old devil, and the young one is all at the top. You, gentlemen, get ready for your part, and I will go myself, or at least with Pyotr Ivanovich, privately, for a walk, to see if the passing people are in trouble. Hey Svistunov! Svistunov. Anything? Mayor. Go now for a private bailiff; or not, I need you. Tell someone there to get a private bailiff to me as soon as possible, and come here.

The quarterly runs in a hurry.

Artemy Filippovich. Let's go, let's go, Ammos Fedorovich! In fact, trouble can happen. Ammos Fedorovich. What are you afraid of? He put clean caps on the sick, and the ends were in the water. Artemy Filippovich. What hats! The sick are ordered to give habersup, but I have such cabbage in all the corridors that you only take care of your nose. Ammos Fedorovich. And I am at peace with this. In fact, who will go to the county court? And if he looks into some paper, he will not be happy with life. I've been sitting on the judge's chair for fifteen years, but when I look at the memorandum - ah! I just wave my hand. Solomon himself will not decide what is true and what is not true in it.

The judge, the trustee of charitable institutions, the superintendent of schools and the postmaster leave and at the door they encounter the returning quarter.

Event IV

Gorodnichiy, Bobchinsky, Dobchinsky and quarterly.

Mayor. What, the droshky are there? Quarterly. Are standing. Mayor. Go outside... or don't, wait! Go fetch... Where are the others? are you the only one? After all, I ordered that Prokhorov be here too. Where is Prokhorov? Quarterly. Prokhorov is in a private house, but he cannot be used for business. Mayor. How so? Quarterly. Yes, they brought him dead in the morning. Already two tubs of water have been poured out, I still have not sobered up. Mayor (grabbing his head). Oh my God, my God! Go outside soon, or not run first to the room, listen! and fetch a sword and a new hat from there. Well, Pyotr Ivanovich, let's go! Bobchinsky. And I, and I ... let me, Anton Antonovich! Mayor. No, no, Pyotr Ivanovich, you can't, you can't! It’s embarrassing, and we won’t fit on the droshky. Bobchinsky. Nothing, nothing, I’m like this: like a cockerel, like a cockerel, I’ll run after the droshky. I would just like to see a little in the crack, in the door, to see how these actions are with him ... Mayor (taking the sword, to the quarterly). Run now, take the tenths, and let each of them take ... Oh, how scratched the sword! The damned merchant Abdulin sees that the mayor has an old sword, he did not send a new one. Oh foolish people! And so, scammers, I think, they are already preparing requests from under the floor. Let everyone pick up down the street ... damn it, down the street on a broom! and swept the whole street that goes to the tavern, and swept clean ... Do you hear! Look, you! You! I know you: you are messing about there and stealing silver spoons in your boots, look, I have an open ear! .. What did you do with the merchant Chernyaev huh? He gave you two arshins of cloth for your uniform, and you pulled off the whole thing. Look! you do not take it according to order! Go!

Phenomenon V

The same and a private bailiff.

Mayor. Ah, Stepan Ilyich! Tell me, for God's sake: where did you disappear to? What does it look like? Private bailiff. I was right here outside the gate. Mayor. Well, listen, Stepan Ilyich! An official came from Petersburg. How did you manage there? Private bailiff. Yes, just as you ordered. I sent the quarterly Buttons with tenths to clean the sidewalk. Mayor. Where is Derzhimorda? Private bailiff. Derzhimorda rode the fire pipe. Mayor. Is Prokhorov drunk? Private bailiff. Drunk. Mayor. How did you let it happen like that? Private bailiff. Yes, God knows. Yesterday there was a fight outside the city, went there for order, and returned drunk. Mayor. Listen, you do this: quarterly Buttons ... he is tall, so let him stand on the bridge for landscaping. Yes, scatter quickly old fence, which is near the shoemaker, and put a straw milestone so that it looks like a layout. The more it breaks, the more it means the activities of the mayor. Oh my god! I forgot that there were forty cartloads of rubbish piled up next to that fence. What a nasty city this is! just put some kind of monument somewhere or just a fence the devil knows where they are and they will inflict all sorts of rubbish! (Sighs.) Yes, if a visiting official asks the service: are you satisfied? to say: “Everything is happy, your honor”; and whoever is dissatisfied, then after the ladies of such displeasure ... Oh, oh, ho, ho, x! sinful, in many ways sinful. (Takes a case instead of a hat.) God grant that I get away with it as soon as possible, and there I will put a candle like no one else has put: I will charge every merchant’s beast to deliver three poods of wax. Oh my God, my God! Let's go, Pyotr Ivanovich! (Instead of a hat, he wants to put on a paper case.) Private bailiff. Anton Antonovich, this is a box, not a hat. Mayor (throwing the box). A box is a box. Damn her! Yes, if they ask why the church was not built at a charitable institution, for which a sum was allocated five years ago, then do not forget to say that it began to be built, but burned down. I submitted a report on this. And then, perhaps, someone, having forgotten, will foolishly say that it never even started. Yes, tell Derzhimorda not to give free rein to his fists; for the sake of order, he puts lanterns under everyone's eyes to both the right and the guilty. Let's go, let's go, Pyotr Ivanovich! (Leaves and returns.) Yes, do not let the soldiers out into the street without anything: this wretched garrison will put on only a uniform over the shirt, and there is nothing below.

Everyone leaves.

Event VI

Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna run onto the stage.

Anna Andreevna. Where, where are they? Oh, my God! .. (Opening the door.) Husband! Antosha! Anton! (Speaks soon.) And all you, and everything behind you. And she went to dig: "I'm a pin, I'm a scarf." (Running to the window and screaming.) Anton, where, where? What, arrived? auditor? with a mustache! what mustache? Mayor's voice. After, after, mother! Anna Andreevna. After? Here's the news after! I don't want to after... I only have one word: what is he, Colonel? A? (With disdain.) Gone! I will remember this! And all this: “Mother, mother, wait, I’ll pin a scarf behind; me now." Here you are now! You didn't know anything! And all the damned coquetry; heard that the postmaster is here, and let's pretend in front of the mirror; and from that side, and from this side it will do. He imagines that he is dragging after her, and he just makes a grimace at you when you turn away. Maria Antonovna. But what to do, mother? We'll find out in two hours anyway. Anna Andreevna. In two hours! thank you very much. Here is the answer! How did you not guess to say that in a month you can find out even better! (Looks out the window.) Hey Avdotya! A? What, Avdotya, did you hear, someone came there? .. Didn't you hear? What a stupid! Waving his hands? Let him wave, and you would still ask him. Couldn't find out! Nonsense in my head, all the suitors are sitting. A? They left soon! Yes, you would run after the droshky. Get on, get on now! Do you hear, run and ask where we went; Yes, ask carefully: what kind of visitor, what is he like, do you hear? Peep through the crack and find out everything, and what kind of eyes: black or not, and go back this very minute, do you hear? Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! (Screams until the curtain falls. So the curtain closes both of them, standing at the window.)