Appearance VIII
Khlestakov, mayor and Dobchinsky. The mayor, entered, stops.
Both in fright look at each other for several minutes, bulging eyes.
Mayor (recovering a little and stretching his arms at his sides). I wish you well!
Khlestakov (bowing). My regards...
Mayor. Sorry.
Khlestakov. Nothing...
Mayor. It is my duty, as the mayor of the city here, to see to it that there are no harassments to those passing by and to all noble people...
Khlestakov (At first he stutters a little, but by the end of the speech he speaks loudly). Yes, what to do? It's not my fault... I'll really cry... They'll send me from the village.
Bobchinsky looks out of the door.
He is more to blame: he gives me beef as hard as a log; and the soup - the devil knows what he splashed there, I had to throw it out the window. He starves me for whole days ... The tea is so strange, it stinks of fish, not tea. Why am I... Here's the news!
Mayor (timid). Sorry, I'm really not to blame. I always have good beef in the market. Kholmogory merchants bring them, sober people and good behavior. I don't know where he gets this from. And if something is wrong, then ... Let me suggest that you move with me to another apartment.
Khlestakov. No I do not want to! I know what it means to another apartment: that is, to prison. What right do you have? How dare you?.. Yes, here I am... I serve in St. Petersburg. (Cheers up.) I, I, I...
Mayor (aside). Oh my God, you're so angry! I found out everything, the damned merchants told me everything!
Khlestakov (bravely). Yes, here you are even here with your whole team - I won’t go! I'm going straight to the minister! (Bangs his fist on the table.) What do you? What do you?
Mayor (stretching and trembling all over). Have mercy, do not lose! Wife, little children... don't make a man unhappy.
Khlestakov. No I do not want! Here's another? what do I care? Because you have a wife and children, I have to go to prison, that's fine!
Bobchinsky looks out the door and hides in fright.
No, thank you very much, I don't want to.
Mayor (trembling). Inexperience, by golly, inexperience. Insufficiency of the state ... If you please, judge for yourself: the state salary is not enough even for tea and sugar. If there were any bribes, then just a little: something on the table and for a couple of dresses. As for the non-commissioned officer's widow, engaged in the merchant class, whom I allegedly flogged, this is slander, by God, slander. This was invented by my villains; These are such people that they are ready to encroach on my life.
Khlestakov. What? I don't care about them. (Thinking.) I don’t know, however, why you are talking about villains or some non-commissioned officer’s widow ... A non-commissioned officer’s wife is completely different, but you don’t dare to flog me, you are far from that ... Here's another! Look what you are!.. I will pay, I will pay money, but now I don't have any. I'm sitting here because I don't have a penny.
Mayor (aside). Oh, subtle thing! Ek where tossed! what a fog! figure out who wants it! You don't know which side to take. Well, yes, try not where it went! What will be, will be, try at random. (Aloud.) If you definitely need money or something else, then I am ready to serve my minute. My duty is to help passers-by.
Khlestakov. Give, lend me! I'll pay off the innkeeper right now. I would only like two hundred rubles, or at least even less.
Mayor (holding papers). Exactly two hundred rubles, though don't bother counting.
Khlestakov (taking money). Thank you very much. I'll send them to you from the village at once... I've got it all of a sudden... I see you're a noble man. Now it's different.
Mayor (aside). Well, thank God! took the money. Things seem to be going well now. I did give him two hundred and four hundred instead.
Khlestakov. Hey Osip!
Osip enters.
Call the tavern servant here! (To the mayor and Dobchinsky.) What are you standing for? Do me a favor, sit down. (To Dobchinsky.) Sit down, I beg you most humbly.
Mayor. Nothing, we'll just stand there.
Khlestakov. Do me a favor, sit down. I now see the complete frankness of your disposition and cordiality, otherwise, I confess, I already thought that you had come to me ... (to Dobchinsky.) Sit down.
Gorodnichiy and Dobchinsky sit down. Bobchinsky looks out the door and listens.
Mayor (aside). You need to be bolder. He wants to be considered incognito. Okay, let's let us turuses; Let's pretend we don't even know what kind of person he is. (Aloud.) Walking around on official business, here with Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, the local landowner, we went into the hotel on purpose to inquire whether the travelers were well treated, because I am not like some other mayor who does not care about anything; but I, besides my position, also, out of Christian philanthropy, want every mortal to be well received, - and now, as if as a reward, the case brought such a pleasant acquaintance.
Khlestakov. I am also very happy myself. Without you, I confess, I would have sat here for a long time: I did not know at all how to pay.
Mayor (aside). Yes, tell me, did not know how to pay? (Aloud.) May I dare to ask: where and to what places would you like to go?
Khlestakov. I'm going to the Saratov province, to my own village.
Mayor (aside, with a face that assumes an ironic expression). To the Saratov province! A? and won't blush! Oh, yes, you need to keep an eye on him. (Aloud.) You have deigned to undertake a good deed. After all, with regard to the road: on the one hand, they say troubles about delaying horses, but, on the other hand, entertainment for the mind. After all, you, tea, are traveling more for your own pleasure?
Khlestakov. No, my father wants me. The old man was angry that he had not served anything in Petersburg until now. He thinks that he has come and now they will give you Vladimir in your buttonhole. No, I would have sent him to hustle in the office himself.
Mayor (aside). Please see what bullets are pouring! and dragged the old man's father! (Aloud.) And would you like to go for a long time?
Khlestakov. Right, I don't know. After all, my father is stubborn and stupid, old horseradish, like a log. I'll tell him straight: whatever you want, I can't live without Petersburg. Why, really, should I ruin my life with the peasants? Now not those needs, my soul yearns for enlightenment.
Mayor (aside). Nicely tied a knot! Lies, lies - and will not break anywhere! But what a nondescript, short one, it seems, he would have crushed him with a fingernail. Well, yes, wait, you'll let me know. I'll make you tell me more! (Aloud.) Fairly deigned to notice. What can you do in the wilderness? After all, at least here: you don’t sleep at night, you try for the fatherland, you don’t regret anything, and it’s not known when the reward will be. (Looks around the room.) It seems this room is somewhat cheese?
Khlestakov. Nasty room, and bedbugs like I've never seen anywhere: like dogs bite.
Mayor. Tell! such an enlightened guest, and suffers - from whom? - from some worthless bugs, which should not have been born into the world. No way, even dark in this room?
Khlestakov. Yes, it's completely dark. The owner made a habit of not letting go of the candles. Sometimes you want to do something, read something, or a fantasy comes to compose something, but I can’t: it’s dark, dark.
Mayor. Do I dare to ask you... but no, I'm not worthy.
Khlestakov. And what?
Mayor. No, no, unworthy, unworthy!
Khlestakov. Yes, what is it?
Mayor. I would dare ... I have a beautiful room in my house for you, bright, calm ... But no, I feel it myself, this is too great an honor ... Do not be angry - by God, from the simplicity of my soul I offered it.
Khlestakov. On the contrary, if you please, I'm happy to. I am much more comfortable in a private house than in this tavern.
Mayor. And I will be so happy! And how happy the wife will be! I already have such a temper: hospitality from childhood, especially if the guest is an enlightened person. Don't think I'm saying this out of flattery; no, I don’t have this vice, I express myself from the fullness of my soul.
Khlestakov. Thank you very much. Me too - I don't like two-faced people. I really like your frankness and cordiality, and, I confess, I would not demand anything more, as soon as you show me devotion and respect, respect and devotion.
Small room in a hotel. Bed, table, suitcase, empty bottle, boots, clothes brush, etc.
Phenomenon I
Osip lies on the master's bed.
Damn it, I want to eat so much and there is such a rattling in my stomach, as if a whole regiment blew their trumpets. Here we will not reach, and only, home! What will you order to do? The second month went, as already from St. Petersburg! Profited expensive money, my dear, now he sits and twisted his tail, and does not get excited. And it would be, and it would be very much for runs; no, you see, you need to show yourself in every city! (Teasing him.) "Hey, Osip, go look at the room, the best one, and ask for the best dinner: I can't eat a bad dinner, I need a better dinner." It would really be good to have something worthwhile, otherwise it’s just a simple lady! He gets acquainted with a passer-by, and then in cards so you finished your game! Oh, tired of such a life! Indeed, it is better in the countryside: at least there is no publicity, and there are fewer worries; take a woman for yourself, and lie all your life on the floor and eat pies. Well, who argues: of course, if he goes to the truth, then living in St. Petersburg is the best. If only there was money, but life is thin and political: keyyatras, dogs dance for you, and whatever you want. He speaks everything in a subtle delicacy, which is only inferior to the nobility; you go to Shchukin the merchants shout to you: “Venerable!”; you will sit in a boat with an official; If you want company, go to the shop: there the gentleman will tell you about the camps and announce what every star means in the sky, so this is how you see everything in the palm of your hand. The old woman officer will wander; sometimes the maid will look like this ... fu, fu, fu! (Laughs and shakes his head.) Haberdashery, damn it, getting around! You will never hear an impolite word, everyone says “you” to you. Tired of walking you take a cab and sit like a master, but you don’t want to pay him if you please: every house has through gates, and you scurry about so that no devil will find you. One thing is bad: sometimes you will eat nicely, and at another you will almost burst with hunger, as now, for example. And it's all his fault. What will you do with it? Batiushka will send money to keep them, and where! Sometimes he will drop everything down to the last shirt, so that all that is left on him is a frock coat and an overcoat ... By God, it’s true! And the cloth is so important, English! a hundred and fifty rubles for him one tailcoat will cost him, and on the market he will sell twenty rubles; and there’s nothing to say about trousers they don’t care. And why? because he is not engaged in business: instead of taking office, and he goes for a walk around the prefecture, he plays cards. Oh, if only the old gentleman knew this! He would not look at the fact that you are an official, but, lifting up his shirt, he would fill you with such things that you would scratch yourself for four days. If you serve, then serve. Now the innkeeper said that he would not give you food until you paid for the former; Well, what if we don't pay? (With a sigh.) Oh, my God, at least some cabbage soup! It seems that now the whole world would eat. knocking; right, he's coming. (He hastily gets out of bed.)Phenomenon II
Osip and Khlestakov.
Khlestakov. Come on, take it. (Hands over cap and cane.) Oh, laying on the bed again? Osip. Why should I wallow? Didn't I see the bed, or what? Khlestakov. You're lying, lying around; you see, it's all messed up. Osip. What is she to me? I don't know what a bed is? I have legs; I will stand. Why do I need your bed? Khlestakov (walks around the room). Look, is there any tobacco in the cap? Osip. But where should he be, tobacco? You smoked the last one on the fourth day. Khlestakov (walks and purses his lips in various ways; finally speaks in a loud and resolute voice). Listen... hey, Osip! Osip. What would you like? Khlestakov (in a loud but not so decisive voice). You go there. Osip. Where? Khlestakov (in a voice not at all resolute and not loud, very close to a request). Down to the buffet... Tell me... to give me lunch. Osip. No, I don't want to go. Khlestakov. How dare you, fool! Osip. Yes so; anyway, even if I go, none of this will happen. The owner said he wouldn't let me dine again. Khlestakov. How dare he not? Here's more nonsense! Osip. “More, he says, and I’ll go to the mayor; the third week the master does not make money. You de with the master, he says, are swindlers, and your master is a rogue. We, he says, have seen such scoundrels and scoundrels. Khlestakov. And you are already glad, brute, now to retell all this to me. Osip. He says: “So everyone will come, settle down, owe money, and after that it’s impossible to expel him. I, he says, will not joke, I’m directly complaining that I’m going to go to prison. ” Khlestakov. Well, well, you fool! Go, go tell him. Such a rude animal! Osip. Yes, I'd rather call the owner himself to you. Khlestakov. What is the owner for? You go tell yourself. Osip. Yes, right, sir... Khlestakov. Well, go to hell with you! call the owner.Osip leaves.
Phenomenon III
Khlestakov alone.
It's awful how you want to eat! So I walked around a bit, wondering if my appetite would go away, no, damn it, it doesn’t. Yes, if I hadn’t drank in Penza, I would have had money to get home. The infantry captain greatly taunted me: shtoss surprisingly, a beast, cuts off. I just sat there for a quarter of an hour and robbed everything. And with all that fear, I would like to fight him again. The case just did not lead. What a nasty little town! Vegetable shops don't lend anything. It's just mean. (Whistles first from "Robert", then "Don't sew for me, mother", and finally neither.) Nobody wants to go.Event IV
Khlestakov, Osip and tavern servant.
Servant. The owner ordered to ask, what do you want? Khlestakov. Hello brother! Well, are you healthy? Servant. God bless. Khlestakov. Well, how are you at the hotel? is everything going well? Servant. Yes, thank God, everything is fine. Khlestakov. Lots of people passing by? Servant. Yes, enough. Khlestakov. Listen, my dear, they still don’t bring me dinner there, so please hurry up, so that quickly, you see, I have something to do after dinner now. Servant. Yes, the owner said that he would not let go anymore. He, in any way, wanted to go today to complain to the mayor. Khlestakov. So why complain? Judge for yourself, dear, how? because I need to eat. That way I can completely emaciate. I am very hungry; I'm not saying this jokingly. Servant. Yes, sir. He said: "I won't give him dinner until he pays me for the old one." That was his answer. Khlestakov. Yes, you reason, persuade him. Servant. So what is he to say? Khlestakov. You explain to him seriously what I need to eat. Money by itself ... He thinks that, like him, a peasant, it’s okay if he doesn’t eat for a day, and so do others. Here's the news! Servant. Perhaps I will say.Phenomenon V
Khlestakov alone.
It is bad, however, if he does not give anything to eat. I want it like never before. Is there anything to put into circulation from the dress? Pants, perhaps, to sell? No, it's better to starve and come home in a Petersburg suit. It’s a pity that Joachim didn’t rent a carriage, but it would be nice, damn it, to come home in a carriage, drive like a devil to some neighbor-landowner under the porch, with lanterns, and Osip in the back, dress in livery. As if, I imagine, everyone was alarmed: “Who is this, what is this?” And the footman enters (stretching and imagining a lackey):“Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov from St. Petersburg, would you like to receive it?” They, scumbags, don't even know what it means to "order to accept." If some goose landowner comes to them, he knocks, the bear, right into the living room. You’ll go up to some pretty daughter: “Madame, how am I ...” (He rubs his hands and shuffles his foot.) Ugh! (spits) even sick, so hungry.Event VI
Khlestakov, Osip, then a servant.
Khlestakov. And what? Osip. They bring lunch. Khlestakov (claps hands and jumps slightly in chair). Bear! carry! carry! Servant (with plates and napkin). The owner gives for the last time. Khlestakov. Well, master, master... I don't give a damn about your master! What is there? Servant. Soup and roast. Khlestakov. Like, only two dishes? Servant. Only with. Khlestakov. What nonsense! I don't accept it. You tell him: what is it, in fact, it is! .. This is not enough. Servant. No, the owner says there are many more. Khlestakov. Why no sauce? Servant. There is no sauce. Khlestakov. Why not? I saw myself, passing by the kitchen, there was a lot of preparation. And in the dining room this morning, two short people were eating salmon and a lot of other things. Servant. Yes, it is, perhaps not. Khlestakov. How not? Servant. Yes, no. Khlestakov. And salmon, and fish, and cutlets? Servant. Yes, this is for those who are cleaner, sir. Khlestakov. Oh you fool! Servant. Yes, sir. Khlestakov. You nasty little pig... How can they eat and I don't? Why the hell can't I do the same? Aren't they just as passing as I am? Servant. Yes, it is known that they are not. Khlestakov. What? Servant. Of course what! they already know: they pay money. Khlestakov. I'm with you, fool, I don't want to argue. (Pours soup and eats.) What is this soup? You just poured water into a cup: there is no taste, it just stinks. I don't want this soup, give me another one. Servant. We will accept. The owner said: if you don't want to, then you don't need to. Khlestakov (protecting food with hand). Well, well, well ... leave it, fool! You are accustomed to treating others there: I, brother, am not of that kind! I do not advise with me ... (Eat.) My God, what soup! (Continues to eat.) I think no one in the world has ever eaten such a soup: some kind of feathers float instead of butter. (Cuts the chicken.) Ai, ai, ai, what a chicken! Give me hot! There's a little soup left, Osip, take it for yourself. (Cuts the roast.) What is this roast? It's not hot. Servant. Yes, what is it? Khlestakov. The devil knows what it is, but not hot. It's an ax fried instead of beef. (Eat.) Scammers, rascals, what do they feed! And your jaws will hurt if you eat one such piece. (Picks his finger in his teeth.) Scoundrels! Just like a wooden bark, nothing can be pulled out; and teeth will turn black after these dishes. Fraudsters! (Wipes his mouth with a tissue.) Is there nothing else? Servant. No. Khlestakov. Canals! scoundrels! and even at least some sauce or cake. Idlers! they only bully those who pass by.The servant removes and takes away the plates together with Osip.
Appearance VII
Khlestakov, then Osip.
Khlestakov. Right, as if he had not eaten; just got pissed off. If it were a trifle, they would send it to the market and buy at least a pig. Osip (enters). There, for some reason, the mayor came, inquired and asked about you. Khlestakov (frightened). Here's to you! Eka the beast innkeeper has already complained! What if he really drags me to jail? Well, if in a noble way, I, perhaps... no, no, I don't want to! There, in the city, officers and people are hanging around, and, as if on purpose, I set the tone and exchanged winks with one merchant's daughter ... No, I don’t want to ... But what is he, how dare he really? What am I to him, is it a merchant or an artisan? (Cheers up and straightens up.) Yes, I will tell him directly: “How dare you, how do you ...” (A handle turns at the door; Khlestakov turns pale and shrinks.)Appearance VIII
Khlestakov, mayor and Dobchinsky. The mayor, entered, stops. Both in fright look at each other for several minutes, bulging eyes.
Mayor (recovering a little and stretching his arms at his sides). I wish you well! Khlestakov (bowing). My regards... Mayor. Sorry. Khlestakov. Nothing... Mayor. It is my duty, as the mayor of the city here, to see to it that there are no harassments to those passing by and to all noble people... Khlestakov (At first he stutters a little, but by the end of the speech he speaks loudly). But what can I do?.. It's not my fault... I'll really cry... They'll send me from the village.Bobchinsky looks out of the door.
He is more to blame: he gives me beef as hard as a log; and the soup he the devil knows what he splashed there, I had to throw it out the window. He starved me for whole days... The tea is so strange: it stinks of fish, not tea. Why am I... Here's the news!
Mayor (timid). Sorry, I'm really not to blame. I always have good beef in the market. Kholmogory merchants bring them, sober people and good behavior. I don't know where he gets this from. And if something is wrong, then ... Let me suggest that you move with me to another apartment. Khlestakov. No I do not want to! I know what it means to another apartment: that is, to prison. What right do you have? How dare you?.. Yes, here I am... I serve in St. Petersburg. (Cheers up.) I, I, I... Mayor (aside). Oh Lord, You God, how angry! I found out everything, the damned merchants told me everything! Khlestakov (bravely). Yes, here you are even here with your whole team I won’t go! I'm going straight to the minister! (Bangs his fist on the table.) What do you? what do you? Mayor (stretching and trembling all over). Have mercy, do not lose! Wife, little children... don't make a man unhappy. Khlestakov. No I do not want! Here's another! what do I care? Because you have a wife and children, I have to go to prison, that's fine!Bobchinsky looks out the door and hides in fright.
No, thank you very much, I don't want to.
Mayor (trembling). By inexperience, by God, by inexperience. Insufficiency of the state ... If you please, judge for yourself: the state salary is not enough even for tea and sugar. If there were any bribes, then just a little: something on the table and for a couple of dresses. As for the non-commissioned officer's widow, engaged in the merchant class, whom I allegedly flogged, this is slander, by God, slander. This was invented by my villains; These are such people that they are ready to encroach on my life. Khlestakov. What? I don't care about them. (Thinking.) I don’t know, however, why you are talking about villains or some non-commissioned officer’s widow ... A non-commissioned officer’s wife is completely different, but you don’t dare to flog me, you are far from that ... Here's another! Look what you are!.. I will pay, I will pay money, but now I don't have any. I'm sitting here because I don't have a penny. Mayor (aside). Oh, subtle thing! Ek where tossed! what a fog! figure out who wants it! You don't know which side to take. Well, let's try no where to go! What will be, will be, try at random. (Aloud.) If you definitely need money or something else, then I am ready to serve this minute. My duty is to help passers-by. Khlestakov. Give, lend me! I'll pay off the innkeeper right now. I would only like two hundred rubles, or at least even less. Mayor (holding papers). Exactly two hundred rubles, though don't bother counting. Khlestakov (taking money). Thank you very much. I'll send them to you from the village at once... I've got it all of a sudden... I see you're a noble man. Now it's different. Mayor (aside). Well, thank God! took the money. Things seem to be going well now. I did give him two hundred and four hundred instead. Khlestakov. Hey Osip!Osip enters.
Call the tavern servant here! (To the mayor and Dobchinsky.) What are you standing for? Do me a favor, sit down. (To Dobchinsky.) Sit down, I beg you most humbly.
Mayor. Nothing, we'll just stand there. Khlestakov. Do me a favor, sit down. I now see the complete frankness of your disposition and cordiality, otherwise, I confess, I already thought that you had come to me ... (to Dobchinsky.) Sit down.The mayor and Dobchinsky sit down. Bobchinsky looks out the door and listens.
Mayor (aside). You need to be bolder. He wants to be considered incognito. Well, let's let us turuses too: let's pretend as if we don't know at all what kind of person he is. (Aloud.) Walking around on official business, here with Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, the local landowner, we went into the hotel on purpose to inquire whether the travelers were well treated, because I am not like some other mayor who does not care about anything; but I, I, besides my position, still, out of Christian philanthropy, want every mortal to be given a good reception, and, as if the reward of the case brought such a pleasant acquaintance. Khlestakov. I am also very happy myself. Without you, I confess, I would have sat here for a long time: I did not know at all how to pay. Mayor (aside). Yes, tell me, I did not know how to pay! (Aloud.) May I dare to ask: where and to what places would you like to go? Khlestakov. I'm going to the Saratov province, to my own village. Mayor (aside, with a face that assumes an ironic expression). To the Saratov province! A? and won't blush! Oh, yes, you need to keep an eye on him. (Aloud.) You have deigned to undertake a good deed. After all, with regard to the road: on the one hand, they say troubles about delaying horses, but, on the other hand, entertainment for the mind. After all, you, tea, are traveling more for your own pleasure? Khlestakov. No, my father wants me. The old man was angry that he had not served anything in Petersburg until now. He thinks that he has come and now they will give you Vladimir in your buttonhole. No, I would have sent him to hustle in the office himself. Mayor (aside). Please see what bullets are pouring! and dragged the old man's father! (Aloud.) And would you like to go for a long time? Khlestakov. Right, I don't know. After all, my father is stubborn and stupid, old horseradish, like a log. I'll tell him straight: whatever you want, I can't live without Petersburg. Why, really, should I ruin my life with the peasants? Now not those needs; my soul yearns for enlightenment. Mayor (aside). Nicely tied a knot! Lies, lies and will not break anywhere! But what a nondescript, short one, it seems, he would have crushed him with a fingernail. Well, wait, you'll talk to me. I'll make you tell me more! (Aloud.) Fairly deigned to notice. What can you do in the wilderness? After all, at least here: you don’t sleep at night, you try for the fatherland, you don’t regret anything, and it’s not known when the reward will be. (Looks around the room.) It seems this room is somewhat cheese? Khlestakov. Nasty room, and bedbugs like I've never seen anywhere: like dogs bite. Mayor. Tell! such an enlightened guest, and suffers from whom? from some worthless bugs that should not have been born into the world. No way, even dark in this room? Khlestakov. Yes, it's completely dark. The owner made a habit of not letting go of the candles. Sometimes you want to do something, read, or a fantasy comes to compose something, but I can’t: it’s dark, it’s dark. Mayor. Do I dare to ask you... but no, I'm not worthy. Khlestakov. And what? Mayor. No, no, unworthy, unworthy! Khlestakov. Yes, what is it? Mayor. I would dare ... I have a beautiful room in my house, bright, calm ... But no, I feel it myself, this is too great an honor ... Do not be angry by God, I offered it from the simplicity of my soul. Khlestakov. On the contrary, if you please, I'm happy to. I am much more comfortable in a private house than in this tavern. Mayor. And I will be so happy! And how happy the wife will be! I already have such a temper: hospitality from childhood, especially if the guest is an enlightened person. Don't think I'm saying this out of flattery; no, I don’t have this vice, I express myself from the fullness of my soul. Khlestakov. Thank you very much. Me too I don't like two-faced people. I really like your frankness and cordiality, and, I confess, I would not demand anything more, as soon as you show me devotion and respect, respect and devotion.Appearance IX
Same and tavern servant, accompanied by Osip. Bobchinsky looks out the door.
Servant. Would you like to ask? Khlestakov. Yes; submit an account. Servant. I already gave you another bill. Khlestakov. I don't remember your stupid bills. Tell me how much is there? Servant. You deigned to ask for lunch on the first day, and the next day you only ate salmon and then went to borrow everything. Khlestakov. Fool! still started counting. How much should be? Mayor. Don't worry, he will wait. (To the servant.) Get out, they will send you. Khlestakov. Indeed, that is true. (Hides money.)The servant leaves. Bobchinsky peeps out the door.
Phenomenon X
Gorodnichiy, Khlestakov, Dobchinsky.
Mayor. Would you like to look now at some institutions in our city, somehow charitable and others? Khlestakov. And what is there? Mayor. And so, look at the course of affairs we have ... what order ... Khlestakov. With great pleasure, I'm ready.Bobchinsky sticks his head out the door.
Mayor. Also, if you wish, from there to the district school, to examine the order in which the sciences are taught in our country. Khlestakov. Please, please. Mayor. Then, if you wish to visit the prison and city prisons, consider how criminals are kept in our country. Khlestakov. Why prisons? We'd better look at charitable institutions. Mayor. As you please. How do you intend: in your carriage or with me on the droshky? Khlestakov. Yes, I'd rather ride the droshky with you. Mayor (Dobchinsky). Well, Pyotr Ivanovich, there is no place for you now. Dobchinsky. Nothing, I am. Mayor (quietly to Dobchinsky). Listen: you run, yes, run, at full speed, and carry two notes: one to the charitable institution of Strawberry, and the other to your wife. (To Khlestakov.) May I dare to ask permission to write one line to my wife in your presence, so that she prepares to receive the honored guest? Khlestakov. But why? .. But then, there is ink, only papers I don’t know ... Is it on this account? Mayor. I will write here. (Writes and at the same time speaks to himself.) But let's see how things go after frishtik and a bottle of fat belly! Yes, we have a provincial madeira: unsightly in appearance, but the elephant will be knocked down. If only I could find out what it is and to what extent it is necessary to fear it. (Having written, she gives it to Dobchinsky, who comes up to the door, but at that moment the door breaks and Bobchinsky, who was eavesdropping from the other side, flies to the stage with her. Everyone makes exclamations. Bobchinsky rises.) Khlestakov. What? did you hurt yourself somewhere? Bobchinsky. Nothing, nothing, sir, without any madness, only a small blotch over the nose! I'll run to Khristian Ivanovich: he has such a plaster, and so it will pass. Mayor (making a reproachful sign to Bobchinsky, to Khlestakov). It's from nothing. Please, please, please! And I will tell your servant to carry the suitcase. (To Osip.) My dear, you transfer everything to me, to the mayor, everyone will show you. I beg you more humbly! (He lets Khlestakov go ahead and follows him, but, turning around, speaks reproachfully to Bobchinsky). You too! found no other place to fall! And stretched like hell knows what it is. (Exits; Bobchinsky follows him.)The curtain falls.
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Gogol "Inspector", act 1 - summary
Phenomenon 1. The mayor Anton Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky gathers the fathers of the city and informs them of the unpleasant news: "The auditor is coming to visit us." Officials are amazed and frightened. The mayor himself worries the most: there are many disorders in the local economy. In the antechamber of Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, watchmen keep geese with goslings, and the assessor constantly smells as if he had just left the distillery. The patients in the hospital are dirty and look like blacksmiths, and the teachers in the schools have a free-thinking expression on their faces.
Phenomenon 2. The postmaster joins the meeting with the mayor. The mayor suggests that the auditor could have been sent as a result of some kind of denunciation, and wonders if it is possible to print letters a little at the post office and “out of precaution” get acquainted with their contents. The postmaster says that he has long practiced such unsealing out of curiosity. Some of the letters are edifying, while others are playful.
Gogol. Auditor. Performance 1982 Series 1
Phenomenon 3. Out of breath, two local landowners, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, run to the mayor. Interrupting each other, they talk about a suspicious guest in a city hotel. This is a young man of 23-24 years old, who has been refusing to pay in a tavern for the second week already, striving to dine without money, in Lately goes out into the diner and looks at all the plates. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky suggest that this strange stranger is the auditor.
Phenomenon 4. The mayor puts on a uniform and a sword, hastily calls the quarterly and orders him with the tenths to immediately sweep the street that leads to the tavern.
Phenomenon 5. The mayor is going to go to the tavern, to the auditor.
Phenomenon 6. The mayor's wife and daughter, Anna Andreevna and Maria Antonovna, come running. Anna Andreevna complains that her husband left without telling latest news, and sends Baba Avdotya to find out what kind of mustache and eyes the auditor has.
Gogol "Inspector", act 2 - summary
Phenomenon 1. The man whom Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky mistook for an auditor is, in fact, Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov, a young rake, an official of the lowest rank, who has now also completely lost his cards. Khlestakov ended up in the city by accident, passing from St. Petersburg home to the Saratov province.
Khlestakov's servant Osip, lying in the absence of the master on his bed, talks about how lightweight his master is. (See Osip's monologue.) Khlestakov exists only on handouts sent by his father, which he immediately lowers in revelry. Now he and Osip are sitting hungry: they have nothing even to buy dinner.
Phenomenon 2. Khlestakov, who entered, drives Osip to a tavern - to borrow lunch. Osip says that the owner already refuses to feed without money. Khlestakov sends him to call the innkeeper.
Phenomenon 3. Osip leaves, and Khlestakov complains to himself: he is terribly hungry, but there is nothing to dine on - in Penza, one infantry captain robbed him to the ground in a card game.
Phenomenon 4. Osip returns with a tavern servant, who confirms: Khlestakov already owes a lot to the owner, so they will no longer feed him for free. According to the servant, the innkeeper is already going to report Khlestakov's non-payments to the mayor. Khlestakov sends a servant to beg the master.
Phenomenon 5. Once again left alone, Khlestakov ponders: should he sell his pants? To drown out the pangs of hunger, he begins to dream. It would be nice to rent a carriage, dress Osip in a livery, impersonate a rich man and drive around the best houses ... (See Khlestakov's monologue.)
Phenomenon 6. The tavern servant brings dinner, but warns that the owner gave it without money for the last time. The hungry Khlestakov rushes to the plates and begins to reprimand the servant for the fact that the dinner is bad: some feathers float in the soup instead of butter, and the beef in the roast is so tough that the jaws hurt from chewing it.
Phenomenon 7. Osip informs Khlestakov: he is asked by the mayor who arrived at the hotel. Khlestakov comes into a terrible excitement. He believes that the mayor arrived at the innkeeper's complaint and will now drag him to debtor's prison.
Phenomenon 8. The mayor enters the imaginary auditor. Khlestakov, confident that he would now be taken to prison, at first stutters, but then shouts: I will complain to the minister. The mayor, not understanding the essence of the matter, believes: the "auditor" wants to complain about the bad management of the city. Khlestakov explains that he cannot leave the city, since he does not have a penny. The mayor takes this for extortion of a bribe. He immediately slips 400 rubles to the "auditor" and invites him to his home. The utterly astonished Khlestakov does not fully understand what is happening, but he is getting more and more encouraged and begins to behave with the mayor a little condescendingly.
Phenomenon 9. At the request of Khlestakov, Osip brings a tavern servant. Now having money, Khlestakov is going to pay off through him with the owner. But the mayor orders the servant to get out.
Event 10. The mayor invites Khlestakov to ride around the city institutions together. He sends a note to his wife with Dobchinsky, where he orders to prepare a good reception for the "auditor" at home.
Gogol "Inspector", act 3 - summary
Phenomenon 1. The mayor's wife and daughter, seeing Dobchinsky through the window, rush him to tell the news about the auditor.
Phenomenon 2. Dobchinsky gives Anna Andreevna a note from her husband and reports that the auditor, although not a general, will not yield to the general in education and the importance of actions.
Phenomenon 3. Preparing for the reception of the auditor, the governor's daughter and wife argue about which dress will suit each of them the most.
Phenomenon 4. The servant Osip brings a suitcase with Khlestakov's belongings to the mayor's house and demands to be fed.
Phenomenon 5. Khlestakov and the city fathers return to the mayor's house after breakfast and a trip to various institutions. Khlestakov praises the treat and asks if they have somewhere to play cards. The mayor, seeing an insidious trick in such a question, replies that he never plays, because he does not want to waste time that can be spent for the good of the state.
Phenomenon 6. The mayor introduces Khlestakov's wife and daughter. Khlestakov is drawn in front of them. He begins to talk about his life in St. Petersburg and, imperceptibly to himself, lies more and more. Khlestakov assures that he is closely acquainted with Pushkin and wrote many works himself, for example, The Marriage of Figaro and Yuri Miloslavsky. He says that his house is the first in the capital, that in his waiting room they hustle, buzzing like bumblebees, princes and counts. Since he allegedly ran the department, sending out 35 thousand couriers, and now he will soon be promoted to field marshal.
Phenomenon 7. Khlestakov goes to bed, and the guests disperse from the mayor, sharing their respectful impressions of the "auditor".
Phenomenon 8. The mayor's wife and daughter are arguing about which of them Khlestakov paid more attention to.
Phenomenon 9. The mayor, having put Khlestakov to bed, leaves his room in obsequious excitement.
Event 10. The mayor with his wife and daughter are courting the servant of the "auditor", Osip. Osip already understands that his master was mistaken for someone else, but decides to take advantage of the opportunity. He says: his master is very influential, strict and strongly listens to his, Osip, advice. Hurrying to appease the servant, the mayor shoves him money "for tea and bagels."
Event 11. Calling the quarterly Svistunov and Derzhimorda, the mayor orders them not to let anyone outside the “auditor” so that the townsfolk, especially merchants, do not bring him any complaints.
Gogol "Inspector", act 4 - summary
Phenomenon 1. City officials, standing at the sleeping Khlestakov's room, are discussing hotly how to give him a bribe and not come into conflict with the law. No one wants to be the first to offer money to the “auditor”, everyone pushes the other.
Phenomenon 2. Khlestakov wakes up in his room and recalls with satisfaction the past day.
Phenomenon 3. Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin enters Khlestakov with money in a clenched fist. Not knowing how it would be more convenient to put them in, the judge becomes so oblivious that he opens his hand and drops the banknotes. Khlestakov, seeing the money, is not lost and immediately asks for a "loan". Lyapkin-Tyapkin gladly agrees to give and hastily leaves.
Gogol. Auditor. Performance 1982 Series 2
Phenomenon 4. Postmaster Shpekin enters Khlestakov's room. The “auditor” no longer waits for him to drop the money, but asks for a loan himself. The postmaster gladly "loans" three hundred rubles.
Phenomenon 5. In exactly the same way, Khlestakov “borrows” another 300 rubles from Khlopov, the superintendent of schools.
Phenomenon 6. Another 400 rubles are given to him by the trustee of the charitable institutions Strawberry (who, at the same time, also tries to snitch on the postmaster and the judge).
Phenomenon 7. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky find only a much smaller amount for the "auditor": only 65 rubles for two.
Phenomenon 8. Having collected money from everyone and left alone, Khlestakov wonders what kind of fool is running this city. He decides to write about his merry adventures to a familiar journalist Tryapichkin in St. Petersburg: let him “shut down” this case in some newspaper.
Phenomenon 9. Osip, who has come, advises Khlestakov to get out of the city as soon as possible: he is clearly mistaken for another person, and a mistake can be revealed any minute. Khlestakov agrees, but before leaving he instructs Osip to take a letter to the post office for Tryapichkin. Outside the window suddenly heard the voices of merchants who came to the "auditor" with a petition. The quarterly Derzhimorda tries to detain them at the gate, but Khlestakov, looking out the window, orders to let them in.
Event 10. Merchants with offerings in their hands bring a complaint to the "auditor" about the arbitrariness of the mayor. Khlestakov promises to put in a good word for them in the capital and gladly takes 500 rubles from the merchants.
Event 11. The locksmith comes to complain to the "auditor" that the mayor illegally handed over her husband to the soldiers, and the non-commissioned officer's widow - that he ordered her to be whipped. Other petitioners rush into Khlestakov's room, but Osip, who is in a hurry to leave, pushes them out.
Event 12. Faced with the mayor's daughter, Marya Antonovna, Khlestakov begins to give her ardent, immoderate compliments, then tries to kiss her on the shoulder - and finally, falls on her knees in front of her with a love confession.
Phenomenon 13. In this position, they are caught by the mother of Maria Antonovna, Anna Andreevna. Under the reproaches of her mother, Marya Antonovna leaves in tears, and the windy Khlestakov begins on his knees to declare his love to Anna Andreevna.
Event 14. This scene is seen by the returned Marya Antonovna. Khlestakov immediately grabs her hand and asks Anna Andreevna to bless him and Masha for a legal marriage.
Event 15. Having learned about the visit to the "auditor" of the merchants, the mayor resorts to say that they all lied. But his wife stuns him with the news: Khlestakov asks for the hand of their daughter. Both parents bless the young.
Event 16. Having arranged marriage with Marya Andreevna, Khlestakov unexpectedly declares that now he needs to go for a day to his uncle who lives next door. He takes another 400 rubles from the mayor and hurriedly leaves with Osip.
Gogol "Inspector", act 5 - summary
Phenomenon 1. The mayor and Anna Andreevna talk about the luck that helped them intermarry almost with a nobleman, and make plans for the future. The mayor expects to soon receive the rank of general, and his wife - to build a brilliant house in the capital.
Phenomenon 2. The mayor scolds the merchants who decided to complain about him to the auditor, and informs them that this auditor will now be his son-in-law. The merchants persuade the mayor not to be angry and not to destroy them.
Phenomenon 3. Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin and respected citizen Rastakovskiy congratulate the mayor's family on their extraordinary happiness.
Phenomenon 4. The mayor is congratulated by the influential townspeople Lyulyukov and Korobkin.
Phenomenon 5. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky are in such a hurry to show respect to Anna Andreevna and Maria Antonovna that, kissing their hands, they even collide with their foreheads.
Phenomenon 6. The superintendent of the schools, Khlopov, and his wife come with congratulations.
Phenomenon 7. Congratulations continue now from the entire city society at once. Anna Andreevna announces to her countrymen that she and her husband intend to move to St. Petersburg. Congratulators ask the mayor for protection for their children.
Phenomenon 8. In the midst of the general turmoil, the postmaster Shpekin runs in and announces that a person has been mistaken for the auditor, who was not at all. Shpekin printed out a letter sent by Khlestakov to Tryapichkin, and found out from there who its author really was. Those gathered read this letter with all the offensive characteristics that Khlestakov gave them there. The mayor, who has come into a rage, knocks his feet on the floor and with the words: “Why are you laughing? laugh at yourself!" - threatens to wipe out all paper marak-writers into flour.
Gogol has all the names that speak; The surname "Khlestakov" is no exception. What does this surname hide, what does it tell readers first of all? The surname "Khlestakov" comes from the verb "lash", i.e. to be dominant, to control someone. On the other hand, the frivolity of the character is implied.
After the "billboard" comes the article "characters and costumes (a note for the gentlemen of the actors)". There our first impression is confirmed. Khlestakov is a young man, an official from St. Petersburg, somewhat stupid (without a king in his head), speaks and acts without any consideration, his speech is jerky, flies out of his mouth unexpectedly. All this is sure to be confirmed in the play - one way or another.
For the first time, Khlestakov appears before us in the second act and appearance. But even from the first act of the third phenomenon, important details about Khlestakov are learned, thanks, of course, to the two gossips themselves (Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky), and the details are as follows: an official from St. Petersburg (we already knew this), who is going to the Saratov province, behaves strangely (certifies): he lives in a tavern for another week, does not intend to leave, takes everything to the account and does not want to pay a penny. Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky, in turn, heard about this from the innkeeper Vlas. After that, both officials realized and gave Khlestakov for the Inspector to the mayor and friends in the service.
FRAGMENT FROM THE PLAY.
CITY MAN (IN FEAR). What are you, God be with you, it's not him.
DOBCHINSKY. He! and does not pay money, and does not go. Who should be if not him? ...
Monologue of Osip. It is here that we learn that Khlestakov is not the Inspector General; moreover, an official of the lower class (the registrar is a civil rank of the XIV class), poor in material terms (and not particularly rich in spirituality), plays cards, does not engage in business, i.e. does not work.
After a little time (the mayor was going, he was driving), the mayor was in the room in all its glory (in a hat scratched with a saber) (only Khlestakov was in the room). The mayor stood for a minute, and then the conversation began. Almost immediately, Khlestakov begins to complain about the conditions of detention in the local tavern, namely, the not at all good quality of food. The mayor makes excuses, becomes shy, even trembles, speaks to the side (characterizes the mayor as vile). In this dialogue, Khlestakov is quite brave, invigorated (this, it seems to me, is due to the fact that Khlestakov was hungry, because, in fact, he knew that he was talking with a person who was higher in rank); one more detail: Khlestakov hinted at the minister, and this, of course, could not but frighten the mayor; it is after this that the mayor gives in and begins to make excuses (although he used to justify himself, but not so ardently), complain about life, refutes the slander about the beating of a non-commissioned officer's wife ... And in the end, the mayor does not find another way out than a proposal financial assistance Khlestakov. He, of course, is happy and takes the money. Everything is like a stone from the soul (thinks the mayor). Further, the mayor dared, i.e. offered (somehow, embarrassedly) to live at home, to which Khlestakov could not refuse. After that, the mayor offers to visit charitable institutions, to which Khlestakov agrees, but the mayor, before going to charitable institutions with Khlestakov, writes a letter to his wife and daughter to prepare for the reception of the Inspector (ready to drink).
Khlestakov reappears, but already in the third act and the fifth appearance, together with a rather large company, in the mayor's house. In a conversation, we learn that Khlestakov was regaled without measure in a charitable institution, they gave him a drink, and he was glad (he was hungry). He has a desire to compose on the basis of satiety (this can be seen with an inconspicuous eye from a conversation, in particular with Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna). He poses in front of the ladies, claims that he is used to living in the world, talks about life in St. Petersburg, how he is there with the head of the department on one leg, how famous he is there, that everyone knows him there, how he was once confused with the commander-in-chief of the soldiers (how can He is as thin as straw. He actively talks about aspects of literature, about the creative life in this particular area: "... I am on the same footing with Pushkin ...". Issues strangers literary works for theirs. And he has a house in St. Petersburg, and a watermelon on the table for seven hundred rubles ... but I wanted to emphasize that he starts talking and this remains without the slightest attention (everyone is scared): "... How do you run up to the fourth floor ..." Yes, in In those days, lower-class officials lived on the fourth floor! The State Council is also afraid of him (hey, where enough!). Soon, at the end of a long story, Khlestakov leaves for the side.
Afterwards, the mayor’s house is crowded: Tyapkin-Lyapkin, Strawberry, the postmaster, Khlopov, Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. The main purpose of the collection: "Who first enters the room and gives a bribe to the Inspector." The first judge on the way (according to Zemlyanika, the judge has no word, Cicero flew off his tongue - a strong argument!), And he copes perfectly. In general, it doesn’t matter further (then the postmaster, Strawberry, who never gave money, Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky). In the end, Khlestakov has more than a thousand rubles in his pocket.
Khlestakov writes a letter to Tryapichkin, so to speak, to brag about how he shod, circled all the officials around his finger, and received a lot of money, without doing anything special.
I skip the scene of "salary about everything to Khlestakov", we move on to another - a declaration of love to Marya Antonovna, Anna Andreevna, and, finally, a marriage proposal to Marya. Both ladies did not realize that Khlestakov loved strongly, for a long time - he could not, since (this can be seen) rushes from one extreme to another.
After Khlestakov leaves and says that he will arrive soon - but we know that this is nonsense.
Soon after this, a feast takes place in the mayor's house; The mayor rejoices especially, in view of the marriage of the so-called Inspector to his daughter, Marya Antonovna. The details of the feast do not interest us.
After some time, the postmaster runs in (with a printed letter) and reports that they were all deceived, and soon reads the letter. Officials learned a lot of interesting things about themselves.
THE CITY COURT IS STUPID AS A GRAY GELTING;
THE POSTMASTER IS EXACTLY THE DEPARTMENT GUARD MIKHEEV, SHOULD ALSO BE A SCALE, DRINKING BITTER;
THE OFFICER OF THE PLEASANT ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE STRAWBERRY IS THE PERFECT PIG IN YERMOLKA;
THE SUPERINTENDANT OF SCHOOLS IS ROTHER THROUGH WITH ONIONS;
JUDGE LYAPKIN-TYAPKIN IN THE STRONGEST DEGREE MOVETON.
CONCLUSION.
Khlestakov is "the most difficult character in the play." He, having become the culprit of universal deceit, did not deceive anyone. He successfully played the role of the Inspector, not only not intending to play it, but without even realizing that he was playing it. Only in the middle of the fourth act in Khlestakov's head vague guesses begin to dawn that he is being mistaken for a "state man."
But it is precisely in unintentionality that Khlestakov's "strength" ... He provoked all the cunning game of the mayor and officials not by cunning, but by sincerity.
Fear set the stage for deceit. Interestingly, Khlestakov does not have replicas "aside" - he has what is on his mind, then on his tongue.
Khlestakov is sincere in all cases. He invents with the same frankness with which he previously spoke the truth - and again the officials are deceived. This time they accept what was fiction as truth.
The image of Khlestakov is inexhaustible, fraught with stunning surprises. Khlestakov is "genius" in his exceptional lightness and "unspecified" fiction. Is this Khlestakov's deceit? But we know that he lies sincerely. Boastfulness? But he believes in what he says.
Involuntarily, you come to the conclusion that the most accurate and comprehensive definition will be made on behalf of the character himself - "Khlestakovshchina"
P.S.
The conclusion was written with the help of an article in the book by Yu.V. Mann "Poetics of Gogol".
