The satirical work of N.V. Gogol begins with the mayor's famous phrase about "unpleasant" news: an inspector arrives in the city.
Action 1 (at the mayor)
The mayor announces the upcoming arrival of the auditor and advises the assembled officials to clean up their departments, otherwise the geese keep the guard in the courthouse, for example. He orders to sweep the streets clean and look at all the letters that are sent from the post office.
Further, the “Examiner”, a brief summary of the actions of which we propose, tells how the city landowners Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, who had just seen in the hotel a gentleman very similar to an official from the capital, burst into the room: he lives a week, pays nothing and carefully considers what comers eat.
The frightened city man rushes at all costs to the suddenly announced auditor.
Step 2 (hotel room)
Further, the summary of the “Examiner” can only to a small extent convey, as poor Khlestakov has been on the road for a month now. He lost, according to the servant of Osip, all the money, and now he doesn’t even have food.
As soon as he had borrowed dinner from the owner, the frivolous Khlestakov began to dream of how, when he finally reached his destination, he would amaze everyone with his gorgeous “Petersburg” look in his father’s house and surroundings.
When the mayor with his retinue appears in his room, the young man is so scared that he begins to make excuses, promising to return everything to the penny. And a high-ranking official, not quite understanding what the “auditor” is saying, is trying to win him over by offering a bribe and inviting him to his billets. The whole absurdity of what is happening in the play is not able to convey our brief content. The “Examiner” further narrates how this comedy of provisions developed.
Action 3 (at the mayor)At the mayor’s house, his wife and daughter are eagerly awaiting news. And, having received news that a formidable official was being brought to them, they began to warmly discuss their outfits.
Having become angry after a hearty treat at Strawberries in the hospital, Khlestakov condescendingly listens to the praise of the caretaker of charitable institutions and the city man himself. He, painting in front of the ladies, tells stories about his friendship with Pushkin, about his management of the department and about how he was taken for the commander in chief. In general, all this will not convey a brief summary. The "Examiner" gave everything an explanation through the mouth of Khlestakov himself: "I have an extraordinary ease in my thoughts."
Afraid that even half of what was said by the tipsy guest is true, officials decide to give him a bribe.
Action 4 (in the house of the mayor)
The next day, frightened, they take turns entering the room to Khlestakov and, under various pretexts, leave him money. However, our hero does not stop them from doing this.
Encouraged by this turn of events, he sits down at a letter to a friend, where he gives
detailed and very unpleasant characterization to their hospitable owners.
Further events will only briefly convey a summary. The "Examiner" described in detail how, with complaints of oppression and resentment, the merchant, the widow of a non-commissioned officer, and a locksmith also reached out to the visitor. All Khlestakov promises intercession and from all takes a reward.
The appearing “by chance” Mary Antonovna was immediately taken into circulation by an ebullient young man who, without thinking twice, made her a declaration of love. An angry Anna Andreevna, having discovered such a passage, drives her daughter away, but also falls under a hail of compliments and confessions. After all, the near-by womanizer doesn’t care who is in front of him. As a result, an offer of a hand and heart to Marya Antonovna was nevertheless made, and under the pretext of extreme necessity the windy Khlestakov left the city.
And the mayor begins to dream with his wife about a future wonderful life in St. Petersburg. To everyone who complained about him, Anton Antonovich gives a drag and in return receives money and congratulations. But this idyll is destroyed by the postmaster, who opened the letter of the "auditor".
And the worst thing happens at the moment when the gendarme who comes in announces the arrival of an “official” official who demands everyone to himself. Curtain.
Once again, this is a summary. The “Examiner” is a work that must be read by every person who loves his native language and literature, who claims to be considered educated.