Character Relationship Map: The Inspector General

Characters

• Mme. Anna Andreyevna Skvoznik-Dmukhanoskaya (played by Anastasiya Georgiyevskaya) — supporting

  She is the mayor's wife and becomes one of the women Khlestakov courts after he is welcomed into the mayor's home. Her connection to the mayor places her within the household at the center of Khlestak...

• Ivanova (played by Elena Ponsova) — supporting
• слуга трактирный (played by Anatoliy Kubatskiy) — supporting
• Merchant (played by Vladimir Uralskiy) — supporting
• Свистунов (полицейский) (played by Ivan Ryzhov) — supporting
• Korobkina (played by Anna Zarzhitskaya) — supporting

Story Analysis

A satirical tale of bureaucratic corruption and mistaken identity in a provincial Russian town.

Plot Progression

1. The Warning and the Mistake — The mayor receives a warning letter about an impending inspector. Landowners Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky mistake Khlestakov for the inspector and successfully convince the mayor.
2. The Grand Deception — Khlestakov is hosted lavishly and embellsishes his status, claiming connections to famous figures. He courts the mayor's family and extracts money from the officials.
3. The Sudden Exit — Khlestakov abruptly leaves town after promising marriage. The town celebrates the engagement while remaining unaware of the truth behind his departure.
4. The Crushing Revelation — The postmaster reveals Khlestakov's letter, exposing the fraud. Officials realize their deception just as the real government inspector arrives.