The image and characteristic of Khlestakov

The works of N.V. Gogol became the property of world literature. And to this day, he remains one of the best satirical writers who so subtly managed to portray Russian reality. This article describes the main character of Gogol’s immortal comedy “The Examiner”.

Briefly about the work

The comedy takes place in the county town of the Russian wilderness. Local officials received news of the imminent arrival of the auditor. Absorbed in bribery and theft, they were pretty frightened and mistook for checking a young rake who stopped in the city by passage. In fact, the auditor in the comedy does not appear at all. The main character can be considered them only in an ironic sense, because he does not understand that he was mistaken for a "major official from the capital." Khlestakov’s characterization will help to understand that he himself lies unintentionally, just plays the role that others have imposed on him.

N.V. Gogol wrote that in the comedy "The Inspector General" he wants to collect "everything evil in Russia" and "laugh at everything." He admitted that Khlestakov was the most difficult way for him. In the recommendations for the play, the author revealed his character quite deeply: “a little silly”, “he speaks without any reason”, “without a king in his head”. The hero of the play, indeed, performs all its actions absolutely unintentionally. Despite the fact that this character is neither a conscious deceiver, nor a reason, he acts as a real plot engine.

The appearance of the protagonist

What is the person who was taken for the auditor in the town? What is its characteristic? Khlestakov — young, “about twenty-three years old,” “thin,” with chestnut-colored hair — “more than a chantret,” “nice little nose,” “and his eyes are so fast.” "Nondescript" and short, but "not bad appearance," one might say, "pretty." Not in official uniform, but dressed in fashion, a dress from “cloth of Aglitsky”, one dress coat in “one and a half hundred rubles” will become, a cap and a cane.

Position in society

Khlestakov loves only the best, does not deny himself anything - “death” as “I do not like to deny myself” and “I love good cuisine”. It’s clear at the beginning of the comedy what kind of person he is. The servant Osip gives a characterization to Khlestakov, from his words it becomes clear that the master dearly “profiled money”, that his father sent, and now he sits with a “tail”, but asks him to rent a room for the “best”, and give him the “best” dinner. Khlestakov is a petty bureaucrat, "a simple list." He is single, likes to go to the theaters, “rides a cab”, and spends money, sends his servant to the market to sell a “new tailcoat”. Instead of working, he walks "on a pre-study basis" and "plays cards".

Khlestakov arrived from St. Petersburg, stayed in a hotel in a small room, lived the second week, dined, “didn’t go from the tavern” and “didn’t pay a dime”. The innkeeper refused to serve them, Osip and Khlestakov. They don’t even have money for tobacco, “they smoked the last of the fourth day.” Khlestakov did not like the town: “they do not lend” to the shops, he thought to sell his pants, but decided that it was better to come home “in a Petersburg suit” and come to the “daughter” of some landowner.

Manner of holding

The author masterfully presented the characteristic of Khlestakov. In the comedy, each hero’s remark reveals his manners and behavior. From the very beginning, he shows himself as an empty and frivolous person: having spent all the money, he not only does not think about the fact that he has nothing to pay, but also demands. The servant brings him “soup and fries,” and Khlestakov also needs “sauce” and serve salmon. He eats and picks: “it's not hot”, instead of butter “some feathers”, “ax” instead of “beef”. Scolding the innkeeper: "loafers", only "tearing off the passing."

Having learned that the landlord is asking him, he continues: “A beautiful innkeeper! Complained already. " Threatens: “How dare? What am I, a merchant or an artisan? ” But when he sees a city man, he cringes and explains that they should send him money from the village. It is justified that there’s nothing to pay for: the whole day the innkeeper “starved him” and served “tea”, which “stinks of fish”. Seeing that the mayor’s gobbler, Khlestakov was brave and, in order not to be in prison, tries to intimidate him. Starting with promises to pay for lunch, he ends up threatening to turn to the minister.

The mayor takes him for an auditor, fawns, speaks with respect, calls him an "enlightened guest", invites him to his house. Khlestakov does not even try to find out the reason for the honors rendered to him, he says “without any consideration” and starts complaining about poor conditions, the owner does not give candles when he wants to “compose something”. He immediately agrees to the invitation of the mayor to live in his house: “it is much more pleasant” than “in this tavern”.

Speech of Khlestakov

Even a brief description of Khlestakov shows that in the image of his hero the author gives a collective and somewhat exaggerated type of superficially formed upstart. For the sake of a beautiful syllable, Khlestakov uses in his speech, incomprehensible French words to him, stamps from literature. And at the same time he doesn’t consider it shameful to insert vulgar expressions. He speaks abruptly, jumps from one to another, and all because he is spiritually impoverished and incapable of stopping his attention on anything. He grows in his own eyes from the attention of officials, becomes bolder and no longer knows the limit in lies and boasting.

Behavior

The first action gives an extremely clear description of Khlestakov. When officials take him to the city’s establishments, he first of all wonders if there are any entertainments where you can “play cards”. From which it becomes clear that a person likes to have fun. In the mayor’s house, he tries to exalt himself in the eyes of those around him and says that he is entering the department, once he was even “mistaken for the commander in chief”. He boasts that he is "known everywhere," with "actresses familiar." Often sees "writers", "on a friendly foot" with Pushkin.

He claims to have written “Yuri Miloslavsky,” but Marya Antonovna recalls that this is Zagoskin’s work. What is a newly-made auditor? He instantly finds an excuse by informing those present about the existence of two different books with the same title. He says that he has a “first home” in St. Petersburg and right there, intoxicated by wine and success, admits the inaccuracy: “run up” to yourselves “to the fourth floor” and “tell a cook”. But those around him perceive this rather as a reservation and encourage him to lie, thinking that this will allow them to learn more about him.

Deeds

Rejoices at the warm welcome and does not realize that he was mistaken for another person. “The ease in thoughts is extraordinary” - the author gave him such a characteristic. Khlestakov does not pretend to be an auditor, he simply does what others are imposing on him. Such behavior further confirms it in their eyes as a high-ranking official. “Although he lied,” he plays “with the ministers” and goes “to the palace”. Khlestakov weaves an intrigue, but he does not realize this. The image of this hero is the embodiment of stupidity and emptiness.

His thoughts frantically jump from one subject to another, without stopping at anything or stopping. The author in the comments also gives Khlestakov a characterization. The quotes “without a king in the head”, “somewhat silly” give a clear understanding of the fact that before us is one of those people who are called “empty”. Moreover, he instantly changes appearance and adapts to reality. A sort of chameleon, changing its color for survival, and not for entertainment. Thanks to this inadvertence and frankness with which he plays the role imposed on him, Khlestakov easily leaves any situation when he is caught in a lie.

Relationship with others

In the house of the mayor, everyone wants to know more about the "distinguished guest" and they are interested in the servant Osip that his master loves, than he is interested. Khlestakov, on the other hand, plays brilliantly before the officials of the auditor, and only in the fourth act of the comedy does he begin to understand that he was mistaken for a "state man." Does he feel at least something at the same time? Unlikely. He easily transforms and plays the role that society has offered him.

In comedy, everything is based on a situation of self-deception. The author presents the reader with a person who does not have his own content. In the comedy The Inspector General, Khlestakov’s description clearly shows that he is a person without inner content. He is not so much consciously deceiving, but misleading other comedy participants. It is precisely in this inadvertence that the strength of this character lies.

Khlestakov is so accustomed to the role that it seems to be the groom of the daughter of the mayor. Without shame and conscience he asks her hand, not remembering that a minute ago he confessed her mother's love. He kneels in front of his daughter, then in front of his mother. As a result, he conquers them and drags himself behind both, he does not know who to choose.

Comedy finale

When Khlestakov realizes that he was mistaken for the wrong person, another unseemly trait of this hero is revealed. Having an empty and insignificant character, he writes to his acquaintance writer about what happened to him. And despite the fact that they received him in this town with kindness, Khlestakov joyfully describes the vices of his new acquaintances, those whom he had already robbed of order, and offers to make fun of them in the newspaper. Such is the characteristic of Khlestakov.

Gogol’s work ends with a “silent scene”: a real auditor arrived. But this does not make him the main character of the comedy, the main character is rightfully considered Khlestakov. The author of the work publicly stated that the only positive person in his comedy was laughter. So Gogol warned accusations from officials. The writer argued that regardless of age, education or social status, every Russian person becomes Khlestakov for at least a minute.