The Government Inspector

Khlestakov enters the room where the men were just gathered. He is impressed by his satisfying sleep, even though the many heavy covers have left him “dripping with sweat” (296). He hopes to have a good time at the Mayor’s house, particularly with both Anna and Maria.

The Judge appears in the room. He introduces himself to Khlestakov, who encourages him to sit down. The Judge is holding on to a bribe, but the money seems as though it is “burning a hole in [his] hand” (297). When he begins to speak arrogantly about his role in the town, he accidently lets the bribe fall to the floor. He panics, worried that he has ruined his chance. Khlestakov spots the money. He asks the Judge if he could borrow the money, to which the Judge quickly agrees. The Judge is immediately relieved. He stands up, assuring Khlestakov that the money need not be paid back. As the Judge exits the room, he feels as though he has saved himself from the government inspector’s wrath.

The Postmaster is next to have a meeting with Khlestakov. As he introduces himself, he is impressed that Khlestakov does not appear to be a slob. Following on from his last meeting, Khlestakov speculatively mentions the desire to borrow money. The Postmaster eagerly agrees to lend him money. Once the Postmaster is gone, Khlestakov grins to himself. The man seemed “not a bad sort of chap,” (299), he says.

Next to meet with Khlestakov is the Inspector of Schools. By the time he enters, he is so worried that his body is trembling. Khlestakov invites him to smoke a cigar, but the cigar fumbles out of the Inspector’s trembling hand. This amuses Khlestakov, who jovially discusses his fondness for cigars and women. Khlestakov puts a question to the Inspector: Does he prefer “blondes or brunettes?” (300). The Inspector worriedly insists that he has no thoughts on these kinds of questions. Khlestakov, amused, teases the Inspector. Eventually, however, he mentions a need to borrow money. He is “completely skint” (301), he explains, and would appreciate a small loan to get by. The Inspector quickly agrees to lend Khlestakov money and then rushes from the room as quickly as he can, relieved that he will not be investigated further.

Next is the Warden of Charities. When he enters, he and Khlestakov make small talk. Soon enough, the Warden is criticizing the other civic leaders. The Postmaster is a lazy man, he claims, and the mail is frequently delayed. Meanwhile, the Judge is too interested in hunting to do his job, while his private life is “simply scandalous” (302). The Warden accuses Dobchinsky of having an illicit affair with the Judge’s wife. The Inspector of Schools, the Warden claims, is teaching radical political ideas to a generation of students.

The Warden pauses his diatribe for a moment, asking whether Khlestakov would like these accusations in writing. Khlestakov agrees. He needs something to entertain him when the boredom sets in, he says, telling the Warden that the string of accusations has amused him. As the Warden leaves, Khlestakov mentions a desire to borrow money. Like the men before him, the Warden happily promises to lend Khlestakov whatever he needs.

Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky come into the room together. When Khlestakov directly asks them for money, they search through their pockets to gather the few coins they have. Dobchinsky mentions that he would like advice from Khlestakov. His son was “born out of wedlock” (304), before the marriage between Dobchinsky and his wife. Now, he would like his son to be legitimized, especially as he is such a talented boy. Khlestakov promises that he will speak to someone in St. Petersburg about this issue. Bobchinsky asks if Khlestakov will mention his name to the important people in the capital, perhaps even to the Tsar himself. Without a second thought, Khlestakov promises to do so.

Now alone, Khlestakov thinks about the townspeople’s mistake. They “seem to have taken [him] for some government chappie” (306). When he reviews the outlandish comments he made the day before, he sees how they may have reached this mistaken conclusion. He plans to write to his friend in St. Petersburg about all the gossip he has heard during his stay.

Osip enters. He tells Khlestakov that his actions are putting them in a dangerous position. They should leave before someone arrives in town who might expose them. If they get in trouble or if they are late, Khlestakov’s father will be angry. Khlestakov is reluctant to go. With a sigh, he accepts that Osip is right. First, however, he asks his servant to send a letter containing all the secrets he has learned about the town to a friend named Tryapichkin, who will be able to publish the stories in a newspaper.

Osip leaves to send the letter and to order a luxurious carriage for Khlestakov. He is interrupted by a strange, loud sound from outside. Osip suggests that the shopkeepers are outside. They are a clamorous rabble, desperate to speak to Khlestakov about the “urgent” (307) matter of corruption in the town. Khlestakov leans out of the window and takes a petition from the crowd, noticing the extensive title which the petition bears.

Khlestakov invites the shopkeepers into the room. The entire crowd tries to tell him that they want to complain about the Mayor and his corruption, as he uses his power to make money for himself and locks up anyone who tries to expose him. The shopkeepers ask Khlestakov whether he would like some wine or sugar. Khlestakov responds that he is not interested in any kind of bribe. Alternatively, however, he would be interested in borrowing money as this would be “quite a different matter” (309). The crowd of shopkeepers eagerly offers to lend him more money than he asked for, as well as making sure that he takes the wine and sugar. When Khlestakov hears two more voices outside, he tells them to be let in.

The two voices belong to the Locksmith’s wife and the widow of the Sergeant. They throw themselves at Khlestakov’s feet and beg him to help them. The Mayor sent the Locksmith away on military duty even though his turn had not yet arrived, while the Sergeant’s widow claims that the police falsely accused her of fighting in public, then whipped her as a punishment. Khlestakov promises to help. As he glances at the rising number of petitions and requests, he sighs. There are too many and he is becoming bored. Osip shouts at the gathered people to leave.

Maria claims to be searching for her mother. Instead, she enters Khlestakov’s room, much to his delight. He begins to talk to her in a flirtatious manner. Maria enjoys his attention, claiming that she should write down his romantic words. Khlestakov boasts that he knows plenty of poetry. In a rush of emotions, he tells Maria that he loves her. Maria is taken aback. She is not sure about love, as she has “never known what love means” (314). Khlestakov tries to kiss Maria, but she rebuffs him, insisting that she is not just a country girl whom he can kiss as he pleases. Khlestakov falls to his knees. He repeats his love for Maria and asks her to love him back.

Anna enters. She is confused and asks Khlestakov and Maria what they are doing. Before they can explain, Anna sends her daughter from the room. Maria breaks down in tears and exits quickly. Khlestakov rues the loss of Maria, but he is equally as interested in Anna. He begins to flirt with her instead, now telling Anna that he loves her rather than her daughter. Her marriage to the Mayor is irrelevant, he says, as he simply must be with her as “true love knows no barriers” (315).

Maria returns. She is shocked to see Khlestakov down on one knee in front of her mother. Anna chides her daughter for being childish. Khlestakov switches attention again, now proclaiming his love for Maria. He wants to marry Maria, he says. Anna castigates her daughter, claiming that she is “not worthy of such happiness” (316).

The Mayor returns, complaining loudly about the shopkeepers. As he warns Khlestakov that they are “all liars and cheats” (317), Anna stops him. She tells him the good news: Khlestakov has asked Maria to marry him. She has agreed. The Mayor is taken aback. His initial shock and anger give way to satisfaction. He is happy with the marriage.

As Khlestakov and Osip ready themselves to run away from the town, Khlestakov tells people that he is simply going to visit a wealthy relative. When he is finished at his uncle’s house, he will be right back. The Mayor is satisfied. He even agrees to lend money to Khlestakov to cover his travel expenses, “all in nice, brand-new notes” (319). Khlestakov departs with Osip, waving goodbye to the town.