The Government Inspector

How does the play use satire as a form of social critique? What other literary techniques does Gogol employ (e.g. dramatic irony) to shape the plot, characterization, and/or the themes?

Explore the allusions to gambling in the play. What is the significance of this motif? How does gambling function in both a literal and figurative sense?

Osip forms a contrast to Khlestakov in some ways while mimicking him in others. What are the differences and similarities between master and serf? How does Osip’s characterization and experiences help to illuminate some of the play’s key ideas?

How does The Government Inspector explore the separation between urban and rural communities? How do the characters conceive of each setting, and what do these conceptions reveal about Russian society at the time?

Examine conceptions of class and rank in The Government Inspector. How are class and rank determined and conceived of by the various characters? How do these ideas shape the play in terms of both its plot and its characterization?

What does The Government Inspector suggest about the nature of corruption? How does it impact the characters in different ways and to different degrees? Are there any characters who seem to resist corruption?

How do civic leaders such as the Mayor, the Judge, and the Warden of Charities exercise power, and in what ways are they both characters and more general allegories for institutions and their failings?

Research Russian political and literary culture during Gogol’s lifetime. In what ways does Gogol’s play reflect some of the political issues and/or literary trends of the time? What insights, if any, can we gain into the historical moment through analyzing works of literature like Gogol’s?