The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol. Short summary

5 seconds

The play is about how the leaders of the provincial town mistook the petty official Khlestakov for an auditor. They bribe him. The moment the deception is uncovered, the real inspector arrives.

1 minute

Ivan Khlestakov, a petty official, stays in a district town. Here he loses his last money. At this time the town council, mired in bribery and theft of the treasury, awaits the arrival of the inspector from St. Petersburg. Khlestakov is taken for him.

All townspeople pamper him with bribes and give lavish parties in his honor. The mayor dreams of marrying Khlestakov off to his daughter.

The servant hurries Ivan to leave as quickly as possible, before the deception is uncovered. Khlestakov departs having previously written a letter to a friend.

The mayor summons many guests to announce his daughter’s engagement to the inspector. At this point, the postmaster prints out Khlestakov’s letter and the deception is uncovered.

At this time, an official from St. Petersburg arrives at the hotel and demands the entire town hall.

The play ends with a mute scene.