48 pages • 1 hour read
Nikolai GogolThe Government Inspector
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1836A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The comedy of errors plot in Nikolai Gogol's satirical stage play The Government Inspector revolves around Khlestakov, a young, dissolute government clerk mistaken for an awaited government inspector in a small Russian town; he exploits this misunderstanding to dupe the frantic and corrupt officials, exposing the moral decay and incompetence of government.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector is celebrated for its sharp satire of bureaucratic corruption and human folly. You'll find its humor engaging, though some modern readers may struggle with its period-specific references and language. Many appreciate the universal themes that remain relevant, while others might find the pacing slow at times.
Who Should Read The Government Inspector?
Readers who enjoy sharp satire and social commentary, akin to George Orwell's Animal Farm or Molière's Tartuffe, will delight in Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector. This play humorously critiques bureaucracy and corruption, making it ideal for those who appreciate literary works that blend wit with incisive political critique.