THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR QUOTES

Speaker Mayor

Quote You know, I had a premonition: The whole of last night I kept dreaming about two extraordinary rats huge, black, things, monsters. They came up and started sniffing around, then cleared off

Context Act One, just after presenting the news that a government inspector is coming to the town incognito

Analysis Example of symbolism- the black rats could either represent Khlestakov and the Mayor, illustrating how they are both corrupt; they could alternatively represent Khlestakov and the actual government inspector, foreshadowing the fact there will be two Establishes the setting of the town- isolated Emphasizes the institutionalized corruption, partially due to its separation from other societies Diction- depersonalized language in relation to the patients, uncaring connotations of stick demonstrate corruption Symbolism- the judge in a town represents the towns notions of justice, and thus the openly corrupt judge highlights internalized corruption Illustrates the institutionalization and acceptance of the corruption in the town Irony- it is ironic that the Mayor claims to be more righteous than the judge because of his religion, as it is apparent to the audience that he is similarly corrupt Use of an aside- develops the character of the mayor, and highlights his apparent paranoia at the thought the government suspects the town of corruption

Mayor

You could gallop out of here for three years, and still not reach a foreign country!

Act One, responding to Judges suggestion of impending war Act One, responding to suggestions to make the hospital look better Act One, responding to accusations of bribe-taking Act One, criticizing the judge Act One, criticizing the judge

Warden

I daresay we can stick clean night-caps on them

Judge

I tell people quite openly that I accept bribes, but what sort of bribes, eh? Greyhound pups, thats all Theres nobody who hasnt got some sin to answer thats how the good Lord made us You dont believe in God, for a start. And you never go to church. At least Ive still got my faith, and go to church every Sunday Listen, Postmaster, couldnt you just stop every letter that passes through your post office and melt the seal a tiny bit?

Mayor

Mayor

Mayor

Act One, in an aside to the postmaster

Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky

Dobchinsky (interrupting): Not at all bad-looking, and wearing an ordinary suit Bobchinsky: Not at all badlooking, and wearing an ordinary suit

Act One, informing the Mayor of Khlestakov

Their tandem-like speech and repetition of each other represents the confusion and miscommunication that is central to the play Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky also provide comic relief from the tension building due to the Mayors paranoia

Mayor

The streets are filthy, the whole towns like a dungheap! Its a disgrace! Has he got a moustache?

Act One, upon believing the inspector is already in town Act One, upon arrival of her husband Act Two, monologue

Exclamation and emotive language emphasize Mayors distress Demonstrates superficiality and obliviousness of Annas character Dramatic monologue- allows Osip to express his feelings against his lowly social class and is evidence of Gogols satire of the upper classes Symbolic of his materialistic, superficial values The use of asides is used throughout the play to demonstrate miscommunication- they allow the audience to be privy to the thoughts of the Mayor Dramatic Irony- Audience knows that Mayor is deluded

Anna

Osip

he has to make a show of himself every place we stop Mimics him [Khlestakov]

Khlestakov

Id rather starve than go home in anything other than my best Petersburg outfit (aside)Oh my God, hes furious! (aside)Oh, this is a crafy devil! You can see what hes after, but what a smokescreen he puts up, you can barely figure him out Well, Ill put him to the test.

Act Two, to Osip

Mayor

Act Two, meeting Khlestakov for the first time

Bobchinsky

Bobchinsky peeps round the door, straining to listen

Act Two, meeting between Mayor and Khlestakov Act Three, to one of the Mayors servants

Position on stage- represents the spread of misinformation, as Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky relay the occurrences to others Irony- it is ironic that it is the lowly servants that have the most awareness as to the true situation, highlighting Gogols satire of the upper class Dramatic Irony- the audience are aware that it is certainly not out of the goodness of their

Osip

Oh, hes a general all right, and then some

Khlestakov

I do enjoy hospitality, and all the more so when its out of peoples hearts, and not some

Act Four, monologue

ulterior motive

hearts that the townspeople give Khlestakov special treatment Repetition of symbols (devil=Khlestakov, fog=deception) at the conclusion of the play

Warden

It was if some sort of fog came Act Five, upon down on us, the devil mustve learning that lead us astray Khlestakov was not the government inspector