"Nikolai Gogol's play 'The Inspector-General' is a biting satire of the corrupt society of 19th-century Russia. Officials in a small town become extremely anxious about the news of a secret inspector-general's visit, fearing that their corrupt practices will be exposed. At this time, a poor, low-ranking official named Khlestakov, who happens to be staying in the town, is mistakenly identified as the inspector-general due to a misunderstanding. Khlestakov seizes this opportunity, enjoying the townspeople's hospitality, extorting their money, and receiving their flattery.
The townspeople offer Khlestakov bribes and heap all sorts of praise upon him to curry favor. Khlestakov revels in this situation, skillfully deceiving the townspeople. Khlestakov's servant, Osip, concerned about his master's boasting and fraudulent behavior, advises him to leave the town. Eventually, Khlestakov takes Osip's advice and departs, and only after he is gone do the townspeople realize they have been deceived.
They are overcome with anger and shame, blaming each other and falling into disarray. Just then, news arrives that the real inspector-general has arrived, bringing the story to its climax. The townspeople are plunged into even greater confusion and fear, and the play reaches a shocking conclusion. 'The Inspector-General' is a satirical work that portrays human desire for power and corruption, sharply criticizing the dark side of society through the foolishness and greed of its characters."
"Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was a prominent 19th-century Russian playwright and novelist. Born in Ukraine in 1809, he moved to St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, where he entered the literary world. Through his works that sharply satirized the corruption of Russian society and human folly, Gogol criticized the society of his time and resonated deeply with readers.
Gogol's representative works include the play 'The Inspector-General' and the novel 'Dead Souls.' 'The Inspector-General' satirically depicted human desire for power and the dark side of society through a farcical situation in which corrupt officials are deceived by a fake inspector-general. 'Dead Souls' criticized the contradictions of Russian society and human greed through the story of a swindler who tries to borrow money using dead serfs as collateral. Additionally, the short story 'The Overcoat' addressed issues of social inequality and human alienation through the tragic life of a low-ranking official, significantly influencing the development of Russian realist literature.
Gogol's works, while criticizing social problems through humor and satire, also delicately portray human psychology, leaving a deep impression on readers. His works continue to be reinterpreted in various fields such as theater, film, and literature, and are loved by many people to this day."