The Government Inspector

The Government Inspector is one of the most famous Russian plays, renowned for its satirical portrayal of government officials and laced with apocalyptic, absurd overtones. The focus of the play’s satire is the corruption of petty bureaucrats, but within that focus is a much larger target. The bureaucratic system becomes a symbol of all systems upon which societies depend to meet their needs. That those needs must be met lends those who can meet them tremendous power and with the power to give always comes the power to corrupt. The intricacies of bureaucratic tyranny are thus extrapolated to apply even beyond the specific target of Russian society under the yoke of a corrupt Tsar.