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Dobchinsky
Anna Andreyevna is the mayor’s wife and mother of Marya Antonovna. Anna is vain and self-centered. She must always look her best, demands to be in the know, talks long-windedly, and constantly fusses and complains. She bickers incessantly with her daughter and often rebukes Marya unkindly. Anna is also easily caught up in the excitement about the government inspector’s arrival. Instead of fearing the reason for the inspector’s visit, she’s immediately curious about the inspector’s looks and rank. Her focus on superficial things reflects her own petty shallowness. After Anna is introduced to Khlestakov, she enjoys Khlestakov’s flattery and is taken in by his ridiculous boasting. Even while her daughter is being congratulated for her recent engagement to Khlestakov, Anna makes herself the center of attention, as if she’s the bride-to-be instead of Marya. Furthermore, once she believes Marya will soon be married to a very important man, Anna is quick to fantasize about leaving behind her provincial home, disregarding the coarse and uncultivated people with whom she currently lives, and mixing with polite society in St. Petersburg. Like the mayor, she sets her sights over-ambitiously on attaining social prestige and living a luxurious life.
Anna Andreyevna Quotes in The Government Inspector
The The Government Inspector quotes below are all either spoken by Anna Andreyevna or refer to Anna Andreyevna. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 3 Quotes
No, not a general, but he’s as good as one. So cultured, so dignified.
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After he returns to the mayor’s house from the inn, Dobchinsky answers Anna Andreyevna’s insistent questions about the supposed government inspector. By his description, Dobchinsky seems quite awed by Khlestakov. Dobchinsky says that Khlestakov isn’t as high-ranking as a general but is still “as good as one.” This means that Dobchinsky perceives Khlestakov as having the same gravitas as a very powerful, high-status member of the civil service. Additionally, Khlestakov appears “[so] cultured, so dignified” to Dobchinsky. In Dobchinsky’s mind, then, Khlestakov is a greatly impressive and intimidating man, and Dobchinsky spreads this impression of Khlestakov to Anna Andreyevna and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui.
Now, Mashenka, we have to decide what to wear. He’s a Petersburg man-about-town, so I hope he won’t laugh at us.
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After she learns that Khlestakov will be staying in the mayor’s house, Anna Andreyevna immediately wonders how she can impress the man she believes is the government inspector. Specifically, Anna is concerned about “what to wear.” Her focus on clothes and appearances underscores her vanity, shallowness, and self-centeredness. She also wants her daughter, Marya Antonovna, to look her best so Khlestakov “won’t laugh at” them. This fear of derision suggests that Anna desires Khlestakov’s acceptance, or approval. She wants to be admired and respected by other people. Like many other characters in the play, Anna displays a need for external Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volu
Act 4 Quotes
She’s quite a tasty dish too—not at all bad looking.
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While he enjoys the mayor’s hospitality, Khlestakov decides to take full advantage of his favorable circumstances and indulge his pleasure-seeking habits further. So, after Khlestakov flirts with the mayor’s daughter, Marya Antonovna, he decides to flirt with her mother Anna Andreyevna too. Khlestakov thinks Anna is “not at all bad looking,” which indicates that his interest in her is rather superficial and self-centered. Khlestakov shamelessly pursues Anna even though she’s married to the mayor and he’s already professed love to Marya. His unscrupulous advances toward both mother and daughter demonstrate that Khlestakov is irresponsible and frivolous when it comes to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim ne
What a dunderhead you are! Even when everything’s been explained to you, you still don’t believe it!
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Anna Andreyevna becomes frustrated with her husband, the mayor, when he refuses to believe that Khlestakov wants to marry his daughter, even though she and Khlestakov both insist that it’s true. Anna calls her husband “a dunderhead” and exclaims, “Even when everything’s been explained to you, you still don’t believe it!” Anna’s words ring truer than she realizes. Throughout the play, the mayor consistently ignores the truth when it’s right in front of him. He does so most crucially in the case of Khlestakov’s identity. Even when Khlestakov truthfully explains who he is, the mayor doesn’t believe him and continues Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus
Act 5 Quotes
Fish! I suppose that’s all you can think of! But I do want to have the very best house in the Capital. There’ll be such an exquisite odour when you enter my boudoir that it will make you close your eyes! Oh, how wonderful!
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As soon as Anna Andreyevna and the mayor believe Khlestakov will marry their daughter, they assume this union will allow them to live extravagantly in St. Petersburg. Together, they fantasize about indulging in various luxuries. According to Anna, the mayor can only think about the kinds of fish he’ll be able to enjoy. The mayor’s wish for delicious fish demonstrates his greedy and simple-minded desire for material pleasures. In this way, food symbolizes greedy self-indulgence in pleasure, which the mayor frequently pursues. Anna criticizes her husband for his small-minded enthusiasm for fish, but she’s equally materialistic and pleasure oriented. She Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti
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Anna Andreyevna Character Timeline in The Government Inspector
The timeline below shows where the character Anna Andreyevna appears in The Government Inspector. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
Scene 6. Anna Andreyevna shouts for her husband, the mayor. She reproaches her daughter, Marya Antonovna, for vainly fussing...
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Act 2
...why but accepts. On Khlestakov’s dining bill, the mayor hastily writes a message for his wife and gives the note to Dobchinsky to deliver. Meanwhile, the mayor plans to get Khlestakov...
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Act 3
Scene 1. In the mayor’s house, Anna Andreyevna and Marya Antonovna await news about the government inspector. As her mother endlessly criticizes her,...
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Scene 2. Dobchinsky gives Anna Andreyevna the note from the mayor, and she asks what kind of man the government inspector...
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Scene 3. Anna Andreyevna and Marya Antonovna debate about what to wear to impress the inspector. Anna compares herself...
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Scene 6. The mayor introduces his wife and daughter to Khlestakov, who compliments and flatters Anna Andreyevna. Khlestakov begins overstating his importance...
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Scene 8. Anna Andreyevna and Marya Antonovna gush over Khlestakov’s charm and argue which one of them Khlestakov looked...
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...appreciates hospitality and good food. The mayor gives Osip money and in annoyance sends his wife and daughter away.
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Act 4
...eager to enjoy the mayor’s hospitality and expresses interest in both the mayor’s daughter and wife.
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Scene 13. Anna Andreyevna walks in, shocked. She scolds her daughter and sends her away angrily. Khlestakov declares his...
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Scene 14. Marya Antonovna returns and is shocked to see Khlestakov kneeling before her mother. Anna Andreyevna chastises her tearful daughter. Then Khlestakov takes Marya’s hand and asks for a blessing for...
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...ruin him, swearing that the shopkeepers are liars. Khlestakov doesn’t care about the shopkeepers anymore. Anna Andreyevna tells her husband that Khlestakov has asked to marry their daughter. The mayor doesn’t believe...
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Act 5
Scene 1. The mayor and his wife celebrate their daughter’s engagement to Khlestakov, which they expect will also raise them to higher...
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...Charities, and a town citizen named Rastakovsky all congratulate the mayor’s good fortune. They kiss Anna Andreyevna ’s and Marya Antonovna’s hands.
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Scene 4. Three more citizens—Korobkin, Korobkin’s wife, and Lyulyukov—congratulate the mayor, Anna Andreyevna, and Marya Antonovna.
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Scene 6. The Inspector of Schools starts to congratulate the mayor, but his wife interrupts him to congratulate Anna Andreyevna effusively.
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Scene 7. The Chief of Police congratulates the mayor. Anna Andreyevna recounts Khlestakov’s proposal as gentlemanly and beautiful, and she recalls compliments he supposedly gave her....
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Last Scene and Mute Scene
...the center, the mayor stands with his arms outstretched and his head thrown back. His wife and daughter reach out for him. The postmaster is “transformed into a question mark,” the...
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