Self-Deception Theme Analysis

Khlestakov’s mistaken identity as the feared government inspector from St. Petersburg is crucial to the plot and comedy of The Government Inspector. Importantly, Khlestakov never intentionally pretends to be the inspector to deceive the town officials. He isn’t aware that they think he’s a government inspector at all; he simply takes advantage of their eagerness to please him, because he desires other people’s admiration. In fact, the only real deception in the play is the town officials’ self-deception. As soon as the officials conclude—without proof—that Khlestakov must be the inspector, they give more and more weight to this idea until they accept it as unquestionable fact. They begin to view Khlestakov as intimidating, cultured, dignified, and immensely powerful, which only further persuades them that he is the inspector. The local officials’ self-deception prevents them from seeing the reality that Khlestakov is only a minor clerk and lacks the impressive qualities they attach to him. In the end, the mayor finally realizes they have all duped themselves and cries, “Was there anything like a government inspector about that whippersnapper? Absolutely damn all.” With these words, the mayor admits that Khlestakov never really seemed like an inspector; it was only the mayor’s and the other officials’ false belief that transformed Khlestakov into the inspector in their minds. Beyond the humor of Khlestakov’s mistaken identity and the town officials’ foolishness, the play demonstrates how powerful self-deception can be. The Government Inspector suggests that when people see only what is easy or desirable to believe, they ignore reality to their own detriment.