# The Judge — Short Fiction character guide

> The Judge in Short Fiction by Nikolai Gogol.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0032-iv-what-took-place-before-the-district-judge-of-mirgorod

## Snapshot

Mirgorod's sleepy district judge, who presides over the Ivans' absurd lawsuit while preferring thrushes, snuff, and cold tea to actual jurisprudence.

## Who they are

Demyan Demyanovitch runs his courtroom as a social club: the secretary drones a verdict no one hears while the judge reminisces about a sick thrush and the delicacies at Zachar Prokofievitch's table. His snuffbox and his nose are in constant, contented conspiracy, and Ivan Ivanovitch's entrance delights him more than any docket. He embodies the languid, self-satisfied officialdom that lets a petty quarrel between two worthies harden into legend.

## Relationships

### [Ivan Ivanovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/characters/ivan_ivanovitch)

_friendship_

Ivan Ivanovitch and the Judge are longtime friends and neighbors who share a cordial but occasionally petty relationship.

### [Ivan Ivanovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/characters/ivan_ivanovitch)

_friendship_

Ivan Ivanovitch and the Judge are longtime friends and neighbors who share a cordial but occasionally petty relationship.

### [Ivan Ivanovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/characters/ivan_ivanovitch)

_friendship_

Ivan Ivanovitch and the Judge are longtime friends and neighbors who share a cordial but occasionally petty relationship.

## In the story

### [How the Two Ivans Quarrelled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/chapters/how-the-two-ivans-quarrelled)

Presides over the legal proceedings between the two Ivans.

### [What Took Place Before the District Judge of Mirgorod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/chapters/iv-what-took-place-before-the-district-judge-of-mirgorod)

Presides over the court, attempts to mediate between the two Ivans, and is astonished by the absurd turn of events when a sow snatches a plaint.

### [From Which the Reader Can Easily Discover What Is Contained in It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/chapters/vi-from-which-the-reader-can-easily-discover-what-is-contained-in-it)

The Mirgorod district judge who tries to keep the matter secret but is exposed. He attempts reconciliation but fails, then processes the case with bureaucratic promptness before shelving it.

### [VII: How a Reconciliation Was Sought to Be Effected and a Lawsuit Ensued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/chapters/vii-how-a-reconciliation-was-sought-to-be-effected-and-a-lawsuit-ensued)

Attempts to facilitate the reconciliation by pushing the friends together after the chief of police fails.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/characters/the_judge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_40_se/characters