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The Inspector General · Character

Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov

A penniless Petersburg copying clerk whose empty pockets and grand fibs get him mistaken for the Inspector General, and who happily plays along.

major

Also known as Khlestakov, Ivan Aleksandrovich, Ivan

First appearance: the inspector general

As a major figure in The Inspector General, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Character Web

27 connections

A slice of how Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

AAAnton Antonovi…MAMarya AntonovnaPIPiotr Ivanovic…OSOsipPIPiotr Ivanovic…IAIvan Aleksandrovich …

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Main characters and officials
  • Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

The emotional peak here is the guests’ sycophantic frenzy, as Luka’s wife’s breathless, tearful monologue infl…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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