One of the minor characters in N. V. Gogol’s comedy “The Inspector General” is the trustee of charitable institutions Artemy Filippovich Strawberry. This is a bright, original character who is another puzzle in the picture of Russian bureaucracy. An inveterate gossip and slanderer, Strawberry is ready to betray all his colleagues in order to save his own skin. The characterization of Strawberry is important for understanding what kind of relationships reign in a rotten bureaucratic environment, where everyone is ready to commit the most disgusting, most vile act for their own benefit.
The material was prepared jointly with a teacher of the highest category, Kuchmina Nadezhda Vladimirovna.
Experience as a teacher of Russian language and literature - 27 years.
a brief description of
Before reading this analysis, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the work The Inspector General itself.
Full name : Artemy Filippovich Strawberry.
Age : not specified, middle-aged man.
Occupation : trustee of charitable institutions (charitable institutions).
Family - married, has five children.
Social status : nobleman.
Origin - comes from a noble family.
Upbringing is traditional for noble families.
Education is traditional for noble families.
Appearance - a very fat, clumsy, clumsy man.
Character - mean-spirited, hypocritical, helpful, overly fussy, a sycophant and a bribe-taker.
positive features .
Negative traits - arrogant, vile traitor and careerist, capable of betraying his comrades and colleagues.
The work is “The Inspector General”.
Author - Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol.
Role and significance
Gogol deliberately does not indicate the location of the action, saying only that all events take place in the district town of N. By this, the writer emphasizes that such unscrupulous officials can exist throughout Russia.
Spectators and readers found it funny to watch the behavior of the trustee of charitable institutions, who, however, for all his fun, appears to be a terrible person. He has been given great power, the opportunity to do good deeds and help people, but Artemy Filippovich prefers only to make money, saving on the sick.
In a brief description of Strawberry from The Inspector General, it is necessary to indicate that this character, although endowed by Gogol with a verbal individuality (which is worth one phrase that the sick recover like flies), is typical of his time. An unscrupulous official who performs his duties carelessly; an envious person, a liar, an informer and a suck-up - this is what the trustee of charitable institutions and many officials of his time are like. Gogol boldly laughs at them, making them look ridiculous, but in fact it is sad and painful for the writer to see that there are a lot of such unworthy people in life.
We looked at the characterization of Strawberry in Gogol's The Inspector General. It should be noted that this character represents a set of negative traits that were inherent in unscrupulous careerist officials of the 19th century.
Quote characteristic
A description of Strawberry with quotes will allow you to reveal his image, demonstrate not only his appearance, but also character traits, behavioral characteristics, and attitude to life.
Portrait
The artistic portrait of Strawberry is based on the fact that he is a trustee of charitable institutions.
“Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, trustee of charitable institutions.”
Source: "Characters"
Strawberry bears the rank of court councilor. Persons who reached this rank had the right to hereditary nobility.
“...trustee of charitable institutions, court councilor Zemlyanika...”
Source: Act Four, Scene 6
Artemy Filippovich is the father of five children.
“Khlestakov. Oh yes! Strawberries. So, please tell me, do you have children?
Artemy Filippovich. Well, sir, five; two are already adults... Nikolai, Ivan, Elizaveta, Marya and Perepetua.”
Source: Act Four, Scene 6
Appearance
Strawberry's appearance fully corresponds to his last name - he is very fat and clumsy.
“...a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man...”
Source: “Notes for gentlemen actors”
“The overseer of the charitable establishment, Strawberry, is a perfect pig in a yarmulke .”
Source: Act five, scene 8
Character traits and actions
Strawberry is distinguished by his indifference to sick people, whom he is obliged to take care of as part of his duty. He believes that there is no need for them to buy expensive medicines, so as not to incur losses in the event of their death.
"ABOUT! As for healing, Christian Ivanovich and I took our own measures: the closer to nature, the better - we do not use expensive medicines . A simple man: if he dies, he will die anyway; If he gets well, he’ll get well.”
Source: Act one, phenomenon 1
Artemy Filippovich treats his duties poorly, skimping on his charges in every possible way. Instead of quality food, he feeds them only cabbage.
“Ammos Fedorovich. What do you have to be afraid of? I put clean caps on the sick, and the ends were in the water.
Artemy Filippovich. What hubcaps! The sick were ordered to be given gabersup, but I have such cabbage wafting through all the corridors, so just take care of your nose.”
Source: Act one, scene 3
Strawberry is a big cheat, a deceiver.
“... a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man, but for all that, a sly and a rogue .”
Source: “Notes for gentlemen actors”
Artemy Filippovich, wanting to curry favor with the capital's auditor, brazenly lies about the fact that there are very few patients in his charitable institution: the rapid recovery of patients is facilitated solely by the honest work of Strawberry himself.
“There are ten people left, no more; and the rest all recovered. This is just the way it is, this is the order. Since I took over, it may even seem incredible to you that everyone has been recovering like flies. The patient will not have time to enter the infirmary before he is already healthy; and not so much with medications, but with honesty and order.”
Source: Act Three, Scene 5
“I can say that I do not regret anything and perform my service zealously .”
Source: Act Four, Scene 6
Artemy Filippovich is a very helpful, flattering, and fussy person.
“Very helpful and fussy.”
Source: “Notes for gentlemen actors”
Being a cunning and sneaky person, Strawberry invites other officials to introduce themselves one by one to the capital’s “auditor” and give him bribes. He is sure that this is exactly what everyone does in a civilized society.
“Listen: these things are not done this way in a well-organized state. Why is there a whole squadron of us here? You need to introduce yourself one by one, and between four eyes and that... as it should be - so that even your ears don’t hear . This is how it’s done in a well-ordered society!”
Source: Act four, scene 1
Strawberry is a vile person, capable of setting up his comrades in order to shield himself in front of a capital official. In this dishonest way, he is trying to save his own skin in a difficult situation.
“ The local postmaster is doing absolutely nothing : everything is in great disrepair, parcels are delayed... if you please, look for it yourself on purpose. The judge, too, who was just before my arrival, only goes after hares, keeps dogs in public places and behaves, if I confess to you - of course, for the benefit of the fatherland I must do this, although he is my relative and friend - the behavior of himself reprehensible."
Source: Act Four, Scene 6
“Here is the superintendent of the local school... I don’t know how the authorities could trust him with such a position : he is worse than a Jacobin, and instills such ill-intentioned rules in the youth that it is even difficult to express. Would you like me to put it all down on paper?”
Source: Act Four, Scene 6
Artemy Filippovich is used to lying and being a hypocrite. Having learned about the imminent wedding of the mayor's daughter and the auditor, he congratulates the official, but he is beside himself with anger and envy. He does not show his true feelings, because he understands that the mayor can be useful to him.
“Not fate, father, fate is a turkey: merit led to this. (To the side.) There is always happiness in the mouth of such a pig!” (Act five, scene 7)
“Damn it, he’s already trying to become a general!” What good, maybe he will become a general. After all, he has importance, the evil one would not take him, enough. (Addressing him.) Then, Anton Antonovich, don’t forget us either...”
Source: Act five, scene 7
Attitude to service
Strawberry is only interested in work as a means of moving up the career ladder and obtaining certain material benefits. The people under the care of the “charitable institutions” he heads are of no interest to him at all. The main qualities of Strawberry in the professional field are:
- Negligence and indifference. He is not interested in the fact that people in the hospitals entrusted to him are “dying like flies.” He has an “iron” justification for this - people tend to die. Even the doctor at his hospital doesn’t know a word of Russian. And why buy drugs? Everything is still in God's hands. If a person is destined to die, he will die anyway. And if he is destined to recover, then he will recover without medication.
- Theft. The most disgusting thing is that the source of such statements is not the official’s ignorance, but his cynicism. In this way, he justifies the fact that the money allocated for medicines went into his pocket.
- Fraud. Artemy Filippovich is a master of showing off. Having learned about the arrival of the “auditor”, even without the mayor’s prompting, he knows what to show to the capital’s authorities and how to present him with everything he saw. The trustee takes credit for the fact that there are few patients in the hospital, explaining that with his arrival at this position the patients began to “get better like flies.” All this happens thanks to the “honesty and order” that reigns in his establishments.
- Corrupt practices. Resolving issues with the help of bribes is a common thing for any official. It was he who was the first to suggest that the mayor give a bribe to Khlestakov and thereby solve the problem in a familiar and reliable way.
It is indicative that Strawberry, like any official, is completely confident in his impunity and is not afraid of anyone, not even God. He is ready to appropriate any money, even those allocated for the construction of the church, and then assure the visiting “auditor” that they began to build it, but only it burned down.
This suggests that Strawberry has nothing sacred . When it comes to money, he is ready to do anything: deceive, slander and rob anyone, even God. It is especially scary that this soulless official, being the caretaker of “charitable institutions,” has unlimited power over the destinies and lives of ordinary people who depend on him.
As sad as it is to admit, after so many years, almost nothing has changed in our country. Power is in the hands of incompetent people, the dominance of officials who think only about themselves and openly don’t care about the needs of the people - everything remains the same.
Artemy Filippovich Strawberry is a vivid example of the fact that an official can make a “feeding trough” for himself from anything, including charity and helping people. He is able to get the maximum benefit from his position, enjoying complete impunity.
Biography
Artemy Filippovich Zemlyanika holds the post of trustee of charitable institutions in one of the provincial cities of Russia. He neglects his duties, saving in every possible way on his charges: he feeds them cabbage instead of nutritious soup, does not buy expensive medicines, believing that this is a waste of money, and does not monitor order and cleanliness.
The sudden arrival of the capital’s “auditor” brings turmoil into the usual course of Strawberry’s life. Realizing that it will be difficult for him to rationally explain his negligence in the service, he begins to actively denounce other officials of the county town - his own comrades and colleagues. The main task for him is to divert the attention of the inspector from himself, and for this purpose he does not disdain the most vile, dirty gossip.
Being a cunning rogue and swindler, Strawberry is the first to offer to bribe the auditor in order to soften him up during inspections of administrative activities. When a misunderstanding with Khlestakov becomes clear, he, like his colleagues in misfortune, blames Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky, who announced the arrival of the capital’s auditor, for all the sins.
Activity
The resourceful and active Strawberry sees the meaning of his duties in maintaining external decency, in creating appearances. In fulfilling this goal, he is hindered by patients: there are too many of them. And this will certainly be “attributed to poor judgment or lack of skill on the part of the doctor.” Therefore, a strange situation arises, essentially paradoxical: an ideal hospital is a hospital without patients. They cause too much concern, although no one is going to treat them, following the principle “if he dies, then he will die; If he gets well, he’ll get well.”
Artemy Filippovich's revelations should not be attributed to his simplicity and naivety. In a circle of people who understand each other, it is unnecessary to be cunning and pretend that you are working honestly. The trustee of orphanages and hospitals is one of the first to demonstrate this.
Strawberry Image
Artemy Filippovich Strawberry is one of those people whose appearance can be misleading. The seemingly good-natured fat man turns out to be a very cunning, vile, cruel and calculating person, capable of betraying those closest to him for the sake of his own interests.
The clumsiness and sluggishness of Strawberry is very deceptive - where necessary, the official is able to move very quickly and briskly, pleasing his superiors in every possible way. He is used to being needed and amiable. In cases where this maneuver does not work, Strawberry uses a proven method - bribes and denunciations.
In an effort to please Khlestakov, to appease him, Artemy Filippovich uses the entire arsenal of his proven techniques. Resourceful and cunning, he is capable of anything to achieve his goals.
Check out what else we have:
for the most rational -
Summary of “The Inspector”
for the most impatient -
A very brief summary of “The Inspector”
for the most sociable -
The main characters of "The Inspector General"
for the busiest -
Reader's diary "The Inspector General"
for the coolest -
Read “The Inspector General” in full
Exposure
The characterization of Strawberry from “The Inspector General” should be continued in the text by analyzing the last scenes, when officials, to their horror, learn that Khlestakov was mistakenly taken for an inspector. How does Artemy Filippovich appear to readers in these actions?
- He is very pleased when, when reading a letter, facts are spoken out loud that discredit other officials, but he begins to lie and fuss when he has to read out loud about himself.
- Khlestakov called him “a pig in a yarmulke,” which sincerely offended the plump hero. Here we are talking about comparison both in terms of appearance and behavior.
- Without standing out from the crowd of angry officials, Strawberry begins to actively accuse Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky that it was they who initially mistook the visiting master for an inspector.
The characterization of Strawberry from “The Inspector General” becomes complete, the reader understands that this person is always trying to find someone to blame, cannot take responsibility for his own actions, is envious and deceitful. If just recently he was indignant at the mayor, who had the good fortune to marry his daughter to an important official, now he is ready to unite with him and bring down his anger on Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky.
Conclusion
In the comedy “The Inspector General” by N.V. Gogol, Artemy Filippovich is a minor character, whom the author endowed with qualities that are very common among officials: hypocrisy, veneration for rank, sycophancy, meanness. The attitude towards Strawberry is very clear - this is a negative character in whom there is nothing living, human.
The role of the hero is to demonstrate all the unsightly sides of the bureaucratic apparatus in Russia, which has managed to completely rot without proper control and reforms. Characteristics of Strawberries with quotes will allow you to prepare a report for a literature lesson or write an essay on a given topic.
The collected material, which includes quotes from the text, allows you to independently characterize the character according to plan, and will help you compose a detailed written work or write an essay on a given topic.
Appearance, speech characteristics
In “Notes for Gentlemen Actors” N.V. Gogol noted that Strawberry is extremely fat, clumsy and clumsy. Khlestakov, in a letter to Tryapichkin, called the trustee of charitable institutions a pig in a yarmulke.
Artemy Filippovich tries to speak flatteringly and floridly with Khlestakov and the mayor. For example, he says to the mayor: “I have the honor to congratulate you on your extraordinary happiness. I was mentally rejoiced when I heard” (act 5, scene 4). When talking with Khlestakov, Strawberry, out of respect, sometimes adds the particle “s” to words, for example: “labardan, sir,” “what, sir.” Trying to earn Khlestakov’s praise, he boasts that since he became the head of charitable institutions, “everyone is getting better like flies.”
Author's description of Strawberries
In “Notes for Gentlemen Actors,” Gogol points out that Strawberry is “a sneak and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy .
Hearing Khlestakov’s question about the name of the fish that was served for breakfast, the fat Strawberry runs up and answers him. The remark “runs up” indicates that the author notes the fussiness and helpfulness of the trustee of charitable institutions.
In “A warning for those who would like to play “The Inspector General” properly,” the author of the comedy gives him the following description: “Strawberry is a fat man, but a thin rogue . Gogol explains that the trustee of charitable institutions “belongs to those people who, only in order to get out themselves, do not find any other means than to drown others.”
Behavior of Strawberry under Khlestakov
Having come to Khlestakov to introduce himself, Artemy Fillipovich praises himself very much, assuring that he performs his service zealously. And then he begins to gossip about other officials, not sparing the judge, who is his relatives and friend. Strawberry offers to put his slander in writing, and Khlestakov agrees, since he likes to read something funny.
Khlestakov speaks to him absent-mindedly and carelessly. Having learned that Strawberry has 5 children, two of them adults, Khlestakov asks: “How are they... how are they?” Artemy Filippovich helpfully prompts him: “That is, would you like to ask what their names are?” and, having received an affirmative answer, he readily lists: “Nicholas, Ivan, Elizabeth, Marya and Perepetua” (act 4, scene 6).
Character traits
Artemy Filippovich is a flattering person who wants to curry favor with his superiors . When Khlestakov asked the name of the fish that he ate in a charitable establishment, Strawberry quickly ran up to him and respectfully answered: “Labardan, sir.”
Khlestakov says that it seemed to him that the trustee of charitable institutions was shorter yesterday, and he readily agrees: “It may very well be” - and immediately assures that he is zealously performing the service (action 4, phenomenon 6).
Artemy Fillipovich is a coward . Having learned about the arrival of the “auditor”, he fears that “trouble might happen.” After he treated Khlestakov to breakfast in the hospital, Artemy Filippovich says to Luka Lukich: “It’s just scary. And why, you yourself don’t know. And we're not even in uniform. Well, how can he sleep it off and let a report arrive in St. Petersburg?” (action 3, phenomenon 7).
It is Strawberry who suggests that officials give a bribe to the auditor, since he believes that only this will save them from being removed from office. He was afraid to be the first to give a bribe and insisted that Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin go to the auditor first.
Artemy Filippovich is two-faced , he is respectful to the mayor, fawns over him, and when he speaks to the side, he calls him a swindler and wishes him: “May you disappear!” (action 5, phenomenon 7).
Strawberry is cunning and resourceful . When he reads Khlestakov’s letter to Tryapichkin aloud to the officials and comes to the place where he called him a pig in a skullcap, he did not read it out loud. He tries very hard to prevent others from reading this passage, assuring that the writing here is unclear and illegible.
