Corruption is prevalent in the play. There is no character in the play who is not tainted by corruption. The political system in the play is filthy, corrupt and unjust. The political class stinks of corruption. The mayor is an epitome of corruption. He collects bribes and embezzles funds meant for the hospital, chapel and for the welfare of the :dice and the army. The other officials are also corrupt. The judicial system is in a pathetic state. It is dirty and fraught with corruption. The physical dirt in the courthouse symbolizes the moral decadence in the judicial system. The judge collects a bribe of Borzoi puppies to pervert justice.
The health sector is as corrupt as other sectors. The Charity Commissioner is corrupt and callous. He embezzles the fund meant for the feeding of the patients. He is indifferent to the plight of his patients and couldn't care less if all the patients die as long as he has money in his purse. The police and the army are in a poor state. Members of the force are ill-motivated and demoralized. The soldiers nave no uniform and they go about in tunics. The uniform is used by the high and mighty as a tool of extortion.
This gives rohorov room to return home drunk after going out to quell a fight. The Postmaster is as corrupt as the Mayor and the Judge. He violates his professional ethics at will by slitting open private letters. This, he claims, is the only way he can get to the world. The merchants are not innocent. They inflate contracts. The construction of the bridge was done at a very exorbitant rate. The citizenry is beaten, battered and buffeted. The rule of law is not respected and there is a gross violation of human rights. Hlestakov, owing to his own inherent tendencies for corruption exploits the system for his own selfish ends.