Deception pervades the play. From the first scene to the last, one character or the other is deceived by or deceives another. By this deception, humour and suspense are sustained. Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky are informed by Vlass that a certain guest, a young man whom the two have noticed, is from Petersburg. He has been lodging at the inn for two weeks and appears to be in no hurry to leave while eating on credit. Having had wind of a letter warning the Mayor of the imminent arrival of an official who is coming from Petersburg incognito to inspect the whole province', they wrongly conclude that he is the expected official.
Convinced of their discovery, Bob and Dob hurry to the Mayor, disrupt the meeting at which the very matter of the visit is being discussed, and deliver the deceptive news that the personage is already in town. There is humorous panic among the deceived Mayor and the local authority officials. The Mayor, taken in by the news, decides to meet the supposed visiting official, tacitly acknowledging his own corrupt dealings. The deception is reinforced as the Mayor strives to bribe Hlestakov. The other local officials follow suit. The merchants take their place in the queue to offer inducements to Hlestakov to take up their grievances against the Mayor. Hlestakov himself is full of deception. Seeing that he has been mistaken for a more important personage than he is, he reinforces the deception by extorting bribes as loans that he obviously does not intend to repay.
Hlestakov worms his way into the affection of Anna, who, being deceived, persuades her husband to give his blessing to a union between their daughter and Hlestakov. The deception is humorous and keeps the plot moving through its suspense.
The announcement of the engagement of Marya to the imposter causes great excitement. Everyone congratulates the Mayor and his family on their good fortune, even envying them their luck. The people are deceived as the merchants recant and withdraw their complaints against the Mayor.
Yosif also play an important role in the deception that occurs in the play. He realizes their being mistaken for prominent people and plays his part well in the deception. Just before the arrival of the real Government Inspector, it is Yosif who impresses upon his master that it is time to run. Apart from these, there are various incidents of deception in the play, such as officials putting their house in order for the benefit of the supposed inspector, and mother and daughter vying for Hlestakov's affection.
The scales fall from the eyes of the town officials with the receipt of a letter from Hlestakov, insulting all of them. The arrival of his Excellency the Inspector-General, himself, appointed by Imperial decree, reveals the true identity of Hlestakov as an imposter.