Hlestakov and the Mayor are two major characters in the play. They exhibit weaknesses which contribute to the development of the plot
Both of them are public servants. While Hlestakov is a junior officer in Peterburg, the Mayor is the political and administrative head of one of the districts in Russia.
While the Mayor seems to have risen to the pinnacle of his profession, Hlestakov is stuck in the mud, prompting his father to invite him for questioning in Saratov.
Both of them are corrupt and exploitative. The Mayor takes advantage of his position to embezzle public funds and extort money from the traders and merchants. He violates the rights of the commoners in conscripting the locksmith flogging the sergeant's wife. Hlestakov equally takes advantage of the general ignorance of his true identity to extort reasonable sums of money from whoever comes his way.
Hiestakov is a bachelor with no visible family responsibility. His reckless and extravagant life style leads to Denury on his journey to Saratov. The Mayor, on the other hand, is a family man. He collects bribes to augment the -ante he receives and holds his family together. -Hestakov is a dupe in the game of deception while the Mayor is duped.
Hlestakov has the good fortune of being able to escape with his loot while the unfortunate Mayor has no —cans of escape and must face the genuine inspector General. - point worth noticing is that the Mayor has no illusions about the run-down affairs of the province. However, he is prepared to offer bribe to cover up his inefficiency. Hlestakov, on the other hand, is able to take advantage of situations, _A not without help from Yosif.