# What Took Place Before the District Judge of Mirgorod explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Nikolai Gogol.

## What happens

Ivan Ivanovitch and Ivan Nikiforovitch each file formal complaints against the other before the district judge of Mirgorod. Ivan Ivanovitch's plaint accuses Ivan Nikiforovitch of insulting him by calling him a goose and of building a goose-shed that encroaches on his property, while Ivan Nikiforovitch's plaint accuses Ivan Ivanovitch of destroying his goose-shed and threatening his life. The judge attempts to reconcile them, but both insist on legal action. After the plaints are read, a brown sow unexpectedly rushes into the courtroom and snatches the plaint of Ivan Nikiforovitch, adding an absurd twist to the proceedings.

## Themes in this chapter

### Absurdity and Satire

The chapter satirizes the pettiness of the two Ivans' feud and the absurdity of the legal system, culminating in a sow snatching a plaint from the courtroom.

### Social Class and Bureaucracy

The formal complaints emphasize the nobles' concern for rank and honor, while the court's procedures and the judge's attempts at mediation highlight bureaucratic inefficiency.

## Character check-ins

### Ivan Ivanovitch

Files a formal plaint against Ivan Nikiforovitch for insult and property encroachment, insisting on legal action despite the judge's attempts at reconciliation.

### Ivan Nikiforovitch

Files a counter-plaint accusing Ivan Ivanovitch of destroying his goose-shed and threatening his life; struggles to enter the courtroom and is squeezed through the door by clerks.

### The Judge

Presides over the court, attempts to mediate between the two Ivans, and is astonished by the absurd turn of events when a sow snatches a plaint.

### Judge Demyan Demyanovitch

Addressed by Ivan Ivanovitch as he rejects the judge's suggestion of a friendly settlement.

### Gapka

Mentioned in Ivan Nikiforovitch's plaint as the mistress ordered to kill a sheep on the eve of St. Philip's.

## Key lines

> Read it, Taras Tikhonovitch,” said the judge, turning to the secretary. Taras Tikhonovitch took the plaint; and blowing his nose, as all district judges’ secretaries blow their noses, with the assistance of two fingers, he began to read

The judge instructs the secretary to read the plaint, and the secretary performs his habitual nose-blowing before commencing.

_Highlights the ritualistic and somewhat comical behavior of court officials._

> Ivan Nikiforovitch, in terror at having got so far from home, and at having undergone such a fearful quarantine, made haste to crawl through the door, saying, “Don’t trouble yourself. It is with pleasure that I⁠—” and closed it after him, leaving all present stupefied.

Frightened by his ordeal, Ivan Nikiforovitch quickly exits the courtroom, leaving everyone astonished.

_Emphasizes Ivan Nikiforovitch's anxiety and the absurdity of his abrupt departure._

> just at that moment a brown sow rushed into the room and snatched, to the amazement of the spectators, neither a pie nor a crust of bread but

Suddenly, a brown sow bursts into the courtroom and seizes something unexpected, astonishing everyone present.

_The sow's entrance adds a surreal and humorous twist to the legal proceedings._

## Links

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