"Overcoat".

The main idea of ​​the "Overcoat" is very sublime. It can be said with certainty that this small work, in terms of the depth of the idea, stands above everything written by Gogol. In "The Overcoat" he does not expose anyone. Gogol speaks here with an evangelical sermon of love for one's neighbors; in the image of a hero, he draws a “poor in spirit”, a “small” person, “insignificant”, inconspicuous and claims that this creature is worthy of both human love and even respect. It was difficult to put forward such a "daring" idea at a time when the average public was still under the influence of the spectacular heroes of Marlinsky and his imitators, and all the more credit to Gogol that he decided to say his word in defense of the "humiliated and insulted" hero, not even being afraid put him on a pedestal.

The little man from The Overcoat - Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, a low-ranking official, offended by fate and people, not endowed with any abilities other than the ability to beautifully rewrite papers (see his description in the text of the work), is represented by Gogol as a man who not only conscientiously, but even lovingly doing his job. This business, copying papers, is the whole meaning and only joy of his lonely, half-starved life, he dreams of nothing else, strives for nothing, and is incapable of anything else. When the hero of the "Overcoat" in the form of an increase was given independent work, he was unable to fulfill it and asked to be left in correspondence. This consciousness of his spiritual impotence bribes the viewer, disposes him in favor of the modest Bashmachkin.

Gogol "Overcoat". Illustration by P. Fedorov

But Gogol in his story demands respect for this man, who, in the words of the gospel parable, was given "one talent", and this "talent" was not buried in the ground. Bashmachkin, according to Gogol, is superior to gifted officials who occupy prominent positions, but carelessly perform their duties.

But not only respect for Bashmachkin, as a modest and honest worker, Gogol demands in his story, he demands love for him as a "man". This is the high moral idea of ​​the Overcoat.

Not hoping that modern readers will be able to understand this work and understand its “idea” themselves, Gogol reveals it himself, depicting the state of mind of one sensitive young man who, thanks to a meeting with the “little man” Bashmachkin, understood the great feeling of Christian love for near. Selfish and frivolous young people, in bureaucratic uniforms, loved to make fun of the ridiculous and meek old man. The hero of The Overcoat dutifully endured everything, only occasionally repeating in a pathetic voice: “Leave me! Why do you offend me?" And Gogol continues:

“And there was something strange about the words and the voice with which they were spoken. There was something in him that bowed to pity, that one young man, who, following the example of others, had allowed himself to laugh at him, suddenly stopped, as if pierced, and since then, as if everything had changed in front of him and seemed in a different way. Some unnatural force pushed him away from the comrades he met, mistaking them for decent, secular people. And for a long time afterwards, in the midst of the most merry moments, he would imagine a short official, with a bald head on his forehead, with his penetrating words: "Leave me! Why do you offend me?" And in these penetrating words other words rang out: "I am your brother!" And the poor young man covered himself with his hand, and he shuddered many times later in his lifetime, seeing how much inhumanity is in a person, how much ferocious rudeness is hidden in refined, educated secularism and, God! even in that person whom the world recognizes as noble and honest!”

The little man Bashmachkin lived inconspicuously and died just as unknown, forgotten ... His life was not rich in impressions. That is why the biggest events in her were the terrifying realization that he needed to buy a new overcoat, joyful dreams about this overcoat, his delight when the overcoat was on his shoulders, and, finally, his torment when this overcoat was stolen from him and when it turned out to be impossible to find it ... All these various feelings associated with an overcoat, a hurricane burst into his existence and crushed him into a short time. The hero of The Overcoat died from the same insignificant cause as the Gogol old-world landowners, and this happened for the same reason: his life was too empty, and therefore every chance grew to gigantic proportions in this empty life. What for another person living a full life would be an unpleasant, but secondary circumstance, for Bashmachkin became the only content of life.

It should also be noted that Gogol's "Overcoat" is organically connected with the Russian novel of the 18th and early XIX centuries. Gogol had predecessors in Russian literature who also portrayed little people. Among the works of Chulkov there is a story "A Bitter Fate", in which an official is deduced - the prototype of Bashmachkin. The same insignificant petty existence of the hero, the same sympathetic, humane attitude of the author towards him. And sentimentalism brought with it the preaching of love for the little man, and Karamzin made a great discovery in his Poor Liza: “peasant women can feel too.” Behind his “Flor Silin, the virtuous peasant”, images of various little people became favorite in our literature, in whose hearts the authors revealed high feelings of love for people, for their homeland, for their duty. Pushkin, in Masha Mironova and her parents, opened a whole world of sublime feelings in the hearts of rustic Russian people. In a word, this humane, noble attention to those little people, by whom the crowd indifferently passes, has become a tradition of Russian literature, and therefore Gogol's "Overcoat" is organically connected with all previous Russian fiction. Gogol said in "The Overcoat" a "new word" only in the sense that he found the sublime in the "ridiculous", "miserable" and managed to embody his idea as artistically as his predecessor in the 18th century, Chulkov, failed to do.

Gogol "Overcoat". audiobook

Gogol's story has great importance and for subsequent Russian literature. “We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat!” - said Dostoevsky, and, indeed, many of his stories, stories, the most humane in mood, respond to the influence of Gogol. All the first works of Dostoevsky ("Poor people", "Humiliated and insulted"), all this is the development of Gogol's humane ideas, embodied in his "Overcoat". Foreign criticism notes that one of the most characteristic features Russian literature must recognize the tendency to preach compassion for the fallen brother, or in general for the unfortunate, offended by fate and people. This is, indeed, our literary tradition, and in the history of the strengthening and development of love for the "little man" Gogol's touching "Overcoat" occupies the most prominent place.

Can one small work revolutionize literature? Yes, Russian literature knows such a precedent. This is the story of N.V. Gogol's "Overcoat". The work was very popular with contemporaries, caused a lot of controversy, and the Gogol trend developed among Russian writers until the middle of the 20th century. What is this great book? About this in our article.

The book is part of a cycle of works written in the 1830s-1840s. and united by a common name - "Petersburg Tales". The story of Gogol's "Overcoat" goes back to an anecdote about a poor official who had a great passion for hunting. Despite the small salary, the ardent fan set a goal for himself: by all means buy a Lepage gun, one of the best at that time. The official denied himself everything in order to save money, and finally, he bought the coveted trophy and went to the Gulf of Finland to shoot birds.

The hunter sailed away in a boat, was about to take aim - but did not find a gun. It probably fell out of the boat, but how remains a mystery. The hero of the story himself admitted that he was a kind of oblivion when he was looking forward to the treasured prey. Returning home, he fell ill with a fever. Fortunately, everything ended well. The ill official was saved by his colleagues by buying him a new gun of the same kind. This story inspired the author to create the story "The Overcoat".

Genre and direction

N.V. Gogol is one of the brightest representatives of critical realism in Russian literature. With his prose, the writer sets a special direction, sarcastically called by the critic F. Bulgarin "Natural School". This literary vector is characterized by an appeal to acute social topics relating to poverty, morality, and class relationships. Here, the image of " little man”, which became traditional for writers of the 19th century.

A narrower direction, characteristic of Petersburg Tales, is fantastic realism. This technique allows the author to influence the reader in the most effective and original way. It is expressed in a mixture of fiction and reality: the real in the story "The Overcoat" is a social problem tsarist Russia(poverty, crime, inequality), and the fantastic is the ghost of Akaky Akakievich, who robs passers-by. Dostoevsky, Bulgakov and many other followers of this direction turned to the mystical principle.

The genre of the story allows Gogol to concisely, but quite vividly, highlight several storylines, identify many relevant social topics, and even include the motive of the supernatural in his work.

Composition

The composition of "The Overcoat" is linear, you can designate an introduction and an epilogue.

1. The story begins with a kind of writer's discourse about the city, which is an integral part of all "Petersburg Tales". Then follows the biography of the protagonist, which is typical for the authors of the "natural school". It was believed that these data help to better reveal the image and explain the motivation for certain actions.
2. Exposition - a description of the situation and position of the hero.
3. The plot occurs at the moment when Akaki Akakievich decides to acquire a new overcoat, this intention continues to move the plot until the climax - a happy acquisition.
4. The second part is devoted to the search for the overcoat and the exposure of senior officials.
5. The epilogue, where the ghost appears, loops this part: first, the thieves go after Bashmachkin, then the policeman goes after the ghost. Or perhaps a thief?

About what?

One poor official Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin, in view of the severe frosts, finally dares to buy himself a new overcoat. The hero denies himself everything, saves on food, tries to walk more carefully on the pavement so as not to change the soles once again. By the right time, he manages to accumulate the required amount, soon the desired overcoat is ready.

But the joy of possession does not last long: on the same evening, when Bashmachkin was returning home after a gala dinner, the robbers took away the object of his happiness from the poor official. The hero tries to fight for his overcoat, he goes through several instances: from a private person to a significant person, but no one cares about his loss, no one is going to look for robbers. After a visit to the general, who turned out to be a rude and arrogant person, Akaky Akakievich fell ill with a fever and soon died.

But the story "accepts a fantastic ending." The spirit of Akaky Akakievich wanders around St. Petersburg, who wants to take revenge on his offenders, and, mainly, he is looking for a significant person. One evening, the ghost catches the arrogant general and takes his overcoat from him, on which he calms down.

Main characters and their characteristics

• The protagonist stories - Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin. From the moment of birth, it was clear that a difficult, unhappy life awaited him. This was predicted by the midwife, and the baby himself, when he was born, “cried and made such a grimace, as if he had a presentiment that there would be a titular adviser.” This is the so-called "little man", but his character is contradictory and passes certain stages development.
• The image of the overcoat works to reveal the potential of this, at first glance, a modest character. A new thing dear to the heart makes the hero obsessed, like an idol, she controls him. The little official shows such perseverance and activity that he never showed during his lifetime, and after his death he decides on revenge and keeps Petersburg in fear.
• The role of the overcoat in Gogol's story is difficult to overestimate. Her image develops in parallel with the main character: a holey overcoat is a modest person, a new one is an enterprising and happy Bashmachkin, a general's is an almighty spirit, terrifying.
• Petersburg image presented in a completely different way. This is not a pompous capital with smart carriages and flourishing front doors, but a cruel city with its fierce winters, unhealthy climate, dirty stairs and dark alleys.

Themes

• The life of a little man is the main theme of the story "The Overcoat", so it is presented quite vividly. Bashmachkin does not have a strong character or special talents; higher-ranking officials allow themselves to be manipulated, ignored, or scolded. And the poor hero only wants to regain what is his by right, but to important persons and big world not up to the problems of a small person.
• The opposition of the real and the fantastic makes it possible to show the versatility of Bashmachkin's image. In harsh reality, he will never reach out to the selfish and cruel hearts of those in power, but becoming a powerful spirit, he can at least avenge his offense.
• The theme of the story is immorality. People are valued not for their skill, but for their rank, a significant person is by no means an exemplary family man, he is cold towards his children and is looking for entertainment on the side. He allows himself to be an arrogant tyrant, forcing those who are lower in rank to grovel.
• The satirical nature of the story and the absurdity of the situations allow Gogol to most expressively point out social vices. For example, no one is going to look for the missing overcoat, but there is a decree to catch the ghost. This is how the author denounces the inactivity of the St. Petersburg police.

Issues

The problematics of the story "The Overcoat" is very wide. Here Gogol raises questions concerning both society and inner world person.

• The main problem of the story is humanism, or rather, its absence. All the characters in the story are cowardly and selfish, they are not capable of empathy. Even Akaky Akakievich has no spiritual purpose in life, does not seek to read or be interested in art. They are driven only by the material component of being. Bashmachkin does not recognize himself as a victim in the Christian sense. He has completely adapted to his miserable existence, the character does not know forgiveness and is only capable of revenge. The hero cannot even find peace after death until he fulfills his base plan.
• Indifference. Colleagues are indifferent to Bashmachkin's grief, and a significant person is trying by all means known to him to drown out all manifestations of humanity in himself.
• The problem of poverty is touched upon by Gogol. A man who performs his duties exemplarily and diligently does not have the opportunity to update his wardrobe as needed, while careless flatterers and dandies are successfully promoted, dine luxuriously and arrange evenings.
• The problem of social inequality is covered in the story. The general treats the titular councilor like a flea that he can crush. Bashmachkin becomes shy in front of him, loses the power of speech, and a significant person, not wanting to lose his appearance in the eyes of his colleagues, humiliates the poor petitioner in every possible way. Thus, he shows his power and superiority.

What is the meaning of the story?

The idea of ​​Gogol's "Overcoat" is to point out sharp social problems relevant in Imperial Russia. With the help of a fantastic component, the author shows the hopelessness of the situation: a small man is weak in front of the powerful of this world, they will never respond to his request, and even kick him out of his office. Gogol, of course, does not approve of revenge, but in the story "The Overcoat" is the only way to reach the stone hearts of high-ranking officials. It seems to them that only the spirit is higher than them, and they will agree to listen only to those who surpass them. Having become a ghost, Bashmachkin occupies just this necessary position, so he manages to influence the arrogant tyrants. This is the main idea of ​​the work.

The meaning of Gogol's "Overcoat" is in the search for justice, but the situation seems hopeless, because justice is possible only when referring to the supernatural.

What does it teach?

Gogol's "Overcoat" was written almost two centuries ago, but remains relevant to this day. The author makes you think not only about social inequality, the problem of poverty, but also about your own spiritual qualities. The story "The Overcoat" teaches empathy, the writer urges not to turn away from a person who is in a difficult situation and asks for help.

To achieve his authorial goals, Gogol changes the ending of the original anecdote, which became the basis for the work. If in that story the colleagues collected the amount sufficient to buy a new gun, then Bashmachkin's colleagues practically did nothing to help a comrade in trouble. He himself died fighting for his rights.

Criticism

In Russian literature, the story "The Overcoat" played a huge role: thanks to this work, a whole trend arose - the "natural school". This work became a symbol of the new art, and the magazine Physiology of Petersburg was a confirmation of this, where many young writers came up with their own versions of the image of a poor official.

Critics recognized Gogol's skill, and "The Overcoat" was considered a worthy work, but the controversy was mainly conducted around the Gogol direction, opened by this particular story. For example, V.G. Belinsky called the book "one of Gogol's deepest creations", but he considered the "natural school" to be a hopeless direction, and K. Aksakov refused Dostoevsky (who also started with the "natural school"), the author of "Poor People", the title of artist.

Not only Russian critics were aware of the role of the "Overcoat" in literature. The French reviewer E. Vogüe belongs famous saying"We all came out of Gogol's greatcoat." In 1885, he wrote an article about Dostoevsky, where he spoke about the origins of the writer's work.

Later, Chernyshevsky accused Gogol of excessive sentimentality, deliberate pity for Bashmachkin. Apollon Grigoriev, in his criticism, contrasted Gogol's method of satirical depiction of reality with true art.

The story made a great impression not only on the writer's contemporaries. V. Nabokov in the article "The Apotheosis of the Face" analyzes Gogol's creative method, its features, advantages and disadvantages. Nabokov believes that "The Overcoat" was created for "a reader with a creative imagination", and for the most complete understanding of the work, it is necessary to get acquainted with it in the original language, because Gogol's work is "a phenomenon of language, not ideas."

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Each work of N.V. Gogol is a real storehouse of wisdom. His novels and stories will serve for many years to come. good example how to look at the world. Here is a story about a man, whose description speaks of his insignificance, also reveals some unsightly pictures of reality. This topic is brilliantly covered in the story "The Overcoat". And the fate of the little man in it is drawn so clearly, as if it were a contemporary of the reader, no matter what century he lived in.

Akaki Bashmachkin does not stand out in any way with his name, appearance, and position. He is a petty official, a clerk in a department where he is surrounded by young and promising handsome men. They laugh at him, humiliating and exposing him in an unsightly light. Yes, and his very appearance speaks treacherously of him. He is wrinkled, short, short-sighted and red-haired. There is nothing that would attract in it. His life and way of life is not only modest, but also more than unassuming.

What is the purpose of this person's life? The author, who entrusted the main character to talk about himself, speaks about it himself. All Akaki Akakievich lives for is rewriting. But, even in this occupation, he will easily find a replacement as soon as he is gone. Indifference to this man has permeated society, it despises and humiliates him. And it seems to me very sad, because the same quality is inherent in the modern world.

The problem of the "little man" in the work of the writers of the 1840s was not a new phenomenon for Russian literature in general.

Domestic writers of the 18th - early 19th centuries could not ignore the suffering of people who were small in their social status and significance in a huge hierarchical state, those who were sometimes undeservedly humiliated and offended. The theme of the “poor official” (later developed into the theme "little man "in the traditional sense)

"Overcoat". At the heart of Gogol's idea is the conflict between "little man" and society, conflict leading to rebellion, to the rebellion of the humble. The story "The Overcoat" describes not only an incident from the life of the hero.

The story in "The Overcoat" is told in the first person. We notice that the narrator knows the life of officials well. The hero of the story is Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, a small official of one of the St. Petersburg departments, a disenfranchised and humiliated person. Gogol describes the appearance of the protagonist of the story as follows: "short, somewhat pockmarked, somewhat reddish, somewhat even blind-sighted, with a slight bald spot on his forehead, with wrinkles on both sides of his cheeks."

Colleagues treat him with disrespect. Even the watchmen in the department look at Bashmachkin as if he were an empty place, "as if a simple fly had flown through the reception room." And young officials laugh at Akaky Akakievich. He's really a ridiculous, funny man who only knows how to copy papers. And in response to insults, he says only one thing: “Leave me, why are you offending me?” The narrative in The Overcoat is constructed in such a way that the comic image of Bashmachkin gradually becomes tragic. He walks in an old overcoat, which can no longer be repaired. In order to save up money for a new overcoat on the tailor's advice, he saves money: he doesn't light candles in the evenings, he doesn't drink tea. Akaky Akakievich walks the streets very carefully, “almost on tiptoe”, so as not to “wear out the soles” ahead of time, rarely gives his laundry to the laundress. “At first it was somewhat difficult for him to get used to such restrictions, but then he somehow got used to it and went smoothly; even he was perfectly accustomed to fasting in the evenings; but on the other hand, he ate spiritually, carrying in his thoughts the eternal idea of ​​a future greatcoat, ”writes Gogol. The new overcoat becomes the dream and meaning of the life of the protagonist of the story.

And now Bashmachkin's overcoat is ready. On this occasion, officials arrange a banquet. Happy Akaki Akakievich does not even notice that they are mocking him. At night, when Bashmachkin was returning from a banquet, the robbers took off his overcoat. This man's happiness lasted only one day. “The next day he appeared all pale and in his old hood, which became even more deplorable.” He turns to the police for help, but they don't even want to talk to him. Then Akaky Akakievich goes to the "significant person", but he kicks him out. These troubles had such a strong effect on the protagonist of the story that he could not survive them. He fell ill and died soon after. “A creature disappeared and disappeared, protected by no one, dear to no one, not interesting to anyone ... but for which all the same, although just before the very end of life, a bright guest flashed in the form of an overcoat, reviving a poor life for a moment,” - writes Gogol.

Emphasizing the typical fate of the "little man", Gogol says that his death did not change anything in the department, Bashmachkin's place was simply taken by another official.

The story "The Overcoat", despite its realism, ends fantastically. After the death of Akaky Akakievich, a ghost began to appear on the streets of St. Petersburg, who removed the overcoats from passers-by. Some saw in him a resemblance to Eashmachkin, others did not notice anything in common between the robber and the timid official. One night, the ghost met a "significant person" and tore off his overcoat, frightening the official to the point that he "even began to fear about some kind of painful attack." After this incident, the "significant person" began to treat people better.

This end of the story emphasizes the author's intention. Gogol sympathizes with the fate of the "little man". He calls on us to be attentive to each other, and, as it were, warns that a person will have to answer in the future for the insults inflicted on his neighbor.

"Little Man" Rebellion becomes the main theme of the story The story of the poor official is written in such detail and authenticity that the reader involuntarily enters the world of the hero's interests and begins to sympathize with him. But Gogol is a master of artistic generalization. He deliberately emphasizes: “one official served in one department ...” This is how the generalized image of a “little man” appears in the story, a quiet, modest person whose life is unremarkable, but who, however, also has his own dignity and has the right to his own world . Perhaps that is why we finally pity not Akaky Akakievich, but “poor mankind.” And probably, that is why our anger is provoked not by a robber, but by a “significant person” who failed to pity the unfortunate official.

And at the end of the story, we come to a terrible conclusion: the subject of the narration is by no means the story of how the hero's overcoat is stolen, but about how a person's life was stolen . Akaki Akakievich, in fact, did not live. He never thought about high ideals, did not set any tasks for himself, did not dream of anything. And the insignificance of the incident underlying the plot characterizes Gogol's world itself. Gogol makes the tone of the story comical. The text shows a constant irony over Bashmachkin, even his daring dreams turn out to be nothing more than a desire to put marten fur on his collar without fail. The reader must not only enter the world of Akaky Akakievich, but also feel the rejection of this world.

In the story of N.V. Gogol "The Overcoat" two aspects of the author's condemnation of the world are clearly traced. On the one hand, the writer is with sharp criticism of that society , which turns a person into Akaky Akakievich, protesting against the peace of those whose salary does not exceed four hundred rubles a year. But on the other hand, much more, in my opinion, is essential Gogol's appeal to all mankind with a passionate appeal to pay attention to the "little people" who live next to us.

The story "The Overcoat" is one of the best in Gogol's work. In it, the writer appears before us as a master of detail, a satirist and a humanist. Narrating the life of a petty official, Gogol was able to create an unforgettable vivid image "little man" with their joys and troubles, difficulties and worries. Hopeless need surrounds Akaky Akakievich, but he does not see the tragedy of his situation, as he is busy with business. Bashmachkin is not burdened by his poverty, because he does not know another life. And when he has a dream - a new overcoat, he is ready to endure any hardships, if only to bring the implementation of his plans closer. The author is quite serious when he describes the delight of his hero about the realization of a dream: the overcoat is sewn! Bashmachkin is completely happy. But for how long?

"Little Man" not destined to be happy in this unfair world. And only after death is justice done. Bashmachkin's "soul" finds peace when he returns his lost thing.

Gogol in his "Overcoat" showed not only the life of the "little man", but also his protest against the injustice of life. Let this "rebellion" be timid, almost fantastic, but the hero nevertheless stands up for his rights, against the foundations of the existing order.

The experiences of the poor official were familiar to Gogol from the first years of his Petersburg life.

Written at the time of the highest flowering of Gogol's creative genius, "The Overcoat" in terms of its vital saturation, in terms of the power of mastery, is one of the most perfect and remarkable works of the great artist. Adjacent in its problematics to the St. Petersburg stories, "The Overcoat" develops the theme of a humiliated person.

The mother of Akaky Akakievich did not just choose a name for her son - she chose his fate. Although there was nothing to choose from: out of nine difficult-to-pronounce names, she does not find a single suitable one, therefore she has to name her son by her husband Akakiy, a name that means “humble” in Russian calendars - he is “the humblest”, because he is Akakiy “in the square” .

The story of Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, "the eternal titular adviser" is the story of the distortion and death of a person under the power of social circumstances. Bureaucratic - bureaucratic Petersburg brings the hero to complete stupefaction.

Thus, the theme of man as a victim of the social system is brought to its logical end by Gogol. Gogol resorts to fantasy, but it is emphatically conditional, it is designed to reveal the protesting, rebellious principle lurking in a timid and intimidated hero, a representative of the "lower class" of society.

The theme of the "little man" in the story "The Overcoat"

The story of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol "The Overcoat" played a big role in the development of Russian literature. It tells the reader about the fate of the so-called "little man". This theme is revealed at the beginning of the work. Even the very name of Akaky Akakievich can be perceived as the result of rewriting. They took the name of the father: Akaki - they rewrote it, it turned out: Akaki Akakievich.

The story in "The Overcoat" is told in the first person. The protagonist of the story is Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin, a small official from the department, a disenfranchised and humiliated person. Gogol describes the appearance of the protagonist of the story as follows: "short, somewhat pockmarked, somewhat reddish, somewhat even blind-sighted, with a small bald spot on his forehead with wrinkles on both sides of his cheeks." Akaky Akakievich is a small, shriveled little man, an official of the lowest rank - a clerk, he worked all his life in the department. He was an insignificant unrequited personality, which is why he was subjected to many ridicule. He has no words to express himself: the hero usually speaks with prepositions and particles that have no meaning. The purpose of the existence of Akaky Akakievich is rewriting. Even when he comes home and hastily eats cabbage soup, he sits down and rewrites the papers he has brought. Bashmachkin is surrounded by young officials who make fun of him. Colleagues treat him with disrespect. Even the watchmen in the department look at him as if he were an empty place, "as if a simple fly had flown through the waiting room." In response to insults, he answers only one thing: “Leave me, why are you offending me?” There is something pitiful in his words.

I think that Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin is turning from a comic hero into a dramatic one. It should not be that an overcoat replaces a person's life. Emphasizing the typicality of the “little man”, Gogol says that his death did not change anything in the department, another official simply took his place.

Thus, Gogol was one of the first to draw attention to the fate of the "little man." He clearly showed that his contemporary society is indifferent to those of its members who do not belong to the upper class. And yet the writer showed in the denouement that even the “little man”, driven to despair, is able to resist cruelty and injustice. the mighty of the world this. And although the man is pitiful, insignificant, with a narrow outlook, I still feel sorry for him.