Monday, November 21, 2011
The Overcoat
I felt that "The Overcoat" was a very sad piece. In the beginning, the main character, Akakiy is a sad and targeted man. His coworkers mock him and tease him. He has no friends and is an extremely systematic person, never straying from the pattern he lives his live in. He is even extremely upset at handling any other task other than copying. His job as a copier is the only thing he looks forward to in life. When is is clear that Akakiy must get a new coat, he is completely against the idea. He avoids any change in life and he clings onto his coat for as long as possible. However, there is no way around buying a new one. He works very hard to save up his money and eventually select the perfect new coat. Akakiy feels like a new man when he receives the new coat. He has a new level of confidence that even his coworkers notice. He is invited to a party and has an improved outlook on life. However, his luck ends when the coat is stolen from him. A court officer refuses to do anything about it and acts in a superior and pompous manner toward poor Akakiy. Akakiy eventually dies and it is rumored that he begins haunting the town, stripping people of their coats. He finds the rude court officer and gets his revenge by stealing his coat.
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It is truly a sad story. The character, which is hard to see as a protagonist, but rather someone that is little more than a piece of furniture which just keeps getting moved about by those seen in the background. The way he lives his life is hard to see as a good thing and even to himself he is not happy, but he is content with his lot in life. However, that does all change with the need of that new coat. The way he starts to come out of his shell, reluctantly and very slightly, but none the less he actually does look at life in a better way. Which makes it even sadder when his hope is taken away from him. To have hope only to have it ripped away makes his story that much harder. Everything about the story was easy to follow and understandable to see coming except when he becomes the spirit haunting those around town and taking their coats. I did not expect that at all. There are a few lesson which could be seen in this story. This is one of those stories that could have a few different meanings, but none are very clear in my opinion. Sure, it could be something about how a person should enjoy the happier moments while they can. Then again it could be just another story showing that going outside your area of comfort could lead to misery.
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