“The Overcoat” is a short satirical novel written by Nikolai Gogol in the 19th century, at a time when Russia was ruled by a corrupt and unstable government. In an attempt to address the situation where many struggled under social inequality and economic hardship, Gogol wrote the story of Akaky Akakievich, a low-level government clerk. The story of Akaky where he struggles to afford a new overcoat, only to have it stolen afterward, conveys the themes of materialism, corrupt bureaucracy, and self-worth.
Gogol addresses the theme of materialism through how a single possession like an overcoat could significantly influence an individual’s status within society. At the start of the book, Akaky’s co-workers view him as an inferior and treat him with disrespect. None of his co-workers greeted him when he came to work. The porter “never even glanced at [Akaky], any more than if a fly had flown through” and his superiors would “thrust a paper under his nose” and only say the word “copy”. Moreover, the young officials even publicly mocked him, and called Akaky’s coat a “cape” instead of a “coat” This shows that people considered appearances and possessions above inner qualities or abilities when judging others in that society, probably because the way a person dressed differed based on social standings at the time. Therefore, in that society, wearing an old overcoat like Akaky’s meant that the person wearing it was a inferior person who was unworthy of attention or respect. When Akaky goes to work with a new overcoat, “all surrounded him” and “congratulated him and said pleasant things to him”. The people who once treated Akaky as inferior suddenly treated him pleasantly, as if Akaky moved into a higher social status. This shows how a change in outward appearance such as wearing a new, higher-quality overcoat can dramatically change how others perceive and treat a person. The coworkers changing their attitudes just because of an overcoat reveals how superficial social interactions are when they are rooted in valuing appearances and material wealth over genuine human connections. Moreover, it highlights and criticizes a society where relationships are shallow and insincere and people are mistreated due to misplaced priorities.
The Overcoat conveys the theme of self-worth through how Akaky’s worthiness changes throughout the story based on his overcoat. Materialism not only affects others’ perspectives on Akaky but how he views himself as well. While the new overcoat is a luxurious item admired by his colleagues in the office, it is also a necessity for Akaky who lives in St. Petersburg and goes to work every day. His new overcoat becomes a part of his new identity on top of his copying work which has been the only work that has defined Akaky’s identity. Initially, work was where Akaky got his sense of worth. Even though he has a simple job of copying documents, he works diligently and feels a sense of accomplishment from it. He valued work so much that he exclaimed, “Leave me alone!” when the officials mocking him started to “[jog] his hand [preventing] his attending to work] but before that, he “answered not a word, any more than if there had been no one there besides himself”. But even though he felt a sense of accomplishment through work, he wasn’t able to receive enough recognition from others. So, Akkaky didn’t possess a high sense of worth. However, after he gets his new overcoat, he starts to get his sense of worth from the overcoat, and his sense of worth increases significantly. The overcoat allowed him to get recognition and respect from his colleagues. This allowed him to feel respected and recognized, which is something he had never experienced before in his life. However, this also made his sense of self-worth vulnerable and fragile since his sense of self-worth depended on a cloth that was superficial and external, not even a part of his character or abilities. Self-worth that comes from external things like an overcoat can form quickly. Akkaky’s co-workers changed their attitudes right away after Akkaky’s overcoat changed. However, self-worth that comes from external things can disappear quickly as well. When Akaky returns with his old coat after getting robbed, they return to their old behaviors instead of showing sympathy towards Akaky. So, because of that, Akaky losing his overcoat was not just simply losing a coat but was losing his sense of worth as well.
The theme of corrupt bureaucracy is conveyed through the adversities of Akaky, who is located at the lower part of the bureaucracy. Gogol portrays Akaky as a minor component of the bureaucratic government. He is a low-rank clerk who does repetitive, insignificant labor of copying the documents his superiors hand him. The fact that Akaky and other low-ranked workers are being worked all day long for such superficial tasks shows that the bureaucratic system of Akay’s society is highly ineffective. Working public officials this way prevents the growth and change of individuals like Akaky and also the growth and change of society as well. Moreover, Akaky’s story highlights that the bureaucratic system is neglecting the needs of the people in it, especially the people that are in the lower part of the bureaucratic system. The ones that are in the lower part of the system like Akaky are often in economically hard situations but nothing is being done to address this problem. For example, Akaky didn’t have money and had to wear an old coat that was “so worn out that one could see through it, had linings that had fallen into pieces, and had numerous patchings all over it”. When he was told that he had to buy a new coat, he fell into despair, worrying over how he could possibly afford one with his low income. The ones that are in the higher part of the bureaucratic system are blind to the hardships that others are facing. Their interest only lies in maintaining their position. When Akaky loses his new overcoat, stolen by a thief in the dark evening, his co-worker who pitied him gives him advice that the police “might hunt up the cloak by some means.” However, the officer said, it would still be in no use because “his cloak would remain in the possession of the police” instead of getting back to Akaky. When Akaky tried to ask for help from the “important man”, the important man angrily shouted to Akaky “Do you know to whom you speak? Do you realise who stands before you? Do you realise it? do you realise it? I ask you!”, “[stamping] his foot and [raising] his voice”. The important person was more offended by the fact that Akaky skipped all the lines of the report and came straight at him instead of reporting through proper procedure and order no matter how ineffective and how long it would take. This shows the lack of empathy and understanding the higher officials have for those in the lower ranks of the bureaucracy.
In conclusion, “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol criticizes 19th-century Russian society while exploring the themes of materialism, a sense of worth, and corrupt bureaucracy. Gogol’s satirical depiction of poor and belittled Akaky evokes a sense of sympathy with the audience. Akaky’s ordinaryness implies his sense of every-man quality. In effect, anyone could be in his shoes facing unnecessary frustration from the incompetence of the government bureaucratic system and experiencing such little sense of worth. In essence, Gogol explores these themes by showing how a society that values material possessions and a corrupt bureaucracy could lead to the suffering and adversities of individuals who are relatively socially disadvantaged like Akkaky.
