Akaky Akakyyevitch in The Overcoat Essay

Akaky Akakyevitch Bashmatchkin is the protagonist in the short story titled The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol. His first name was the same as his fathers, his middle names means son of Akaky, and his last name was somehow derived from the word shoe. His father was a copy clerk and now Akaky is a copier by profession, and so, as in his name, he was meant to be a copy of his father; meant to walk in his fathers shoes. This goes with theme of the story which is copying or imitation.

This storys setting is in the nineteenth century in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, built in imitation of the great cities of Western Europe, and therefore the life of Akaky is literally based upon succession of copying. Akakys day is always the same as the day before, therefore a copy of the previous day and in his workplace he was barley noticed, he was made a mockery of, and no one had respect for him The young clerks jeered and made jokes at him to the best of their clerkly wit, and told before his face all sorts of stories of their own invention about him; they would say of his landlady, an old woman of seventy, that she beat him, would enquire when the wedding was to take place, and would scatter bits of paper on his head, calling them snow (p. 602). He was always very content on copying It would be hard to find a man who lived in his work as did Akaky Akakyevitch. To say that he was zealous in his work is not enough; no, he loved his work. In it, in that copying, he found a varied and agreeable world of his own (p.603), and had no will or desire to change. He was scared of change because all he ever knew was copying and therefore couldnt move up in the company or change jobs.

However Akaky is faced with a change that must occur that his dressing jacket was too worn-out to be able to be worn again and therefore he must have a new overcoat made. At first hes terrified and angry about this change that he will no longer be able to copy the previous day and now must venture out one day with something changed At the word new there was a mist before Akaky Akakyevitchs eyes, and everything in the room seemed blurred (p.607). After a while Akakys attitude changes after getting used to the change of saving up for the new coat and his obsession shifts from copying to discovering something new His whole existence had in a sense become fuller, as though he had married, as though some other person were present with him, as though he was no longer alone, but an agreeable companion had consented to walk the path of life hand in hand with him, and that companion was no other than the new overcoat with its thick wadding and its strong, durable lining (p. 609).

After he receives his new overcoat and wears it for the first time his entire day changed from that of the usual previous days, and he discovers that he likes change That whole day was for Akaky Akakyevitch the most triumphant and festive day in his life (p.611). This copy of his figure that so perfectly fit him changed him as a person, made him more fulfilled and confident Meanwhile Akaky Akakyevitch walked along with every emotion in its most holiday mood. He felt every second that he had a new overcoat on his shoulders, and several times he actually laughed from inward satisfaction (p. 611). At his office his coworkers all insisted that they throw a gathering in honour of Akakys new overcoat, and at first Akaky was afraid of doing something different and tried to excuse himself The clerks naturally congratulated the assistant head clerk of the room and eagerly accepted the invitation. Akaky Akakyevitch was beginning to make excuses, but they all declared that it was uncivil of him, that is was simply a shame and a disgrace and that he could not possibly refuse (p.611). But then he realized he could wear his new overcoat and agreed.

At the party Akakys coat was the only admired for an instant and when it came to the rest of the evening Akaky was still the plain, quiet man he had always been and felt somewhat uncomfortable and out of place, getting to the point of boredom He simply did not know how to behave, what to do with his arms and legs and his whole figure; at last he sat down beside the players, looked at the cards, stared first at one and then at another of the faces, and in a little while began to yawn and felt that he was bored- especially as it was long past the time at which he usually went to bed (p.613). However Akaky was cheerful as he left heading back home, as though quite pleased with himself. After the party he is mugged and has this overcoat taken, he lost his only copy of himself. He then received advice to report the stolen overcoat to the superintendent who Akaky felt was no help due to his accusatory questions directed at him, at the victim. When returning to work with his old dressing jacket on instead his coworkers actually felt sorry for him and tried to help him by pointing him in the direction of appealing to the Person of Consequence. When Akaky finally got to see the Person of Consequence he was simply a copier by profession and no help to Akaky. He, instead of doing what his job entitled he decided to act like his superiors and simply use his intimidation to scare off poor Akaky Akakyevitch before he had the chance to appeal his case, he was escorted out of the building, got sick from having no means of protection from the cold, and died. However just before he died he was able to break through, and he was able to express himself and show every emotion that he felt. Though out this story Akaky was just a simple man who copied as a way of life, but he was also most innocent form of a copier, and at least he did was others needed of him. He just so happened to influence the life of others without being aware of it, showing them compassion and derailing them from the track of copying like his coworkers, and finally the guilt that he caused the Person of Consequence when he found that Akaky had died and he never again sent anyone away before his listened to their appeal.