The image of a little man in the story "Overcoat": a plot, a mystical motive

In Russian literature there are often unfortunate and insignificant characters. They evoke in the readers irony and pity. Cruelty towards them revolts. But the prototypes of these heroes are not always recognized in real life and are seldom sympathetic to them. And after all Devushkin, Bashmachkin and station rangers are everywhere. They are alive. The image of a little man in the story "Overcoat" - not a satirical character and not a fairy-tale ghost. This is the hero of an instructive story about a foolish heartlessness and an evil indifference.

Gogol: "father" Bashmachkin

The great goal of true literature is the creation of images and stories that never lose their relevance anywhere. Russia has always been rich in talented writers who are able to fulfill this mission. One of them was Nikolai Gogol. The image of the little man, created by this writer, is a vivid confirmation of this.

Almost in every human society there is a person who is unrequited and weak. Strange pathetic man, unable to stand up for himself, living in his own, incomprehensible and closed world. Surrounding subconsciously rejoice that they are different and completely different from this pathetic creature. And to prove this to themselves and to each other, in every way they offend and humiliate the renegade. The reason for the dissimilarity of this man, who has become an outcast among his kind, can be anything. But most often it lies in a low social position. For the first time this problem was illuminated by Gogol, using the image of the "little man" in the story "Overcoat".

Akaky Akakievich

Bad luck haunts him all his life. It began immediately after birth, when Bashmachkin got the most that neither is a cacophonous name. With such a name and patronymic a person can not be solid and significant. And Akaky Akakievich is small in everything: in growth, in abilities, and in social status. Officials over him amused and teased him, like small children, competing in clerical wits. He in response is only able to cry out pitifully: "Leave me!"

Gogol created almost by accident the image of a small man. "Overcoat" was originally conceived by the author as a small satirical work based on an anecdote story heard somewhere. But after some refinement came a real philosophical parable about the unfortunate man who could take revenge on his offenders only after his death.

Titular Adviser

Everything in his life is small and pathetic. Both appearance and position. His work is monotonous and uninteresting. But he does not notice it. For Bashmachkin there is no more pleasant occupation than rewriting documents. His life is empty, but measured. And let fellow workers mock him. He does not care about them. He lives in a world where, besides papers and ink, there is nothing: no entertainment, no friends, no family. He has been there for a long time and is already afraid to get out. The image of a little man in the story "Overcoat" serves as a confirmation of the cruelty of a society in which there is no place for the weak and harmless.

Overcoat

In the life of Akaky Akakievich there is a sweet desire. The old greatcoat was completely worn out. He decides to order a new one. In addition, frosts have begun, and rewarding for the holiday is expected. Now in his life the fascinating rewriting of papers gives way to dreams of a new overcoat. He thinks about it day and night, and sometimes visits the tailor to discuss the upcoming new thing. And once, receiving a bonus, he realizes the dream of the last months and becomes the owner of a new wonderful thing. For the main character became "a pleasant friend of the days" (as Gogol put it) greatcoat. The image of the little man is particularly pitiful from the realization of how insignificant is the cause of his boundless joy.

The Great Loss

In the department, the overcoat is admired. Bashmachkin congratulate on the acquisition. His happiness risks being overshadowed by the proposal of his colleagues to arrange a festive evening for such an important event. But eyes suddenly turn to the topic of the upcoming dinner party.

He was never so full of happiness, as in that brief time when he was warmed by a new overcoat. But happiness ended abruptly, when on the way home after a festive dinner the robbers tore off from him an expensive thing.

He tried in vain to return it. All attempts were futile. In addition, the spiteful official humiliated him cruelly, in order to show off in the eyes of his friend. Bashmachkin returned home in deep sadness and suddenly died. The image of the little man in the story "Overcoat" gets a strong effect because after the death the main character does not disappear. Soul Bashmachkin still wanders somewhere along the wasteland in search of his loss. And only when he met his offender and tore off his overcoat, disappears forever.

Mystic

At the end of the story Gogol uses a mystical motive, since only with the help of this technique can the main character become at least briefly strong and terrible. He is like revenge for himself and for all those who are offended. The event that happened with a boorish official is not accidental. The author emphasizes that after a meeting with a ghost, this despotic person became more humble and quieter.

The image of a small man in the literature is found in different variations. In Dostoevsky he is noble, poor, insulted to the depths of his soul. The Pushkin stationmaster is a man who, due to his low social position, can not resist cynicism and immorality. The unique Gogol character is pitiful and unhappy to the point that he himself does not realize this. But all these heroes are united by insecurity against cruelty, which prevails in every society.