Essay “The image of the “Little Man” in the story by N. V.

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

The story in “The Overcoat” is told in the first person. The main character of the story is Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin, a small official from the department - a powerless and humiliated person. Gogol describes the appearance of the main character of the story as follows: “short, somewhat pockmarked, somewhat reddish, somewhat blind in appearance, with a small bald spot on his forehead with wrinkles on both sides of his cheeks.” Akaki Akakievich is a small, wrinkled man, an official of the lowest rank - a clerk, who worked in the department all his life. He was an insignificant, unrequited personality, which is why he was subjected to a lot of ridicule. He doesn’t even have words to express himself: the hero usually speaks with prepositions and particles that have no meaning. The purpose of Akaki Akakievich’s existence is rewriting. Even when he comes home and hastily eaten cabbage soup, he sits down and rewrites the papers he brought. Bashmachkin is surrounded by young officials who make fun of him. His co-workers treat him without respect. Even the guards at the department look at him as if he were an empty place, “as if a simple fly had flown through the reception area.” In response to insults, he answers only one thing: “Leave me, why are you offending me?” There is something arousing pity in his words.

I think that Akaki 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, his place was simply taken by another official.

Thus, Gogol was one of the first to draw attention to the fate of the “little man.” He clearly showed that 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 capable of resisting the cruelty and injustice of the powers that be. And although the person is pitiful, insignificant, with a narrow outlook, I still feel sorry for him.

The theme of the “little man” in the story “The Overcoat”

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

The story in “The Overcoat” is told in the first person. The main character of the story is Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin, a small official from the department - a powerless and humiliated person. Gogol describes the appearance of the main character of the story as follows: “short, somewhat pockmarked, somewhat reddish, somewhat blind in appearance, with a small bald spot on his forehead with wrinkles on both sides of his cheeks.” Akaki Akakievich is a small, wrinkled man, an official of the lowest rank - a clerk, who worked in the department all his life. He was an insignificant, unrequited personality, which is why he was subjected to a lot of ridicule. He doesn’t even have words to express himself: the hero usually speaks with prepositions and particles that have no meaning. The purpose of Akaki Akakievich’s existence is rewriting. Even when he comes home and hastily eaten cabbage soup, he sits down and rewrites the papers he brought. Bashmachkin is surrounded by young officials who make fun of him. His co-workers treat him without respect. Even the guards at the department look at him as if he were an empty place, “as if a simple fly had flown through the reception area.” In response to insults, he answers only one thing: “Leave me, why are you offending me?” There is something arousing pity in his words.

I think that Akaki 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, his place was simply taken by another official.

Thus, Gogol was one of the first to draw attention to the fate of the “little man.” He clearly showed that 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 capable of resisting the cruelty and injustice of the powers that be. And although the person is pitiful, insignificant, with a narrow outlook, I still feel sorry for him.

In Russian literature there are often unhappy and insignificant characters. They evoke irony and pity in readers. The cruelty towards them is outrageous. But the prototypes of these heroes are not always recognized in real life and they are rarely sympathized with. But the Devushkins, Bashmachkins and station guards are everywhere. They are alive. The image of the little man in the story “The Overcoat” is not a satirical character or a fairy-tale ghost. This is the hero of a cautionary tale about stupid heartlessness and evil indifference.

Gogol: “father” of Bashmachkin

The great goal of true literature is the creation of images and plots that never lose relevance anywhere. Russia has always been rich in talented writers capable of fulfilling this mission. One of them was Nikolai Gogol. The image of a little man created by this writer is a clear confirmation of this.

In almost every human society there is an unrequited and weak personality. A strange, pathetic person, unable to stand up for himself, living in his own, incomprehensible and closed world. Those around them subconsciously rejoice that they are different and not at all like this pitiful creature. And in order to prove this to themselves and each other, they insult and humiliate the renegade in every possible way. The reason for the dissimilarity of this person, who has become an outcast among his kind, can be anything. But most often it lies in the low. For the first time this problem was illuminated by Gogol, using the image of a “little man” in the story “The Overcoat”.

Akaki Akakievich

Bad luck haunts him all his life. It began immediately after birth, when Bashmachkin received the most dissonant name. With such a name and patronymic, a person cannot be respectable and significant. And Akaki Akakievich is small in everything: in height, in abilities, and in social status. The officials make fun of him and tease him, like little children, competing in clerical wit. In response, he can only cry out pitifully: “Leave me alone!”

Gogol created the image of a little man almost by accident. “The Overcoat” was originally conceived by the author as a small satirical work based on an anecdotal story heard somewhere. But after some revision, a real philosophical parable came out about an unfortunate man who was able to take revenge on his offenders only after death.

Everything in his life is small and pathetic. Both appearance and position. His work is monotonous and uninteresting. But he doesn't notice it. For Bashmachkin, there is no more enjoyable activity than rewriting documents. His life is empty, but measured. And let his colleagues mock him. He doesn't care about them. He lives in a world where, apart from 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 the little man in the story “The Overcoat” serves as confirmation of the cruelty of a society in which there is no place for the weak and harmless.

Overcoat

A sweet desire appears in the life of Akaki Akakievich. The old overcoat was completely frayed. He decides to order a new one. In addition, frosts have begun, and awards are expected for the holiday. Now in his life, the exciting rewriting of papers is replaced by dreams of a new overcoat. He thinks about her day and night, and sometimes visits the tailor to discuss the upcoming new thing. And one day, receiving a prize, he fulfills the dream of recent months and becomes the owner of a new wonderful thing. For the main character, the overcoat became a “pleasant friend of days” (as Gogol put it). The image of a little man evokes special pity also from the realization of how insignificant the reason for his boundless joy is.

Great loss

The department admires the overcoat. Bashmachkin is congratulated on his acquisition. His happiness risks being overshadowed by the proposal of his colleagues to organize a festive evening for such an important event. But eyes suddenly turn to the topic of the upcoming dinner party.

He had never been so filled with happiness as during that short time when his new overcoat warmed him. But the happiness ended suddenly when, on the way home after a festive dinner, robbers tore off something dear to his heart.

He tried in vain to bring her back. All attempts were in vain. In addition, the evil 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 “The Overcoat” acquires a strong effect because after death the main character does not disappear. Bashmachkin's soul wanders somewhere in the wasteland for a long time in search of its loss. And only after meeting his offender and tearing off his greatcoat does he disappear forever.

Mystic

At the end of the story, Gogol uses a mystical motif, since only with the help of this technique can the main character become, at least for a short time, strong and scary. It is as if he is taking revenge for himself and for all those offended. The event that happened to the boorish official was not accidental. The author emphasizes that after meeting the ghost, this one became more humble and quieter.

The image of a little man appears in different variations in literature. In Dostoevsky, he is noble, poor, and insulted to the depths of his soul. Pushkin's stationmaster is a man who, due to his low social status, cannot resist cynicism and immorality. Gogol's unique character is pitiful and unhappy to such an extent that he himself does not realize it. But all these heroes are united by vulnerability to the cruelty that prevails in every society.

We often encounter the image of the “little man” in Russian and foreign fiction. To us, Russian readers, brought up on examples of Russian literature, the image of the “little man” is painfully familiar. The first meeting with him happens in Gogol’s story “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol.

What is a “little man”? The answer is simple: this is a person of low social status and low origin, unremarkable and inconspicuous, not distinguished by outstanding abilities, weak-willed, humble and harmless.

This is exactly how we meet the main character of the story “The Overcoat,” the poor titular adviser Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin. It is interesting to note that Nikolai Vasilyevich very skillfully approached the choice of the name of his literary hero: the word “Akaky” translated from Greek means “doing no evil.”

The author compares his hero to a fly to show how petty this man is. Akaki Akakievich has both positive and negative qualities. On the one hand, Bashmachkin is a person without interests and hobbies, without family and friends, which speaks of his certain isolation and self-restraint from the world around him. On the other hand, he is devoted to his work, performs it reverently and carefully, he is hardworking, patient and modest, does not pay attention to the insults of his colleagues, and does not start quarrels. For a person like Akaki Akakievich, the most insignificant thing can become the asset of his whole life.

The treasure of Bashmachkin’s life was a new overcoat, sewn for a holiday bonus. With the advent of the new thing, Bashmachkin’s character and the attitude of his colleagues towards him change. Their approval and admiration elevate Akaki Akakievich above himself, he becomes bolder, happier, more confident. But soon his happy mood changes, as his most expensive item, his overcoat, was stolen. This was a real tragedy for the poor titular councilor, who eventually fell ill and died. But even after death he cannot find peace, so he appears as a ghost on the Kalinkin Bridge and scares passers-by.

Thinking through the character of Akaki Akakievich, Gogol wanted to show readers that against the background of romantic heroes, bright, strong, contradictory personalities, there are realistic personalities: weak-willed, timid and even somewhat pitiful, but certainly deserving of human attention and empathy.

Essay Theme of the little man in Gogol's story The Overcoat

In the “St. Petersburg” story “The Overcoat,” written in 1842, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol raises the theme of the “little man.” This theme is constantly present in Russian fiction. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was the first author to address this issue; other authors continue this tradition.

Gogol considers the problem of a society in which a small person must exist. The author sharply criticizes the society of titular advisers who cannot accept Akaki Akakievich. The character’s phrase: “Don’t touch me, why are you offending me?” is a rhetorical question to the reader. The author draws attention to the fact that “little people” also have the right to a decent life and respect from people.

The day when Bashmachkin puts on his overcoat is the culmination of the work. At this moment he ceases to feel like a “little man”. His behavior and daily routine change completely. By this N. Gogol shows that Akaki Akakievich is the same person as others. He is no different, he experiences the same feelings, aspirations and grievances. He is no better and no worse than others.

The conflict between the little man and the world does not arise immediately, but only at the moment when Akaki Akakievich is left without his overcoat. The overcoat has long become more than clothing. It was a big part of the character himself. Having lost her, he begins to fight with society. And having not achieved victory during his lifetime, he continues it like a ghost.

The mystical side of the story is important for ending the conflict. Having received what he wanted, that is, an overcoat. This is a kind of justice, which is only possible in a fantasy world and is a utopia. On the other hand, in the finale, Gogol says that the immortal soul continues to desire revenge, and is only able to do it on its own.

Essay The image of a little man in Gogol's story The Overcoat

“The Little Man” is one of the archetypes of Russian literature. The gallery of “little people” opens with a portrait of Samson Vyrin in the story of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin (the cycle “Belkin’s Tale”), continues with the image of Evgeniy from his own poem “The Bronze Horseman” and is firmly established in the tradition of realism inherited by Pushkin and his contemporaries.

Within the framework of the direction of realism, it is traditional to consider Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s story “The Overcoat”, and the portrait of the main character of this work - Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin - is included in the gallery of “little people” opened by Pushkin. This point of view is completely fair and is easily confirmed by the text.

What is characteristic of a “little man”? Low position in society, closeness (hiddenness) from the world, stinginess of feelings (but at the same time - the presence of an object of love and care), suffering during life (usually a single act that influences the further fate of the hero), and, most likely, death ( often - precisely from life’s suffering).

All this can be seen in “The Overcoat”. Bashmachkin is a petty official, a copyist of papers, who lives poorly and ascetically. He has no friends - he only has colleagues who become interested in him only with the acquisition of an overcoat (but not before and not on his own). Bashmachkin also has something that he loves and cherishes. Unlike his daughter - in the case of Vyrin - and Parasha, his beloved girl - in the case of Evgeniy - for Akaki Akakievich it is letters in documents and an overcoat, the dream of which he lives.

As in other cases, the suffering of the “little man” is in one way or another connected with the object of his affection. So, Vyrin loses his daughter, Evgeniy hurries to Parasha and is afraid that the flood will harm her. In a dark alley, two people steal Bashmachkin’s favorite overcoat - literally the next day after the purchase. Suffering and experience (after a certain period of time) is followed by the death of the main character.

It is worth noting that very often the status of the “little man” is emphasized by his position in the hierarchy of power; To “reveal” this position of his, the author places the hero in a situation where he is opposed to someone who is superior to him in his power. Let's consider, again, Vyrin and Evgeniy - the first finds himself on the threshold of his daughter's house, but entry there is closed to him, as a poor, ignorant and uninvited guest; the second turns out to be directly opposed to Emperor Peter (and, although he shakes his fist at him, he understands all his powerlessness and insignificance).

Bashmachkin is faced with a hierarchy of positions when his attempts to gain the attention of an official who could help his trouble fail.

It is also interesting to note that in one fundamental point Gogol departs from the previous tradition. The ending of the story of his hero becomes a certain triumph and superiority - the spirit of Bashmachkin tears off the warm overcoats of officials and terrifies those who encounter him. It is clear that this cannot be called a triumph of the “little man” in the full sense of the word; but, of course, this feels, if not a denial of Pushkin’s point of view, then at least a polemic with him and the prevailing understanding of the “little man.”

Valentin Rasputin is a famous writer. He wrote many instructive works. One of them is the kindness-filled work French Lessons.

In N.V. Gogol's story "The Overcoat" the idea of ​​a compassionate, humane attitude towards the "little man" is expressed directly. Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin is the “eternal titular adviser.” The hero is offended by fate in everything, but he does not complain: he is already over fifty, he has not gone beyond rewriting papers, has not risen to a higher rank, and yet he is humble, meek, and devoid of ambitious dreams. Bashmachkin has neither family nor friends, he does not go to the theater or to visit. All his spiritual needs are satisfied by copying papers. No one considers him to be a person. But Akaki does not answer a single word to his offenders.

Gogol does not hide the limitations and meager interests of his hero. But his meekness and uncomplaining patience come to the fore. Even his name carries this meaning: Akaki is humble, gentle, does not do evil, innocent.

The senseless clerical work killed every living thought in him. He found his only pleasure in copying papers. He lovingly wrote out the letters in an even hand and completely immersed himself in his work, forgetting the insults caused to him by his colleagues, and poverty, and worries about his daily bread. Even at home, he only thought that “God will send something to rewrite tomorrow.”

But the man in this downtrodden official also woke up when the goal of life appeared - a new overcoat. “He even became somehow livelier, even firmer in character. Doubt and indecision naturally disappeared from his face and from his actions...” Bashmachkin does not part with his dream for a single day. He thinks about it like another person thinks about love , about family. So he orders himself a new overcoat, and “...his existence has somehow become fuller...”. The description of the life of Akaki Akakievich is permeated with irony, but there is also pity and sadness in it. Introducing us into the spiritual world of the hero, describing his feelings, thoughts, dreams, joys and sorrows, the author makes it clear what happiness it was for Bashmachkin to acquire an overcoat and what a disaster its loss turns into.

There was no happier person than Akaki Akakievich when the tailor brought him an overcoat. But his joy was short-lived. When he was returning home at night, he was robbed. And none of those around him takes part in the fate of the unfortunate official. In vain Bashmachkin sought help from a “significant person.” He was even accused of rebellion against his superiors and “superiors.” The upset Akaki Akakievich falls ill and dies.

In the finale, the “little” timid man, driven to despair by the world of the powerful, protests against this world. Dying, he “blasphemes” and utters the most terrible words that follow the words “Your Excellency.” It was a rebellion, albeit in a dying delirium.
In one of his letters to his sister A.P. Chekhov exclaimed: “My God, how rich Russia is
good people! “The keen eye of the artist, noticing the vulgarity, also saw something else - the beauty of the “little man”.

Akaki Akakievich is seen as a typical “little man”, a victim of the bureaucratic system and indifference. Emphasizing the typicality of the “little man’s” fate, Gogol says that death did not change anything in the department; Bashmachkin’s place was simply taken by another official. Thus, the theme of man - a victim of the social system - is brought to its logical conclusion.

The image of Akaki Akakievich has two sides. The first is spiritual and physical squalor, which Gogol deliberately emphasizes and brings to the fore. The second is the arbitrariness and heartlessness of others towards the main character. The relationship between the first and second determines the humanistic pathos of the work: even a person like Bashmachkin has the right to exist and be treated fairly.

Make up an associative series for the concept of “Khlestakovism”. Give reasons for your position.

“Khlestakovism” is shameless and unbridled boasting and lies, the ability to try on another image and convince others of its authenticity. Having quickly settled into society and realized that he was not being accepted for who he was, Khlestakov began to fully reveal his character traits. Boasting, stupidity, deceit and greed - all this was in the main character. He was simple-minded, “without a king in his head,” filling the spiritual emptiness with the riches of his imagination, endless fleeting dreams. Khlestakov’s long emotional stories about his life captured the spirit of officials; they impeccably believed his every word, even despite the reservations he made: “As you run up the stairs to the fourth floor. Why am I lying - I forgot that I live in the mezzanine "Khlestakov is unable to pay constant attention to any one thought." Either he talks about literature, then suddenly about the fact that his soup in a saucepan arrived from Paris directly on the ship. They believe him, and he takes advantage of it. And Now, emboldened, Khlestakov begins to “borrow” money from officials. Greed, a premonition of easy money, took possession of him: each time he asks for more and more money, directly and without any tricks. “You don’t have money?” he says. he told Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky as soon as they came to him. Not only Khlestakov has similar traits. The mayor, dreaming that his daughter will marry successfully, imagines how “glorious it is to be a general.” So, in each of us there is a piece of this daydreaming and boasting. Khlestakov lives in everyone, and the concept of “Khlestakovism” is relevant beyond time and place.

Khlestakovism - boasting, lies, irresponsibility, cowardice, stupidity, immorality, deceit, greed.