Akakiy Akakievitch Bashmatchkin: Bureaucrat in one of the departments of the Russian government in St. Petersburg, the nation's capital city. Bashmatchkin, about fifty, is a quiet, self-effacing man with red hair and a receding hairline. His job is to copy documents such as letters. Although he enjoys his work and never makes a mistake, he has no desire to take on more challenging work, realizing that he has limited capabilities. Because he is meek and dresses shabbily, most of his coworkers regard him as a nobody and frequently pick on him. When his cloak becomes so frayed that it can no longer protect him against the bitter cold, he dedicates himself to saving enough money to purchase a new cloak.
Petrovitch: One-eyed, heavy-drinking tailor whom Bashmatchkin hires to make his new cloak. Petrovitch was once a serf.
Wife of Petrovitch: Woman of plain looks whom the narrator says Petrovitch calls "a low female and a German" when they argue.
Bearded Assailants: Men who rob Akakiy of his new cloak.
Landlady of Bashmatchin: Elderly woman who advises Akakiy to report the theft of his cloak to the district police chief.
District Police Chief: Official who hears Akakiy's report about his stolen cloak. The policeman asks Akakiy embarrassing questions, as if he were a criminal. The policeman is of no help.
Employee With Advice: Coworker of Akakiy who advises him to see a certain prominent personage in a government office who will help Akakiy track down his stolen cloak.
Prominent Personage: Bureaucrat mainly concerned with demonstrating the power he wields as a supervisor. He excoriates Akakiy for not going through the proper government channels to get an interview. He is of no help.
Physician: Doctor called after Akakiy develops a throat infection. He tells Akakiy's landlady to order a coffin.
- Describe the changing setting of the story while Akakiy makes his way to the party. how do the two separate locations parallel the social status of the society? - more wealthy place, people, and street lights were up. many businesses were opened late. fewer lights were on the street on the way home.
- What do you believe the climax of the story and why? - when people took Akakiy's overcoat, things began to fall apart rapidly. when he went to the superior's house for help, he got yelled at, "do you know who you talking to!" he was reminded that he is, once again, in a lower society.
- What is the symbolism behind the cloak and why did Akakiy place so much value upon it? - accomplishment, happiness, and social status; after the cloak, things were lightened up and people started to loving and recognize him. Akakiy even almost made a mistake copying job because he was too excited.
- What are some possible themes for this story? - power vs. powerlessness; working class never has any power.
1. Yes, it is very clear that he goes from a poor area to a wealthy, upper class part. The area where he lives was dark and reserved, which parallels his personality.
ReplyDelete2. I agree that the climax is when his coat is stolen. After his coat was stolen, everything went down hill from there. He retreated back to the defenseless person he used to be.
3. I think the cloak also symbolizes acceptance and he valued it because it gave him a sense of accomplishment.
4. I agree that a major theme is power vs. powerlessness because Akaky gains power with the new coat. It shows that you need material wealth to be powerful in society.
I find it extremely helpful that you posted a list of character descriptions because I know for me, when reading this story I was very confused.I definitely agree with what you found the climax of the story to be. Akakiy was always in the lower class but once he ad a brand new overcoat it made him feel special, like he could be around people of a higher class, and once that got taken away (the climax of the story) He was brought back down to reality and the whole story went downhill from there for him.
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