The Cloak by Nikol Gogol: The Story Revolves Around Akakiy Akakievitch
The Cloak by Nikol Gogol is a Russian narrative that speaks for the poor and the underprivileged. Those who are basic, decent, hard working, misrepresented, and ridiculed for having no aspirations of anything more than living out their ordinary lives to the best of their abilities-however humble that may be. The author clearly conveys how cruel humans can be in their ability to mock the spirits of those who are defenseless, less inclined to be egotistical, greedy, self-absorbed, or frivolous. Metaphorically, the cloak represents protection: protection from the elements of human behavior towards those who are powerless and exposed. The story revolves around Akakiy Akakievitch, who is a simple man of simple means who works as a civil servant for the Russian government. He is meek, shy, gentle in nature, socially inept, and socially ostracized. His co-workers struggle for power within the social and bureaucratic structure, and one might symbolica
Here the author intentionally brings to light the shamefulness of shallowness. Russian winter has arrived and Akakiy suffers aches and pains over the areas of the body where the cloak is most damaged, so he visits a local tailor in hopes that the cloak can be repaired. Akakiy attends the party and on the way home a group of thieves rob him of the cloak. lly suppose that their constant joking and ridicule of poor Akakiy Akakievitch is a cloak of their own-designed to protect themselves from their own sense of inadequacy. Here the author tries to convey that the people from this class are desperate, and if ripping off your fellow man is a way to make ends meet than so be it. Akakiy eventually talks the tailor down to a price that would be manageable through effort, restraint, and great sacrifice. Akakiy seeks the help of those powerful enough to find the cloak, but they treat him with disgust and indignation. The tailor feels a sense of pride and accomplishment that he has never felt before. The author may have been trying to say that indifference is a flaw in human consciousness. In a sense, this is Akakiy's gift to society-it causes people to agonize with hindsight and regret. This piece was written by a Russian author; however, the social issues the author conveyed did not solely belong to Russian society. When Akakiy wears the cloak to work, all of his co-workers congratulate him as if to say, "Welcome! What you are wearing now makes you worthy enough to be one of us!" For the first time in his life Akakiy feels a sense of belonging, and it is here that the reader begins to feel great sorrow. The tailor makes a splendid cloak for Akakiy, and the author indicates that the cloak is just as important to the tailor as it is for Akakiy. Akakiy's co-workers go so far as to invite him to a party.
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