Nikolai Gogol's short story, "The Overcoat," has many realistic and romantic elements. In my opinion, there are more romantic elements. It seems that this is a type of bedtime story for a child. Its purpose conveys to me a lesson of treat everyone as equal or you will be humbled yourself.
             Some of the realistic elements I have picked up on are as follows: The compassion of the new clerk and the reaction of the person of consequence after his friend leaves seem somewhat realistic because some people feel sorry for those in compromising situations and feel regret after scolding someone who may not necessarily have deserved such intensity, but as did the person of consequence when he went to his friend's house after learning of Akaky's death, they get on with their lives. Unlike Akaky's leisure time activities, the pastimes of the other clerks seemed realistic, for example, they played cards, went to movies and parties and gossiped with others. The timidity of Akaky seemed to be an exaggeration of realistic. I have known many people to be timid and to use vague phrases and unfinished questions, maybe not quite as much as Akaky, to get their points across. They also seemed incapable of asserting themselves or sticking up for themselves to a superior. Another realistic element was when the narrator claimed not to know what Akaky was thinking about the picture in the window made this 'absolutely true' story seem more realistic. The person of consequence's power happy attitude toward his subordinates seemed realistic; this is best exemplified by young police officers when dealing with teenagers.
             The main character's name being Akaky, resembling kaka or defecator is one of many romantic elements. Among others is the way he is treated by his coworkers, before he gets his new coat they pick on him – as children might do to another, and after his new coat they suddenly change their attitude towards him as a fickle child might d...