Satire in Gogol's 'The Overcoat'

Nikolai Gogol's 'The Overcoat' has predominantly satirist tone.  Written by a well-known Russian satirist, the story moves around the character of Akaky Akakievich (Bashmachkin); and the writer tries to attack then Russian bureaucracy in particular, and bureaucratic weaknesses of any place of any time in general through the incidents happened in life of its character. In surface view, the story seems to be mere portrayal of hardships and pains Akaky faces; or the story's central light is on Akaky's character, than on bureaucratic misbehaviours. However, if we read it more closely, it appears to be a strong satire against faults of administrative systems and its staff in then Russia.

The very first paragraph of the story begins with satire. Initially the storyteller wants to name the department where Akaky works, but later he draws back, given that "there is nothing in the world more touchy than a department, a regiment, a government office, and in fact, any short of official body." Being touchy / sensitive is, in a way, good. However, we can merely observe in later part of the story that this sensitivity is only for those who are in power, not for those who can't do anything, can't intervene the system like Akaky.

Another sense of satire lies in the title given to clerks including Akaky; they are called "perpetual titular councilor." Yes, they are councilor, but only in titular level, only in titles. The writer clearly states somewhere in the story that councilors never counsel to anyone, neither do they accept others' counseling.  The same case applies with title of 'Person of Consequence', (the one whom Akaky complains the theft of his coat). The story reads, "…this Person of Consequence had only lately become a person of consequence, and until recently had been a person of no consequence. Though, indeed, his position even now was not reckoned of consequence…"  These two cases reflect clearly that in that bureaucracy, persons are not what they are entitled; they do not do what they are called to do by their designations. Merely, they are the ones, who only follow what they are ordered to do by senior staff, be in a clerk (Akaky) or a general (Person of Consequence).  This satire is intensified when we know that the Person of Consequence learnt abrupt voice, which he thinks is essential for higher class staff, just a week before, and "purposively rehearsed in his own room in solitude before the mirror..."

It is apparent for general readers too that Akaky is abused and bullied in his office for his simplicity, honesty, innocence and passion for work. They make fun of him when he is in office, but when he is not (this is rare almost) they don't care of him. Only "several days after his death, a messenger from the department was sent to his lodgings with instructions that he should go at once to the office…" This is very absurd that an office doesn't know even death of a regular staff for "several days after." This clearly shows how ignorant administration and its higher staff are toward lives of its lower staff.

Earlier local police and inspectors had not helped Akaky to find out his robbed coat, stating that he didn't follow the proper channels.  But after Akaky's death and frequent appearance of a "corpse" hunting everyone's shoulders, "orders were given to the police to catch the corpse regardless of trouble or expense, dead or alive, and to punish him severely." The point is the administration which had ignored a humble request of a sincere man to help him is so cautious to punish a corpse, which is already dead! It can be generalized to state that administration is diverting its focus from where it should have focused.

Of course, 'The Overcoat' is a foundation of Russian realism. But it is something more than that. It is also an exemplary writing of what a good and strong satire can be.  This is one reason why the story is so popularly studied and critiqued even these days – more than one hundred and seventy years after its first publication.