OvercoatA Short Story/Film by Ghulam Abbas & Nicholi Gogol

ⅎ Muhammad Adnan Akram (adnanaqram@gmail.com)

ⅎ Waheed Ahmed (vahiidahmed@gmail.com)

ⅎ Tayyab Mehmood Ehsan (tayyabayub2@gmail.com)

The University of Lahore – Chenab Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan

Nikohay Gogol

• Full Name – Nikolay Vasilyevich Gogol• Birth – March 19, 1809, Sorochintsy,

Poltava, Ukraine• Schooling – In 1821, enters local high

school at Nezhin, where he gains reputation as a talented

comic actor• Journey to

St. Petersburg – 1828 Gogol leaves the Ukraine for St. Petersburg, with hopes to

achieve eminence as either a civil servant, an actor or a writer.

… Nikolay Gogol

• Struggle – In 1829, publishes ‘Hans Kuchelgarten’ under a pseudonym. Poem

receives negative criticism, Gogol collects all unsold copies and burns them.

Tries his luck as an actor, but his auditionturns out to be a unsuccessful one.In 1831 – Gets Lecturership of history at the Patriotic Institute, a young ladies college.

• Acquaintancewith Pushkin – In 1831, meets the great Russian

poet Aleksandr Pushkin who becomes a great friend and influence until his death in 1837.

… Nikolay Gogol

• Turn to full-time writing – In 1834-35, when his position as assistant

lecturer in World History at the University of St. Petersburg fails.

• Notable Work – Evenings on A Farm Near Dikanka (1831-32) which was a huge success.Mirgorod (1835) – A collection of short storiesThe Nose (1835) - A masterful comic short story was later turned into an operaDiary of A Madman (1835) Dead Souls (1842) – Regarded as first modern Russian novelShinel “The Overcoat” (1843) – Published along with his earlier unpublished work comprised on 4 volumes

… Nicholi Gogol

• Journey to Rome – Leaves Russia in 1837 for a tour to Rome and settles there for next 11 years

• Death – In1852 , Moscow from continuous sickness and emaciation from starving himself.

Ghulam Abbas

• Full Name – Ghulam Abbas• Birth – In 1909 Amritsar,

British Punjab• Occupation – Writer, Magazine Editor,

Translator• Organizations – All India Radio

during World War II,known for short stories

• Notable Work – Jarre ki Chandni,Kan Ras, Al-Ḥamra ke Afsane, Jazira-e-Suhan’waran, Overcoat

• Awards – In 1967, Sitara-e-Imtiaz• Death – Nov 2, 1982 (aged 72–73) Karachi, Pakistan

Overcoat

Story

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Overcoat - A Source of Attraction

• In Abbas’s Overcoat, the young-man receives respect & good response because of outlook.

• In new overcoat Akaky also receives warmth from his colleagues. So it is a slap on the society’s face as it judges form outlook only.

• Akaky’s dedication and hard work seems to be worthless whereas his new overcoat attracts everybody.

• Both characters of the two writers also get attracted towards the people only because of their dresses as in Abbas’ overcoat – ‘It was their clothes rather than their faces that attracted his attention.’

Overcoat - A Symbol of Life

• Both characters feel themselves as important figures of society in overcoat.

• Akaky is an unimportant and dead part of the society in old overcoat but soon after wearing the new coat he becomes important. He starts looking beyond his range and having social life. He becomes lively and sees shops, girls, their dresses and for the first time in his life he spends evening with his colleagues.

• Abbas’ young-man is so lively and happy in overcoat. His smiles, confidence, gate and twirling of willow-stick in joyful mood is all because of his overcoat.

Motifs of Wearing Overcoat

• The young-man of Abbas has worn the overcoat to fit in the society whereas from inside he is dirty. Covering his inner self under an overcoat, he seems to be very happy and satisfied.

• Akaky is satisfied with his old overcoat and only goes for mending it since he feels cold in it. He has nothing to do with the society and their thoughts about him.

• So the motifs of wearing the overcoats are in contrast.

Status & Meaning of Importance

• Both the stories depict different yardsticks for the status.

• Abbas’s character enjoys repute because of overcoat and good looks whereas Gogol’s ‘Important person’ enjoys good status because of ‘disregard of the poor and having a mistress’ just because of that is what is fashionable for high ranking officials.

• Being important is relative as in our society true followers of west depicted as important whereas in Russia those who follow the fowl ways and hierarchy like ‘important person’ are considered important.

Unjust & Cruel System

• Akaky exercises all the fair means and does not bribe or butter his supervisors. Hence he is made to stand as a clerk throughout his life whereas young people go otherwise and promoted to higher ranks.

• Gogol establishes a moral lesson as people can an be horribly cruel to one another, especially through systems of dehumanization or oppressions and its crucial to recognize that we are all, at heart, “brothers”.

• Abbas’s Overcoat also shows inability of the system to provide necessary requirement to meet both ends and people are compelled to hide themselves under superficial overcoats.

Revenge & Supernatural Element

• Supernatural element is seen in the Gogol’s story and story goes further even after the death of the protagonist.

• Abbas’s overcoat has no supernatural element and story ends on the tragic death of the protagonist.

• Revenge is an element of contrast as it is taken through the Akaky’s ghost in Gogol’s story.

• No revenge is seen in Abbas’s overcoat.

Important Person & the Stick

• Abbas used the willow stick in the story symbolically as it is used by the British for support but at the end when the protagonist is found in trouble that support is seen to be lost somewhere and the story ends with it.

• Gogol’s ‘Important Person’ is a support in Russian society that fails to aid the protagonist in the very moment of trouble.

Ghosts

• Akaky’s revenge is taken by his ghost which appears after his death.

• Existence of another ghosts in the society shows that there are individuals other than Akaky who have been wronged by their superiors in Russia.

• The ghosts great strength illustrated by his large fist and moustaches intimate us that the power of oppressed is growing.

• No such ghosts are found in Abbas’ work.

Contrast in Significance

• Akaky is shown an un-important figure while he lives and after death he becomes important and topic of the town. He gains significance after the death.

• Abbas’ young-man is important and reputable until he remains hidden under the overcoat while he lives. After death he becomes insignificant.

Contrast in Anger

• Anger is found in both the characters. In one it is repressed and in others it is expressed.

• Akaky’s cursing just before his death shows his expressed anger regarding his maltreatment and injustice in his life and after death towards the society and the ‘important person’.

• Abbas’ character exhibits repressed anger and only appears to be smiling throughout the story but his death reveals the tragic story and reader actually comes to understand the meaning of his smile.

Poverty

• Akaky’s poverty does not allow him to buy a new overcoat and he suffers almost a year to save enough money for it.

• It effects him even after his death as he is buried in the cheapest possible coffin and nothing notable is found from his residence.

• Abbas’ young-man also suffers it after his death when his overcoat is removed and pockets are searched.

Value of Material Goods

• Gogol emphasizes the value of material goods not only for basic human survival but also for emotional and spiritual well being. His comparison of the coat to a wife illustrates the sense of comfort and safety that garment will bring.

• Having new overcoat changes the whole perspective of life in Akaky.

• Abbas is short of space for such details but he also establishes it through the smiles and comforts of the his character.

Contrast in Empathy

• Gogol depicts Akaky as an unimpressive character throughout his story through which he wins sympathy of the reader.

• Abbas young-man is shown very well-to-do throughout and at the end his reality touches the readers.