The Overcoat

“Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?”

Chapter 1: Akaky Akakievich and His Miserable Existence

The story introduces Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, a low-ranking government clerk in St. Petersburg. He is meek, socially insignificant, and relentlessly mocked by his colleagues. His sole purpose in life is copying documents with mechanical precision. His overcoat, old and threadbare, barely protects him from the harsh Russian winter.

Chapter 2: The Decision to Replace the Overcoat

After enduring constant ridicule and the biting cold, Akaky resolves to commission a new overcoat. He scrimps and saves every kopeck, sacrificing meals and comforts. The tailor, Petrovich, initially refuses but eventually agrees to make the coat for an exorbitant price. Akaky’s anticipation grows as the coat becomes his sole obsession.

Chapter 3: The New Overcoat and Fleeting Happiness

Once completed, the overcoat transforms Akaky’s life. His colleagues suddenly treat him with respect, and he even attends a party—an unprecedented event. However, his joy is short-lived. On his way home, thieves violently strip him of his prized possession, leaving him devastated and humiliated.

Chapter 4: The Futile Pursuit of Justice

Akaky seeks help from the authorities, but a pompous “Important Person” dismisses him cruelly. Broken and feverish, he dies shortly after, his pleas ignored. His death goes unnoticed by the indifferent bureaucracy that once employed him.

Chapter 5: The Ghostly Revenge

Rumors spread of a ghost haunting St. Petersburg, stealing overcoats from passersby—including the “Important Person.” The specter, believed to be Akaky’s vengeful spirit, vanishes after terrifying the official, leaving behind a chilling reminder of society’s cruelty toward the powerless.

Key Ideas

• The dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy and social hierarchy.
• The crushing indifference of society toward the poor and vulnerable.
• The fleeting nature of material happiness and its inability to grant true dignity.
• The supernatural as a tool for moral retribution.
• The tragic absurdity of human existence in an uncaring world.