The University Of Lahore – Chenab Campus (Gujrat)

A Comparison Of

Nicholi Gogol’s “Shinel”

&

Ghulam Abbas’

“Overcoat”

∑ Course Title: Comparative Literature

∑ Submitted To: Ms. Ruqqaya Saba Ashraf

∑ Submitted By: Muhammad Adnan Akra (adnanaqram@gmail.com/ www.facebook.com/iadnanaqram)

Waheed Ahmed(vahiidahmed@gmail.com)

Tayyab Mehmood Ehsan(tayyabayub2@gmail.com)

∑ Submission Date: January 15, 2017

Nicholi Gogol

• Full Name – Nikoli 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 a civil servant, an actor or awriter.

• 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 audition turns out to be a unsuccessful one.

In 1831 – Gets Lecturership of history at the Patriotic Institute, a young ladies college.

• Acquaintance

with Pushkin – In 1831, meets the Great Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkinwho becomes a great friend and influence until his death in 1837.

• 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) (a huge success.)

Mirgorod (1835) – A collection of short stories

The Nose (1835) - A masterful comic short story was later turned into an opera

Diary of A Madman (1835)

Dead Souls (1842) – Regarded as first modern Russian novel

Shinel “The Overcoat” (1843) – Published along with his earlier unpublished work comprised on 4 volumes

• 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 Abass

• 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

Nicholi’s Shinel (Overcoat) - a brief summary

The story of Akakiy Akakievitch Bashmachkin starts on the telling of his birthday and how none of the names proposed to her mother for a newly-born comes with her satisfaction, and she decides to name him in honour of his father. Then the story goes on his work as a titular counselor, which is the lowest civil rank in tsarist Russia.

Many of young clerks make fun of Akakiy Akakievitch, nudge him constantly and do everything to hurt or insult Bashmachkin, who by-turn does nothing but endures it silently. Only when teasing becomes unbearable he speaks in a pitiful voice and asks to live him alone. His duties at work stand in copying the documents, and his work Bashmachkin does with a great love and care. He waits with awe for the next day, and when going to bed thinks of what the next day will bring him to copy.

But his regular life is disturbed by one unforeseen event. One morning he finds out that his overcoat is good for nothing. Thanks to St. Petersburg’s frosts its back andshoulders have been worn-out into holes. He carries it to the tailor, who by-turn says that nothing could be done and a new overcoat should be sewed. Bashmachkin is rather shocked by the price the tailor announced, by he sees that he could not make without an overcoat, so he decides to save his money by reducing some of his expenses. Since now Akakiy Akakievitch does not drink tea in the evenings, does not light the candles, steps on his toes in order not to use up his soles by rubbing, and gives his clothes to the

laundress not so often. All these precautions are done in order to save at least forty rubles. The entire sum he needs accounts eighty rubles. The half of this sum Bashmachkin has, as has a very good habit of putting a groshen of every ruble he spends into a small box.

His life changes completely, but he does not complain, he is rather happy as the dream of a new overcoat gives him strength to stand all the difficulties. Every month he visits the tailor – Petrovich – to talk about an overcoat. An expected rewarding at work turns out to be for twenty rubles more and Bashmachkin is happy to come to the tailor. Before the winter frosts start his coat is ready, and when an occasion comes he starts for the department in his new overcoat. The day Bashmachkin puts on his new overcoat becomes his own triumph. He is overfilled with high-spirited emotions.

In the department this event cannot be left unnoticed; everyone praises the overcoat and demands from Bashmachkin to wet the bargain in the evening. Embarrassed Akakiy is saved by some clerk, who has invited everyone for a drink on the occasion of his birthday. In the evening Akakiy Akakievitch being very happy and elated starts for the birthday party he is invited to. Though it is rather far it does not stop him.

Akakiy has a rather pleasant evening, the one he has never experienced before, he tastes champagne, and gladly watches the others playing cards. When it is late he starts for home, as it is time he usually goes to bed. Streets leading to his home become rather darker and with fewer passers-by. Involuntary fear seizes him. In the middle of a large empty street some people with moustache stop him and take away his new overcoat.

Here start Bashmachkin’s misadventures. The feelings of despair overfill him, and the next day is the only day in his life when he is absent at work. He desperately is looking for help in district chief, but finds none. The next day when he comes to work in his old worn-out overcoat he gets some compassion from some of his staff and an advice to turn to a certain prominent personage. But unfortunately this attempt is crowned with no success.

The next few days, which are the last of his life, Bashmachkin spends in complete unconsciousness and delirium. Then he dies. The news of his death comes to the department only on the fourth day after the funeral.

Soon a rumor that a dead man is appearing at nights on the Kalinkin Bridge is spread over St. Petersburg. This dead man walks in the night and takes off the overcoats of the passes-by. Someone recognizes Akakiy Akakievitch. Taken steps by the police to catch the dead have no results.

A certain prominent personage, who has refused Bashmachkin to help, when gets to know of his death, endures pangs of conscience, as compassion is not alien to him. In order to get distracted from sad thoughts he goes to the party of some of his friend, and after wants to go not home but to a lady he has relationship with. On his way to Karolina Ivanovna (it’s her name) he feels suddenly that somebody grasps his collar and takes off his overcoat. Terrified he recognizes Akakiy Akakievitch. Pale and scared to death the prominent personage returns home, and since after does not show strictness towards his subordinate or visitors.

The appearance of the dead man since then stops completely. Just one more time a ghost met by some watchman, but he is much taller and has large moustache.

Ghulam Abbas’ Overoat - a brief summary

"Overcoat" is a tragic story of a destitute young man who tried to keep up appearances and his poverty under the overcoat He looked dandy with a hat and a can. He strolled about on the Mall, showing himself a well-to-do fellow. But he had not even reasonable clothes on him. Everything about him was hidden under the coat. He spent a few moments before a restaurant, listening to an orchestra. Then he walked on. He visited a music shop and asked for a list of gramophone records.

He went to a book stall and then a carpet shop. He was enjoying the impression of a sophisticated fellow, which he was seating on the shopkeepers. He then walked on the footpath near the high courts. Here a young couple overtook him from behind. When they turned to MacleodRoad, he also tried to fellow them. While he was crossing the wide road, a truck hit him and knocked him down. The truck driver fled and he was rushed to the hospital in a taxi. He breathed his last at hospital. When they took off his coat, they did not find any clothes on him except a few things not worth mentioning.

Comparison

∑ 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

‴ 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.

‴ lively and sees shops, girls, their dresses and for the first time in his life he spends evening with his colleagues.

∑ Motifs behind wearing Overcoat

‴ 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

‴ 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.

∑ Overcoat – A Symbol of Status & Importance

Both the stories depict different yardsticks for the status.

‴ 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.

‴ 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.

∑ 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

‴ Abbas’s Overcoat also shows inability of the system to provide necessary requirement to meet both ends and people are compelled to

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”.

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.

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

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

‴ No revenge is seen in Abbas’s overcoat.

∑ Important Person & the Stick

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

‴ 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.

∑ Ghosts

‴ Akaky’s revenge is taken by his ghost who appears after his death.

‴ Existence of another ghost 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

‴ No such ghosts are found in Abbas’ work

oppressed is growing.

∑ 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 affects 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.

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

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

∑ 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.