Rekha J ( #23) 24th January, 2012 An essay on The Overcoat One of the themes of the Overcoat is the plight

of the common man. In this essay, I will explain how various elements of story serve to express this theme in the story; and how this theme relates to my own experience. Throughout the story, the author effectively demonstrates the class oppression of the common manby other superior classes above them as well as by the bureaucracy. The ground for this is set in the description of the protagonist, Akaky- ..rather short, rather pockmarked, rather red-haired, rather nearsighted, with a small bald spot on his head and wrinkles on both his cheeks, with a complexion of the sort best termed inflamed.. (Page 72.) The author himself states that this is the type of man whom some writers commonly ridicule and make jokes about, for these honourable souls are fond of attacking those who cannot fight back.. (Page 72.) There is nothing special about the protagonist. He is a man who conforms to conventions, takes life as it is handed to him by those who oppress him. This pans out in the way he leads his life- he has been working in the same position for years, no matter how often his superiors changed. This can be interpreted as the rut in which the common masses are caught in. No matter who is elected to lead the state, the oppressed classes are in the same position. One of the main reasons the oppressed masses stay caught in this situation is because the oppressors dole out ill-treatment. From Akakys colleagues to the Very Important Person, various characters display this aspect. Akaky is a dedicated worker, despite his lack of initiative. He works with zeal, with no mistakes. However, he is the subject of a lot of ridicule and torment in spite of this. His younger colleagues and superiors alike, everybody thrusts him with work, without the tiniest bit of gratitude or encouragement. Akakys only reaction to this torment is a cry to leave him alone. He later gets used to this, and shuts his eyes, and shudders. This is very much what the oppressed masses would do- accept their plight without questioning. They are scared into being so, by the oppressors. It is also a way for the oppressed masses to deal with their agony- to be at peace with it. Akaky does the same, being content with his fate. Even when Akaky needs a new coat and is forced to lead a more meagre existence than he already was, he deals with it by getting used to it. The dream of a new coat, like the expectation of better life someday, leads him on. Even after his new coat gets stolen, his grief is not redressed. Instead, the superintendent and the VIP impose their ranks on him. Rather than even trying to see if his complaint was genuine or if it needed attention, they scare him. So much so, they scare him to death. These officials are, according to the landlady and the colleague, people who are in position to help him. The fact that they dont, is also akin to what is meted out to the common man by the bureaucracy. Akakys vengeance at the end of the story is similar to what will happen in a society which has far too long been oppressed and not paid attention to. Such action comes after someone has had it with the ill treatment, and decides to retaliate. In a way, the Overcoat is a story that we all might have seen happening or we might have gone through. Akaky and the other characters are all familiar, so are the incidents. If one ignores the move from reality to fantasy at the end, when Akakys ghost appears, it is very much a story that takes place now and then. We have all seen and felt the brunt of higher ranks and statuses. At the least, we might have read about someone like Akaky. This is where one can relate the story to ones own life.