The Overcoat
The jacket (Russian Шинель, Schinel ) is the title of a 1842 published story by Nikolai Gogol.
It tells the tragic yet comic story of Akaky Akakijewitsch and the rise of an insignificant to a significant person. Akaky Akakijewitsch, begins its life with a significant naming and baptism leads a sad, lonely life in Saint Petersburg. He is, more specifically, body and soul official: Kopist. The profession of copying fills his whole life. He is so enthusiastic about it that he even has favorite characters. At times, he works though the evening at home more, but in social life and does not participate. From his work colleagues, he is only ridiculed, but he ignored or did not notice. His life changes only when he decides to make a new coat. After much saving ( and starvation ) holds Akaky Akakijewitsch finally got his new coat in her hands. The jacket transforms Akaky Akakijewitsch both externally and internally.
He suddenly takes the life around them is true and is perceived by others. His colleagues hold the new coat in honor of even a small celebration. Akaky is indeed received cordially, but the guests just as quickly lose interest in him again.
On the way home he is attacked. Here, the unknown perpetrators hits him along and steals his coat. Hoping to retrieve his coat to Akaky Akakijewitsch turns to a higher authority, but is brutally rejected and slain. At this point, his mental decline begins, and he died shortly afterwards at the pains to have not get back his beloved coat. At the same time this is also the point at which the realistic story of the life of Akaky Akakijewitsch ends. The deceased now haunts around the Kalinkinbrücke and tries to steal the coats of passing pedestrians. The police has out that the dead man to catch, and almost succeeds too. The story ended with the dead Akaky Akakijewitsch the official who had rejected him, frightened and appropriates its sheath. From then on, he still haunts still around, but no more than desperate, but as an impressive and inspiring respectful man.