Plot the overcoat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Plot the overcoat - Essay Example (Graffy, 2000) The story entails an exposition that defines the initial premise of the story and Akakiy’s character, a passive civil servant, who is highly skilled in what he does but due to his appearance and aloof nature is often mocked by his superiors and inferiors alike. The focus of the story is then shifted towards Akakiy’s overcoat that has immense significance in the story to the protagonist because the coat was symbolic of social acceptance and a new life for him. However, the overcoat also serves as the main source of conflict and complication in the story, as all the other characters of the story do not understand the significance of the coat to Akakiy. Other characters deem it as an ordinary object, which on the other hand was symbolic of social acceptance for Akakiy as mentioned earlier. Akakiy’s old overcoat is ragged and does not really help to protect Akakiy from the icy cold weather of St. Petersburg.