How and what kind of people did we emerge from Gogol’s “The Overcoat”? “We all came out of Gogol’s “Overcoat”

We all came out Gogol's overcoat
The authorship is erroneously attributed to F. M. Dostoevsky, who once uttered this phrase in a conversation with the French writer E. de Vogue. The latter understood it as the writer’s own passions and cited it in his book “Russian Novel” (1886).
But in reality, these words belong, as proved by the Soviet literary critic S. A. Reiser (see: Questions of Literature. 1968. No. 2) to the French critic Eugene Vogüe, who published an article about Dostoevsky in “Rftvue des deux Mondes” (1885. No. 1). . In it, he spoke about the origins of the work of this Russian writer.
In its present form, this expression came into circulation after Eugene Vogüe’s book “Modern Russian Writers. Tolstoy - Turgenev - Dostoevsky" (Moscow, 1887).
Used: to characterize the humanistic traditions of classical Russian literature.

encyclopedic Dictionary winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.

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Books

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Sentimental stories, Mikhail Mikhailovich Zoshchenko. For most readers, Mikhail Zoshchenko (1894-1958), both during his lifetime and today, is the “king of laughter”, the author of “Bathhouse” and “Aristocrat”. Meanwhile, in the 1920s, a book appeared introducing...

This phrase appeared in a series of articles by the French critic Eugene Vogüe, “Modern Russian Writers,” published in the Parisian “Two Monthly Review” (“Revue des Deux Mondes”) in 1885, and then included in Vogüe’s book “The Russian Novel” (1886). In 1877–1882 de Vogüe lived in St. Petersburg as secretary of the French embassy and was closely acquainted with many Russian writers.

Already at the beginning of the first of the magazine articles (“F. M. Dostoevsky”) Vogüe notices - still on his own: “... between 1840 and 1850, all three [i.e. e. Turgenev, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky] came from Gogol, the creator of realism.” In the same article the formula appeared:

We all came out of Gogol’s “The Overcoat,” Russian writers rightly say.

The more I read Russians, the more I see the truth of the words that one of them, closely associated with literary history of the last forty years: “We all came out of Gogol’s “Overcoat”” (my italics - K.D.).

In the first Russian translation of Vogüe's book (1887), this phrase is conveyed by indirect speech: “Russian writers rightly say that they all “came out of Gogol’s “Overcoat”.” But already in 1891, in the biography of Dostoevsky, written by E. A. Solovyov for Pavlenkov’s series, the canonical text appears: “We all came out of Gogol’s Overcoat,” and here the phrase is unconditionally attributed to Dostoevsky.
S. Reiser believed that this was a “summary formula” created by Vogüe himself as a result of conversations with various Russian writers (“Questions of Literature”, 1968, No. 2). S. Bocharov and Y. Mann were inclined to believe that Dostoevsky was the author, among other things, pointing out that Dostoevsky entered literature exactly 40 years before the publication of Vogüe’s book “The Russian Novel” (“Questions of Literature”, 1988, No. 6).
However, in the reliable statements of Dostoevsky there is nothing similar to this idea. And in his Pushkin speech (1880), he, in fact, derives contemporary Russian literature from Pushkin.

Russian émigré critic Vladimir Veidle suggested that the phrase about the overcoat was uttered by Dmitry Grigorovich, “one of Vogüe’s Russian informants” (“Heritage of Russia”, 1968). Grigorovich entered literature at the same time as Dostoevsky, 40 years before the publication of de Vogüe’s articles, and also under the strong influence of Gogol.

Whoever the “Russian informant Vogüe” was, the word “we” in this phrase could only refer to representatives of “ natural school"of the 1840s, to which Tolstoy - one of the main characters of the Russian Novel - did not belong.

Those who wrote about the authorship of the saying did not think about its form. Meanwhile, before the translation of Vogüe’s book, the phrase “We came from ...” was not found in Russian in the meaning: “We came from the school (or: we belong to the school, direction) of such and such.”
But it is precisely this turnover that we find in classic work French literature, and in a form very close to the Vogüe formula. In Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary (1856) we read:
He [Larivière] belonged to the great surgical school that emerged from Bichat's apron (sortie du tablier de Bichat).

This refers to the surgical apron of the famous anatomist and surgeon Marie François Bichat (1771–1802). Following Flaubert, this definition is invariably cited in France when we're talking about about the French surgical school, and often about French medicine in general.
To the translators of Madame Bovary, the phrase “sortie du tablier de Bichat” seemed so unusual that they simply threw out the “apron”. In the first (anonymous) Russian translation (1858): “Larivière belonged to the great surgical school of Bichat.” Translated by A. Chebotarevskaya, edited by Vyach. Ivanova (1911): “Larivière was one of the luminaries of the glorious surgical school of Bichat.” In the “canonical” Soviet translation by N. M. Lyubimov (1956): “Larivière belonged to the surgical school of the great Biche.” English and German translators did exactly the same with Bisha’s apron.

May with high degree confidence to assert that the formula “come out of (a certain article of clothing)” in the sense of “belong to the school of such and such” was created by Flaubert and two decades later used by de Vogüe in relation to Gogol. It is quite possible that one of the Russian writers told him something similar, but the verbal formulation of this thought was born in French.
In the 1970s, the phrase “get out of Stalin’s overcoat” appeared in emigration journalism. Since the late 1980s, he began to master Russian seal. Here are two typical examples:
“As they say, we all came out of Stalin’s overcoat. Moreover, many of us continue to look at life from under Lenin’s cap” (V. Nemirovsky, “Red, Green, White...”, in the magazine “Chelovek”, 1992, No. 3).

“...In the 80s, according to Kostikov and other apprentices of perestroika, (...) society came out of Stalin’s overcoat and elegantly wrapped itself in Gorbachev’s suit” (Valeria Novodvorskaya, “Thinking Reed Vyacheslav Kostikov”, in the magazine “Capital”, 1995, no. 6).
However, “overcoat”, “coat”, etc. have long been no longer necessary in this formula - you can come out of anything, at least from a square:
“We all came out of Malevich’s square” (interview with artist Georgy Khabarov in the newspaper “Top Secret”, October 7, 2003).

This phrase, first found in the French literary critic Eugene de Vogüe (I indicate the source so that you are not mistaken: the phrase does not belong to Dostoevsky!), reflects the significance of this short story in world literature.

It sounds pompous, but it is here that the the main problem, which has worried people for many centuries. This "little man" problem. Of course, she is not alone, there are both moral and ethical problems here, but still in the foreground, as we would say today, is the average person. The "little man" problem

Theses, which I formulated in the form of questions and answers, so that it is more convenient for you to place them in your essay materials.

Who is Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin, main character stories? A minor official in the office, engaged in copying documents, inconspicuous, quiet, not attracting any attention to himself. His colleagues mocked him, and the hero only said in response: “Why are you offending me?”, and behind these words one could hear: “I am your brother” (as Gogol writes).

What does he have in life? Nothing. He lives in a small apartment, eats poorly, and all his interests boil down to copying papers.

How does he himself feel about this? Akaki is not at all bothered by this. He didn’t know any other life, had nothing, and the hero is happy. Gogol does not hide the spiritual poverty of the hero’s interests and life.

What shook the usual course of life of the little official? The overcoat was worn out into trash. Akaki stopped drinking tea in the evenings, wore a dressing gown so as not to wear out other clothes at home, walked on tiptoe so as not to wear out the soles of his shoes, and finally the money new overcoat have been accumulated. The new overcoat became the meaning of life.

How did the hero’s life change after purchasing a new overcoat? He was noticed, Akaki was even invited to an evening with his superiors. But horror! When he returned, the overcoat was pulled off his shoulders. Akakiy tried to turn to the boss for help, but he kicked him out. The hero caught a cold, fell ill and died. The reader understands that Akaki died not from illness, but from grief.

Like this sad story. What did Gogol want to tell his readers? What is idea stories?

The author condemns social system, in which a person is visible only when he occupies a post.

The ending of the story

As you understand, “The Overcoat” is not an easy story. Its main mystery remains - the ending. At the end, Gogol talks about a ghost pulling off greatcoats, coats and fur coats from people. He calmed down only when he did the same with the boss, who rudely threw Akaki out into the street.

Why does Gogol need to introduce such a fantastic story? Here literary scholars disagree. I don’t think it’s necessary to present all points of view; I’ll tell you about the one that, in my opinion, follows from the entire work of the great writer.

Earlier I said that for Gogol the main thing in a person was the soul, that he always looked beyond the social both in society and in man.

The ghost tearing off the greatcoats from passers-by, powerful and terrible, is the soul of Akaki, who did not find goodness and justice in the world and escaped from the shackles..

This version belongs to the great Russian writer V. Nabokov.

Attention, Unified State Examination! The material on “The Overcoat” is an excellent illustration for texts with the problem of goodness, justice, mercy (the attitude of people around the hero and the system itself), on the other hand, an illustration for texts about the spiritual misery of a person focused on one material goal.

The material was prepared by Karelina Larisa Vladislavovna, Russian language teacher highest category, honorary worker general education RF

.....
What is the plot of “The Overcoat” about? In fact, and not what the author wanted to say? After all, we are talking about a genius, but they have a problem - it seems like you want to say one thing, but it turns out something else. Because talent is stronger. “The Overcoat” is about an unremarkable and poor official... Oh, I mean, sorry. Not poor at all. Akaki Akakievich received 400 rubles a year for his service.

For comparison, prices were at the end of the 19th century (and in the middle they were even lower). A pound of wheat - 97 kopecks, a pound of sugar - 6 rubles. 15 kopecks, a bucket (12.3 l) of alcohol - 3-4 rubles, a pound of kerosene - 1 ruble. 08 kop. Veal meat, steamed tenderloin, 1 kilogram - 70 kopecks. Meat beef shoulder 1 kilogram - 45 kopecks, Meat pork neck 1 kilogram - 30 kopecks. Weekend shirt - 3 rubles, Business suit - 8 rubles, Long coat - 15 rubles. Cow boots - 5 rubles, Summer boots - 2 rubles,

Our official, HAVING SAVED - apparently, he ate not a pound of millet a day, but only half - and having received a bonus (!) buys not beef, but... a new overcoat. It is embroidered with rhinestones, there is a gold monogram on the back, platinum buttons... In general, it is a thing of good quality material and looks expensive. For some reason this is considered normal. “The little man dreamed and deserved it.” And this is not normal at all. You need to dress appropriately. This same... Simply put, a man from a middle-class neighborhood, where everyone honestly drives some kind of Ford, bought... a Rolls-Royce. This, by the way, is very Russian. Immigrants from the USSR in the West love to buy luxury cars, even used ones, sincerely believing that in countries of Open Opportunity they will thus realize their Dream. And they really implement it. Why they put themselves in an idiotic position, because the conditional West is flesh of the flesh of Europe, and Europe is a workshop. And the workshop is a form, a charter and instructions. Each has its own sixth. Even if we are talking about a pole in a striptease :-)

Things are a social marker. Middle class drives some cars, the aristocracy drives others, students drive others, representatives of organized crime drive others. A lawyer may not like a watch for 10 thousand and a suit for 10 thousand, but this is the Uniform. He buys it, just as a butcher is forced to buy an apron. Otherwise there will be blood :-) And if he buys a watch for 10 dollars, and a pink fur coat like Kirkorov’s, even for 100 thousand, then he will little by little stop being a lawyer. Moreover, tea is not Russia - no one will chase it with an ax. All by myself :-)

Fool Akakiy Akakievich buys a Rolls-Royce. In the USSR we were told that this was the purchase of the entire year. Extremely important and necessary. But, have mercy, in Russia sheepskin coats have always cost a penny.
Once again, a sheepskin coat cost 30-40 kopecks.

A sheepskin coat is not just warm, but warm. And even in the chilly climate of St. Petersburg. In winter. Akakiy Akakievich could spend a penny, and not his entire monthly budget, and spend the winter warm, and not blow his mind. For some reason, he is dressing himself not as an overcoat, but as an Overcoat.

Although for some reason. The little man understood that the time for his revenge was coming. I just started earlier.

Simply put, Akaki Akakievich made a false start.

It was still too early for the triumph of mediocrity.

Russians - a very arrogant and arrogant people - really do not like arrogance and arrogance. Well, when others show them. Therefore, Akaki Akakievich was very quickly put in his place. On his Rolls-Royce they scratched the word “huh...” with a nail... In the sense that his overcoat was taken off inappropriately.

They took him from both sides and - oops - a man was left without an overcoat.

This made Akaki Akakievich upset, fell ill and died.

Fortunately, he had no children.

Unfortunately, there were still many like him, but now there are even more.

A man who could die because of an overcoat became the ruler of the world. And - a funny situation - actors are now playing the role of the little man. Which, in fact, gave birth to this creature.
Gogol, before his death, was very afraid that he would be buried alive, and asked to cut the veins in his hands. This did not save him from posthumous humiliation. Gogol's coffin was dug up in the 20s in the USSR and each representative of the Soviet commission TOOK A BONE AS A MEMORY.

I am not kidding.

Some got the hip, some got the foot, some got the tibia.

I hope that at least something of Nikolai Vasilyevich remains, so that when his coffin is exhumed again - there is no doubt that this will happen, the Soviets love to mock corpses - Prilepin and Shargunov will still get a couple of bones.

But let's return from dwarfs to just little people.

For some reason - although for some reason, as I said, the Russian geniuses organized - everyone is worried about the suffering of the little man. But, for some reason, no one - and especially the little person - is not bothered by the suffering of the artist. Alas, no one wrote a story about Modigliani, who really suffered - and not because of a down jacket. No one is interested in Modigliani at all. His paintings are interesting. Because the artist in the value system of the little man is a miner who must. Country. Coal. How he is and what he is does not matter to the little man.

The outstanding Russian writer D. E. Galkovsky once said - I quote from memory, not verbatim - “how much blood the Russian peasants and idiots drank from me, not a single foreigner drank.”

Fully agreeing with this, I can only add one more thing - “how much blood he drank from me.” small man"Nobody drank."

And the “little man,” crap and mutilate everything around him, never thinks about what the people he craps and maims are experiencing. Although, it seems, we have been taught for 150 years to look into the soul and suffer. But the lesson was taken in Russian.

It is my soul that you need to look into and have compassion for.

The rest - to hell... I mean, take your overcoat and go home.

... What would a meeting between Nikolai Vasilyevich and Akaki Akakievich look like in 2016?

I assume that Akaki Akakievich would have received Gogol in his apartment, sitting in an armchair. Sofas, armchairs, plasma TV, in general - luxurious furniture. Photos from vacation (precisely “with”, and instead of “what”, always “sho”). Akaki Akakievich and South Africa, Akaki Akakievich and Italy. Akaki Akakievich and Mallorca. “My paw and I are having mud treatments.” “Our cheesecake with paw in the best restaurant in Prague.” “We have a dishwasher and a food processor.” A fat paw is busy in the kitchen. At first, he and Akakiy Akakieviy could not get pregnant, which is why they were child-free, which was reported to the whole world in in social networks and called on the whole world to follow their example. Then they flew in and littered social networks with googlings and calls to increase the birth rate. But all this is in the past. The kids grew up and became normal rednecks. Like parents. Therefore, Akakiy Akakievich was able to concentrate on the main thing - when ink is not being poured into him at “service” (he is a photocopier man, we said), he formulates his Clear position on Crimea, migration in Europe, and the mess in Africa.

Akaki Akakievich, lighting a cigar:

Have a seat, my dear.

Timid, unsociable Gogol sits down. He's embarrassed. He is wearing an old shabby overcoat. Akaki Akakievich, wincing:

Darling, why are you so frayed... (towards the kitchen) Nastya, oh Nastya. Do you remember I had a American jacket? Were we going to give it to the poor again? Do you remember where?

(from the kitchen) - Let's look, bunny.

Gogol (blushing): What are you saying, I’m not at all...

Akakiy Akakievich (imposingly): No need, no need to thank me, my dear. How do you like our modest home? Hehe. Of course I'm joking. How modest it is... (talks for 1-2 hours about mortgages, finishing materials, price of work).

Gogol (bored): Hmm, hmm.

Akakiy Akakievich: Did you see the car? We have two, just today….
(talks about cars for 2 hours)

Gogol (totally bored): Hm...

Akaki Akakievich (with empty eyes): Eh?

Gogol (quietly): Actually... I came to regret. Well, you. Overcoat... All that...

Akaki Akakievich laughs. Calling his wife.

He says to her: Nastya, THIS one came to pity us.

They both want to laugh.

Gogol looks on silently. Akaki Akakievich approaches him, grabs his hand and breaks off his finger. For memory. Akaki Akakievich's wife, Nastya, bites off Gogol's ear. For memory. The children of Akaki Akakievich and Nastya come out of the room and tear out Gogol’s eyes and hair. For memory.
Screaming, unfortunate Gogol runs away from the apartment. A happy family looks after him for a moment. There is a bloody trail on the lawn. Akakiy Akakievich posts a photo of the lawn on Instagram with the note “Our cheap lawn for... (price) in a small house for... (price).” From the ratio of price and text it is clear that Akaki Akakievich is ironic and the lawn is, in fact, expensive, and the house is huge.

Gogol, having run a couple of kilometers, stops by the highway and cries. He is bleeding, poorly dressed, and cold.

The car stops. This is a Rolls-Royce. Gogol looks hopefully at the lowering glass. Driving is Akaki Akakievich-2.

Akakiy Akakievich-2: Listen, I was patient. Are you... going to whine for a long time? It's time to fucking get to work.

Gogol: Excuse me... What's the matter... I don't understand...

Akakiy Akakievich-2: Well, what the fuck, incomprehensible fuck. Look into my soul, into my soul, you idiot. What the fuck is going on in my soul?! You understand, get into it!

Gogol obediently approaches and looks into the soul of Akaki Akakievich-2. There is the same thing that is in the soul of Akaki Akakievich-10, Akaki Akakievich-15, Akaki Akakievich-277567676, and simply Akaki Akakievich.