The story "Nose" is one of the most fun, original, fantastic and unexpected works of Nikolai Gogol. The author did not agree for a long time to publish this joke, but his friends persuaded him. The story was first published in the journal Sovremennik, in 1836, with a note by A.S. Pushkin. Since then, heated debate has not subsided around this work. Real and fantastic in Gogol’s novel “The Nose” combines in the most bizarre and unusual forms. Here the author reached the pinnacle of his satirical mastery and painted a true picture of the morals of his time.
Brilliant grotesque
This is one of the most beloved literary devices of N.V. Gogol. But if in earlier works it was used to create an atmosphere of mystery and mystery in the narrative, then in a later period it turned into a way of satirical reflection of the surrounding reality. The story "Nose" - a clear confirmation of this. The inexplicable and strange disappearance of the nose from the physiognomy of Major Kovalev and the incredible independent existence of it separately from the owner suggest the unnatural nature of orders in which a high status in society means much more than the person himself. In this state of affairs, any inanimate object can suddenly gain significance and weight if it acquires the proper rank. This is the main issue of the story "Nose".
Features of realistic grotesque
In the late work of N.V. Gogol is dominated by realistic grotesque. It aims to reveal the unnatural and absurdity of reality. Unbelievable things happen to the heroes of the work, but they help to reveal the typical features of the world, to reveal the dependence of people on generally accepted conventions and norms.
Gogol's contemporaries did not immediately appreciate the satirical talent of the writer. Only V.G. Belinsky, who did much to correctly understand the work of Nikolai Vasilyevich, once remarked that the "ugly grotesque" that he uses in his work contains "an abyss of poetry" and an "abyss of philosophy", worthy of Shakespeare's brush in its depth and reliability.
Summary of the story
"Nose" begins with the fact that on March 25 in St. Petersburg there was an "unusually strange incident." Ivan Yakovlevich, the barber, in the morning discovers a nose in freshly baked bread. He throws it from the St. Isaac's Bridge into the river. The owner of the nose, a college assessor, or major, Kovalev, waking up in the morning, does not find on his physiognomy an important part of the body. In search of the loss, he goes to the police. On the way he meets his own nose in the vestments of a state adviser. Chasing the fugitive, Kovalev goes after him to the Kazan Cathedral. He tries to put his nose back in place, but he only prays with “the greatest zeal” and indicates to the owner that there can be nothing in common between them: Kovalev serves in another department.
Distracted by the graceful lady, the major loses sight of the rebellious part of the body. After making several unsuccessful attempts to find a nose, the owner returns home. There they return the loss to him. The police officer grabbed his nose while trying to escape according to other people's documents in Riga. Kovalev’s joy does not last long. He cannot put a part of his body in its former place. The summary of the story "Nose" is not limited to this. How did the hero get out of this situation? The doctor can do nothing to help the major. Meanwhile, curious rumors are creeping around the capital. Someone saw the nose on Nevsky Prospekt, someone - in the Tauride Garden. As a result, he returned to his former place on April 7, which brought the owner considerable joy.
Theme of the work
So what is the meaning of such an incredible plot? The main theme of Gogol’s novel “The Nose” is the character’s loss of a piece of his “I”. This probably occurs under the influence of evil spirits. The organizing role in the plot is given to the motive for the persecution, although Gogol does not indicate a specific embodiment of supernatural power. The mystery captures readers literally from the first phrase of the work, it is always reminded of it, it reaches its climax ... but there is no clue even in the finale. Not only the mysterious separation of the nose from the body, but also how it could exist independently, and even in the status of a high-ranking official, is covered with obscurity. Thus, the real and the fantastic in the story of Gogol “The Nose” is intertwined in the most unthinkable way.
Real plan
It is embodied in a work in the form of rumors, which the author always mentions. This is gossip about the fact that the nose regularly makes a promenade along Nevsky Prospect and other crowded places; that he seemed to be dropping into a store and so on. Why did Gogol need this form of communication? Preserving the atmosphere of mystery, he satirically ridicules the authors of stupid rumors and naive faith in incredible miracles.
Characteristics of the protagonist
Why did Major Kovalev deserve such attention of supernatural forces? The answer lies in the content of the story "Nose". The fact is that the main character of the work is a desperate careerist, ready for anything for promotion. He managed to get the rank of college assessor without an exam, thanks to his service in the Caucasus. Kovalev's cherished goal is to profitably marry and become a high-ranking official. In the meantime, in order to give himself more weight and significance, he everywhere calls himself not a college assessor, but a major, knowing the advantage of military ranks over civilian ones. “He could forgive everything that was said about himself, but did not apologize in any way if it related to the rank or rank,” the author writes about his hero.
Here the evil spirits laughed at Kovalev, not only having taken away an important part of his body (one cannot make a career without it!), But also endowed the latter with a general rank, that is, giving her more weight than the owner himself. That's right, there’s nothing to turn up your nose! Real and fantastic in Gogol’s novel “The Nose” makes one think about the question “what is more important - the personality or its status?”. And the answer comes out disappointing ...
Hints of a brilliant author
Gogol’s novel contains many satirical subtleties, transparent allusions to the realities of contemporary times. For example, in the first half of the 19th century, glasses were considered an anomaly, giving the appearance of an officer or official some inferiority. In order to wear this accessory, a special permit was required. If the heroes of the work strictly followed the requirements and corresponded to the form, then the Nose in the uniform acquired the importance of a significant person for them. But as soon as the police chief "logged out" of the system, violated the strictness of his uniform and put on his glasses, he immediately noticed that he was just facing his nose - a part of his body that was useless without his master. So the real and the fantastic are intertwined in Gogol’s novel “The Nose”. No wonder the contemporaries of the author were read by this extraordinary work.
Many writers noted that Nose is a magnificent example of science fiction, a Gogol's parody of various prejudices and the naive faith of people in the power of supernatural powers. Fantastic elements in the works of Nikolai Vasilievich are ways to satirically display the vices of society, as well as the approval of a realistic principle in life.