The Overcoat

Interesting Facts

• The main character of the story, Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, symbolizes the little man who faces injustice and the indifference of society.
• The Overcoat is considered one of the most important works of 19th-century Russian literature and significantly influenced the development of Russian prose.
• The title of the story is linked to the new garment, the overcoat, which the main character acquires to protect himself from the cold, but which ultimately becomes the cause of his tragedy.
• The work contains elements of fantasy, especially in the finale, when Akaky Akakievich's ghost begins to seek revenge for his stolen overcoat.
• The story raises important social themes such as bureaucracy, poverty, and human dignity, making it relevant even today.