Tag Archives: The Nose

Spain has a king. He has been found. I am this king.

Gogol’s “The Nose” probes the role of social mobility and anxiety in Russian society. With the growth of Russian urban life and the general movement towards modernization, individuals were more capable of rising and falling within the Russian hierarchy, spawning discord and hope alike. The prospect of a nose surpassing its individual socially is not unfounded. Gogol continues to examine this theme of social mobility and pandemonium in his “Diary of a Madman” through the image of the nose and the use of animals. He writes “Another reason the moon is such a tender globe is that people cannot live on it any more, and only noses live on it now. This is also why we cannot see our noses—they’re all on the moon.” (176) Once more, the noses have risen above the bodies; they have escaped, leaving their individuals lost and confused. Similarly, the animals seem to be gaining power at a surprising rate. After reading some letters written by dogs, Gogol describes dogs, “I’ve long suspected that dogs are far more intelligent than people. I was even convinced that they are able to speak but are only prevented from doing so by their great stubbornness. Dogs are remarkable politicians: they notice everything, every move a person makes” (164). Not only are the dogs simply more intelligent than humans, but they also have the capacity to read and understand humans in a way that is rare among humans. They are stubborn and “remarkable politicians” while humans are merely the subject of their studies. The notion that both animals and distinct body parts can trump full human beings reflects the general anxiety concerning social mobility.

 

The two main indicators of nobility and social status in this story are education and clothing. The dogs pose a threat because they are well education and can read and write fluently. The October Fourth journal entry describes the director’s study: “Our director must be a very wise man. All the walls of his study are covered with bookcases” (161). The books on his shelves and his clear education both indicate his wisdom and high social status. Not only does the madman recognize that he is knowledgeable and worldly, but he writes, “Take one look at him: you’ll be amazed at the glow of importance shining from his eyes. I’ve never yet heard him pronounce a superfluous word” (161). This association of education with high status is crucial because it reflects Russian culture, and because it offers any hardworking individual a means of accessing success. This message is a hopeful one for aspiring “simple, working men, even a peasant[…]suddenly it turns out that he’s some sort of big shot, and sometimes even a king” (170). This offers individuals some agency in their social position. The other main indicator of status rests in clothing. The madman says, “The only think that has prevented me from appearing at court is that I do not have any legal garb” (174). Gogol correlates clothing with societal status. He describes the director’s daughter: “She wore a dress as white as a swan: such a splendid dress” (161). Elite fashion clearly indicates wealth and also a consciousness of social hierarchy. Social anxiety and restlessness permeate “Diary of a Madman” particularly drawing the notion of hierarchy and disturbed hierarchy.

A Palm Full of Copecks Helps the Medicine Go Down

In the United States, we find ourselves at an extremely contentious time in terms of national politics. The New Right conservative movement has reached its zenith and ultimate form with the candidacy of Donald J. Trump, while another Clinton is poised to ascend to the nation’s “throne”. The Republican and Democratic parties are extremely divided over many issues, perhaps none more so than the structure and size of government in the USA. The Democratic Party stands for government as a tool to aid the nation’s citizens in many areas, and thus favors increased power, breadth, and size of government. The Republican stance is one of limited government, where government serves as the common bond between a collection of states with self determined laws, and a mechanism for common national defense. In the Republican view, less government oversight allows citizens to aid themselves with increased efficiency and effectiveness.

It is no small coincidence that the term “bureaucracy” was introduced practically simultaneously with the beginning of our discussion of St. Petersburg. Although Russia was a monarchy until the early 20th century, civil servants dominated St. Petersburg, much as they do today in Northern Virginia, The District of Columbia, and Metro-area Maryland. With this acknowledgment, a study of some rudimentary mechanisms of Petrovian-bureaucracy seems highly in order.

Bureaucracy, in a Petersburg-ian context, is a major theme throughout every one of the assigned works. According to Brodsky, Petersburg was home to “a web like bureaucracy”. Bureaucracy is also a central tenant of Lieutenant Kizhe. Most specifically, though, a convoluted bureaucratic system that would give modern Republicans fits is displayed in The Nose. Bribery is mentioned often. When the police officer returns his nose, Kovalyov “got the message and pressed a 10 ruble note into his hand”. Likewise, when arriving at the Police Superintendent’s home, it is thought that even if Kovalyov had “brought with him a few pounds of tea or a bolt of cloth” (as a bribe) the Superintendent would not have granted him “a particularly effusive welcome”. By emphasizing that these gifts usually would get a kind welcome, and that this was out of the norm, Gogol shows how pervasive the bribe was at this time. It would appear again in Soviet times. Earlier in the story, during the print shop episode, Kovalyov says “I would be extremely grateful to you, and very glad this incident has brought me the pleasure of your acquaintance. In normal context, this may be perceived as simple niceties, but in the context of bureaucratic St. Petersburg and The Nose, we can be sure that “grateful” has some monetary connotation. Although the story is incredibly irreverent and humorous, some comment on Gogol’s residence of St. Petersburg and its corruption circa 1835 is plainly visible.