Yeah, there are definitely parts of it that seem to indicate a dream - the anagram thing you pointed out, the fact that it happens suddenly and ends suddenly without any attempt at explanation, the surreality of the whole premise.
The surrealness of it is why I like it so much. This is, to me, 19th century Russian fantasy. A precursor to much later fantastical works.
Yeah, as he said in that final paragraph... the closing lines about how stories like this do happen in Russia occasionally, does seem to suggest some kind of analogy or deeper meaning.
If you liked this, you can also look into reading Dead Souls . It's incomplete, but it gives a better representation of Gogol's talent.
Gogol: The Nose/The Overcoat
- 16/06/2010 02:28:27 PM
1144 Views
The Nose is... odd.
- 16/06/2010 05:29:51 PM
663 Views
I view it as a I view dreams using anachronistic Freudian interpretations.
- 16/06/2010 06:43:12 PM
687 Views
Re: I view it as a I view dreams using anachronistic Freudian interpretations.
- 19/06/2010 04:34:27 PM
604 Views
I like The Overcoat better.
- 16/06/2010 08:27:38 PM
677 Views
The Overcoat, while also fantastical, is easier to understand I think
- 17/06/2010 03:23:11 PM
737 Views
I read The Nose last week and will read The Overcoat tonight. Here is a brief
- 18/06/2010 03:44:32 AM
613 Views
Re: I read The Nose last week and will read The Overcoat tonight. Here is a brief
- 18/06/2010 04:12:26 AM
631 Views
While the stories are entertaining, they didn't leave me with that much to say.
- 13/07/2010 01:52:10 AM
642 Views
I keep trying to think of something to add to this discussion and I can't.
- 18/06/2010 02:39:34 PM
647 Views
