One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do. It's no fun to be alone and have no friends. Or at least that's what most of us think. Akaky, on the other hand, would probably think otherwise. When he's alone, he's perfectly content and his life has no problems. It's only when he starts becoming popular because of his new overcoat that everything changes. Even though he has new friends, they aren't very genuine because they are only interested in his stuff. In "The Overcoat," Gogol reminds us that sometimes it's better to be alone than to have fake friends.
Questions About Isolation
- How do you think Akaky feels about his isolation? Does he enjoy it, or does he dislike it? Give examples.
- What are the different ways that the other characters in "The Overcoat" isolate Akaky? What methods do they use? Do they ever feel remorseful? Why or why not?
- Are there other characters in "The Overcoat" that are also isolated from others? If so, which characters? How are they isolated?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Akaky is the most isolated character in "The Overcoat."
All of the characters in "The Overcoat" are isolated from one another in some way.