How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #7
But the horror of the important personage transcended all bounds when he saw the dead man's mouth open, and, with a terrible odor of the grave, utter the following remarks: "Ah, here you are at last! I have you, that ... by the collar! I need your coat. You took no trouble about mine, but reprimanded me; now give up your own. " (111)
When we read this sentence, we were struck by the words "with a terrible odor of the grave." We imagined the stench and how terrifying it must have been to have this decomposing corpse talking to you. If it weren't for this moment, it would be easy to imagine Akaky's ghost as a guy wearing a white sheet, but this takes it to Thriller-level scariness.
Quote #8
Brave as he was in the office and in the presence of inferiors generally, and although, at the sight of his manly form and appearance, every one said, "Ugh! how much character he has!" yet at this crisis, he, like many possessed of an heroic exterior, experienced such terror, that, not without cause, he began to fear an attack of illness. (112)
We know you're probably tired of us saying how Akaky's ghost messes with the social order, but it's kind of important. The prominent personage is a brave person when he's operating within his strict social hierarchy, but Akaky's ghost is completely outside of that system. So his reaction? Pee his pants.
Quote #9
But the most noteworthy point was, that from that day the apparition of the dead official quite ceased to be seen; evidently the general's overcoat just fitted his shoulders; at all events, no more instances of his dragging coats from people's shoulders were heard of. (115)
This is what happens after Akaky takes the prominent personage's coat. He was searching for something, and now he's got it. But what else might Akaky's ghost have wanted? Besides a coat, of course.