Summary
Part III opens with a statement from the narrator, explaining that farce and satire do sometimes really happen in this world, even without a shred of probability. Indeed, the narrator goes on to explicate, on April 7th, Kovalev's nose magically appears back on his face. The Major discovers it by chance through his morning glance in the mirror. He confirms the existence of his nose by slyly asking Ivan, his butler, if he has a pimple on his nose—to which Ivan responds that no, the nose is clear all over.
The barber Ivan Yakovlevitch appears timidly for Major Kovalev's morning shave. Major Kovalev makes sure that the barber's hands are clean, and the shave begins. Ivan Yakovlevitch attempts to pinch Major Kovalev's nose, as is his habit during a shave to gain traction, but Major Kovalev objects. Without holding on to the nose, it is difficult for the barber to get the job done, but he succeeds in the end.
Once the shave is completed, Major Kovalev gets dressed and hails a coach, and heads out on his social and professional calls. Each person he meets is another test to make sure his nose is still affixed to his face.
On the street, he runs into Madame Podtochina and her daughter, to whom he bears no ill will anymore, since his nose has returned. They chat sociably for a bit and then Major Kovalev moves on, showing himself to everyone on the main road, at the theaters, and all around town. Full of smiles, he chats to every pretty lady he sees.
The narrator concludes the story with a commentary on the improbability of what has happened to Major Kovalev's nose. Putting aside the fact of its removal, and its subsequent appearance as a State Councillor, the narrator asks how Major Kovalev did not know that he should not advertise for a lost nose in a newspaper. It was very improper, according to the narrator.
Similarly, why did the nose show up in the bread of Ivan Yakovlevitch? The narrator cannot understand why authors choose such subjects. It is not good for the country or good for anything at all, for that matter.
Despite all of this, the narrator concedes, perhaps there is some value in such a story. After all, these types of events are rare, but they do happen.
Analysis
Part III represents the restoration of order to a previously nonsensical world. The absurdist logic that so completely dominates Parts I and II falls away in this chapter without any explanation. The only character who notices a difference is Major Kovalev, who, reunited with his nose, can reenter the social world of visits and flirtations that he previously occupied so happily. In this sense, the nose is the key to Major Kovalev's personal and social identity; with it restored to its rightful place, he slips back into his formerly contented lifestyle.
The strange, twisted relationship between Major Kovalev and his barber also comes to a conclusion in this section, resolving the tension between the two characters and further developing the theme of social class. The barber attends the home of Major Kovalev to give him a shave, but is terrified of performing his usual grip by the nose. Major Kovalev, seemingly not noticing his barber's trepidation, is nervously protective of his precious nose. The Major is clearly of higher status than Ivan Yakovlevitch, yet in this final scene they are represented as equals, both equally petrified of the loss of the nose.
The presence of the narrator in this final section heightens the absurdity and "unreadability" of the tale. The narrator interjects to provide his own commentary. Absurdly, the aspect of the story that the narrator is most perplexed about is the fact that Major Kovalev asked the newspaper to print an advertisement for his nose. The narrator's view is that everyone should know that such an advertisement would be improper, and it is strange the Major Kovalev did not know this common-sense fact. Of course, this assumption will come as news to readers; yet it is taken for granted by the narrator.
This phenomenon extends the absurd logic of the text to its very conclusion. Even when the nose is restored, and readers might find a restored sense of order, the narrator's strange interjections serve as a reminder of the strangeness still at play.
In sum, Part III concludes the text without resolving any of the questions at the heart of the story; in fact, the narrator only calls attention to his confusion. Readers are left with a story without answers.
