The Overcoat Lesson Plan

Why did Gogol choose a nose?

Noses are front and center on the face. Someone can live without their sense of smell, but from an appearances perspective, a missing nose is conspicuous in a way that is disturbing to a lot of people. Kavalyov thinks “without a nose a man is goodness knows what…he isn’t a respectable citizen at all.” Explain to students that the nose in the story is actually a phallic symbol. Kavalyov is concerned not only about his appearance but also about his ability to interact with woman and eventually obtain a wife. The nose is intimately connected with his manhood and when it is lost, his manhood is threatened. This is emphasized by the fact that...