Analysis of the "Nose"

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In the short story “The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol, the nose is not only a mere facial feature but it also plays a strong role in social position and affects one’s sexuality. After Kovalev loses his nose, he was humiliated by the fact that he loses his nose, a symbol of his high social status, rather than by his unpleasant appearance. His lack of nose also deprives him of his pride and arrogance, making him hide himself from women. Gogol uses satire to reveal the importance of the nose and its visual impact, which is often shadowed by other facial features. Gogol satirizes a society that is infatuated with the social status. Like other people in the city, Kovalev is also obsessed with the title, valuing his creditable titles such as “Master”, and “Collegiate Assessor”. His obsession with the title is relevant to his obsession with the nose. When Kovalev finally finds his nose, he shows a humble attitude towards the nose, which is contrasted with a nonchalant attitude of the nose. It shows that he cannot hold his high social position without the nose. Looking for his nose, he says, “Even loss of hands or feet would have been better” (Gogol, 13). Kovalev considers the nose more important than any other parts of the body, considering it as a priceless asset, which can reveal his high social status. The nose is not only a symbol of a respectable social status but also a source of his pride. Kovalev loves to show off his good appearance to people, especially women, and get attention from them, which is proven by his repetitive mentioning of Madame Chektareva and Pelagea Grigorievna Podtochina throughout the story. However, when he loses his nose, his outgoing character is completely changed. Without his nose, he “must look at no one, and smile at no one” (Gogol, 5). It seems like his confidence springs from his nose. He could have asked for help to his acquaintances, but
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