The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol Animated Classic Short Story

In the cold city of St. Petersburg lived quiet government cler named Akaki Akakvich Bashmachkin. He was not rich. He was not important. He was barely noticed at all. Akaki spent his days copying official documents and strangely enough he loved it. letters, lines, signatures. To him, they were world of order and comfort. But to everyone else in the office, Akaki was little more than joke. The younger clarks laughed at him. They tossed scraps of paper onto his desk. They mocked his old-fashioned coat. Sometimes they even spoke over his shoulder while he worked. Yet Akaki rarely protested. "Please leave me alone. Why do you hurt me?" The words were spoken gently, almost as if he were asking sincere question, but no one listened. Akaki owned an old overcoat. Once it had been respectable, but the harsh Petersburg winters had taken their toll. The fabric was thin. The lining was torn. Cold winds slipped easily through the cloth. At last, Akaki carried it to tailor named Petrovich. This coat cannot be repaired. You will need new one. new coat. The words echoed in Akake's mind. The cost was enormous for man of his salary. Yet slowly daring idea began to form. Akaki began to save every possible coin. He skipped evening tea. He walked carefully to avoid wearing out his shoes. He even reduced the candles he burned at night. Months passed, but each day the dream of the new coat grew stronger. For the first time in his life, Akaki felt sense of purpose beyond copying documents. At last, the money was enough. Petrovvic worked carefully. Piece by piece, the new overcoat took shape. Thick cloth, strong stitching, warm collar to guard against the bitter wind. When Akake finally tried it on, something extraordinary happened. He felt important. The next morning, when he entered the office, the clerks noticed immediately. They admired the coat. They congratulated him. For the first time in his life, Akake was invited to party. Late that evening, Akake walked home through the dark streets. Snow drifted quietly across the road. Suddenly, two rough men stepped from the shadows. Before he could cry out, they tore the overcoat from his shoulders and vanished into the night. Aki stood frozen in the cold. The coat, his precious coat, was gone. Desperate, Aki sought help from the authorities. At last, he was allowed to speak with an important official. But the official cared more about rank than justice. How dare you approach me directly? Do you know who you are speaking to? The scolding was fierce and humiliating. Akake left the office trembling. That night, the cold he had endured for years finally overcame him. Within days, he was dead. But the story does not end there. Soon, strange rumors spread through St. Petersburg. People whispered of ghost wandering the winter streets. small figure in clark's uniform, stopping passers by, searching for an overcoat. One night, the ghost confronted the very official who had humiliated Akake. With trembling hands, the ghost seized the man's expensive coat and disappeared into the darkness. And after that night, the ghost was never seen again. Perhaps Akake had finally found the warmth he had been denied in life. Or perhaps in city of cold indifference, small act of justice had finally been done.