In 'The Nose', the main character is a nose that magically detaches from a man's face and gains a life of its own. It's a very strange and surreal character that represents the absurdity of society.
In 'Diary of a Madman', the main character is a civil servant who slowly descends into madness. His madness is a reaction to the society around him, full of false appearances and inequalities, and through his eyes, we can see the dark side of Gogol's world.
In 'The Nose', the main character is Kovalyov, a St. Petersburg official who wakes up one day to find his nose missing. His reaction to this absurd situation and his attempts to get his nose back are central to the story.
Gogol's best short stories often have vivid and eccentric characters. For example, in 'The Overcoat', the main character Akaky Akakievich is a meek and simple clerk. His obsession with his overcoat is both pitiful and somewhat absurd, which reflects the social hierarchy and people's material desires at that time.
Nikolai Gogol's short stories are known for their unique blend of the absurd and the profound. His 'The Overcoat' is a classic that delves into the life of a meek clerk. It shows how a simple desire for a new overcoat can lead to a series of misfortunes and ultimately, a transformation in the afterlife. It's a poignant commentary on society's disregard for the little man.
In some of Gogol's novels, there are often characters that represent different social classes. For instance, in 'Dead Souls', Chichikov is a central character. He is a rather shrewd and somewhat devious character who travels around trying to buy up dead souls. There are also various landowners he encounters, each with their own quirks and vices, and these characters together form the fabric of the story.
One of the best Gogol short stories is 'The Overcoat'. It tells the story of a low - ranking clerk who is obsessed with getting a new overcoat. The story is a poignant exploration of the human condition in a bureaucratic society.
The main character is Gogol, of course. However, there could be other characters who are crucial to the story. For instance, if it's a story about his first day at work, his boss or a mentor figure might be important. Or if it's in a social setting, the people who welcome him or those he has his first interactions with are also key characters. In general, the people who shape Gogol's first day experiences are the main characters in this story.
'The Carriage' is also a great one. It's a story that shows Gogol's ability to create complex characters. The main character in the story has his own set of quirks and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged.
Another great Gogol story is 'Diary of a Madman'. It gives us a peek into the mind of a man who is slowly going insane. Through his diary entries, we see his delusions and how he perceives the world around him. Gogol masterfully shows the breakdown of a person's mental state and the society's role in it.
There are often common people such as peasants, laborers, and housewives. For instance, many of his stories feature a poor peasant struggling against poverty and the unjust land - owning system.
Gogol's ability to create memorable characters also makes his short stories stand out. Characters like Akaky Akakievich in 'The Overcoat' are so well - drawn that they stay with the reader long after finishing the story. Their quirks, dreams, and tragedies are presented in a way that makes them seem both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.