The Nose - Nikolai Gogol's beloved tale of civil servant Major Kovalyov waking up one morning to discover his nose has left his face and is living a life of its own. Much of the story's humor focuses on the prevailing preoccupation with social rank within the Russia of the time. Still, a nose is a nose. Thus, by my eye, three issues surrounding the old schnozzle pop into view:
NOSE ASSIGNED HIGH IMPORTANCE
Nose surgery or rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct a prominent, unusual, asymmetric or irregular nose. Rhinoplasty is the most common procedure performed among facial plastic surgeons. No doubt about it, people want a nose that doesn't stick out for any reason whatsoever. The last thing a person wants when meeting others for the first time is for those others to come away thinking: "What a nose!"
NOSE ASSIGNED LOW IMPORTANCE
When it comes to the field of aesthetics and the philosophy of art, philosopher Ann-Sophie Barwich acknowledges the low status customarily assigned the sense of smell. However, she is undaunted and suggests: "What we must recognize here is that any expression of odor assessment and preference is not inevitably given or fixed but leaves room for contextual evaluations and the individual acquisition of expertise and taste." In other words, we would be well to recognize some individuals may take steps to cultivate their sense of smell and become connoisseurs of the nose.
Still, I have my doubts about raising the status of the nose. One develops an eye for painting, an ear for music, a taste for fine food, a feel for movement (one's kinesthetic sense) but how many people will admit publicly they are cultivating their nose?
NOSE AND MARXISM
I was completely unsuccessful in locating a Marxist interpretation of Gogol's The Nose. It appears staunch Marxists grudgingly admit the story is simply meant to be funny, a story that's entirely ridiculous and absurd, an instance of complete nonsense or, at best, a satire of Russian society since Kovalev's rank accords him high social status. However, the Marxists acknowledge any man or woman of any class, high or low, would be gravely upset at losing their nose. The fact that Gogol picked a pompous, conceited major to mock simply makes the story funnier.
So much for philosophy. Here are a batch of my modest comments linked with direct quotes from the tale itself:
“You beast, whose nose is that you’ve cut off?’ she cried furiously. ‘You scoundrel! You drunkard! I’ll report it to the police myself, I will.” -------- When at breakfast Ivan Yakovlevitch, the barber, discovers there's a nose in his bread, a nose he recognizes as belonging to one of his customers by the name of Major Kovalev, his wife’s immediate reaction is to accuse him of committing a violent crime and then heap on the abuse. Nicolai Gogol's astute observation on a typical happy, harmonious Russian household. Although an absurdist tale, The Nose contains many elements of the harshest realism.
“Once, true, he did succeed in dropping the thing, but no sooner had he done so than a constable pointed at him with his truncheon, and shouted: “Pick it up again! You’ve lost something.” And then when Ivan Yakovlevich drops the nose in the water from up on Isaakievsky Bridge, another police office says: “Come and tell me what you have been doing on the bridge.”” ---------- Nicolai Gogol’s penetrating insight into the future of constant surveillance under the omnipresent eye of a totalitarian state.
“Ivan Yakovlevich, like any honest Russian working man, was a terrible drunkard.” ---------- Gogol satire on display here. It is perfectly acceptable to be an alcoholic as long as you continue to perform your designated function within society. At one point Major Kavalyov tells the barber that his hands always stink and the narrator makes reference to the brown splotches all over Ivan Yakovlevich's jacket, leaving no doubt our honest, hardworking Russian, the salt of the earth and heartbeat of the nation, is also a filthy, stinking slob.
“Kovalyov stretched himself and asked for the small mirror that stood on the table to be brought over to him. He wanted to have a look at a pimple that had made its appearance on his nose the previous evening.” ---------- Our first telling acquaintance with the good Major in Part 2, the bulk of Nikolai Gogol’s story – Kovalyov’s constant preoccupation with his own appearance. And, you may ask, what are the Major’s deeper reflections throughout the tale on a person’s inner character independent of appearances? Perhaps predictably, such reflections are nonexistent.
“But, to his unbounded astonishment, there was only a flat patch on his face where the nose should have been!” ---------- Among the funniest parts of the story – Kovalyov’s dealing with having no nose. Forever the realist tied to outward appearances, he mostly hides the middle of his face with a handkerchief as if he was dealing with a nosebleed. Why not display to everyone in your city that we are living in a fabulist’s universe and all our assumptions about the laws of nature are false? No, no, no . . . not even close for such realists as Kovalyov.
“The feeling of horror and amazement that gripped Kovalyov when he recognized his own nose defies description! After this extraordinary sight everything went topsy-turvy.” ---------- Ha! One instance of absurdism is all it takes! Kovalyov the realist and his neat and tidy world of rank and status is shattered.
“It was wearing a gold-braided uniform with a high stand-up collar and chamois trousers, and had a sword at its side. From the plumes on its hat one could tell that it held the exalted rank of state councilor. And it was abundantly clear that the nose was going to visit someone. It looked right, then left, shouted to the coachman ‘Let’s go!’ climbed in and drove off.” ---------- You have to love a nose with class! Nicolai Gogol’s connecting the world of fantasy and reality is both charming and comical. No wonder a number of children’s picture books have been created based on the author’s story. Gogol’s satire and social commentary leaven the storytelling but on another, more fundamental level, The Nose tickles the funny bone and is sheer, simple fun.
“It was praying with an expression of profound piety. ‘What’s the best way of approaching it?’ thought Kovalyov. ‘Judging by its uniform, its hat, and its whole appearance, it must be a state councilor. But I’m damned if I know!’ And then when Kavalyov engages his nose in conversations: ‘My dear fellow, you are mistaken. I am a person in my own right.” ---------- Rebuffed by his very own nose. The ultimate insult!
Kavalyov decides to take yet another approach: “I’ll go to the City Security Office, not because it was directly connected with the police, but because things got done there much quicker than in any other government department.” ---------- Nicolai Gogol’s subtle dig at a society placing highest priority on its own security, anticipating the Soviet KGB.
"For surely you perceive me no longer to be in possession of a means of sniffing? Oh, you and your snuff can go to hell!" ---------- Insulted yet again, this time by a lowly clerk offering him a pinch of snuff when the clerk can plainly see he hasn't got a nose with which to sniff the stuff.
Fortunately, Nicolai Gogol doesn't leave poor Kovalyov in his tragic state. I encourage you to read this short classic and watch Kovalyov's hilarious honker in action.
La bonne aventure , 1937, René Magritte
Nikolai Gogol, 1809-1852
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