A Whisper of Change

A Whisper of Change

      At first glance of Nikolay Gogol's novel The Overcoat, one would only see a short

story about a poor man wishing to survive in a cruel world.  However, in looking further

into the story, deep symbolism can be found.  Gogol lived in Russia during the rise of the

communist party, and was a great dissident of communism.  He believed the inevitable end

of a communist government was total failure.  He also criticized the other government of

the world for failing to aid Russia in its quest for a better system.  Gogol used his creative

mind and his writing abilities to speak out against the evils of the Russian government.  He

used symbolism to prove his points, and often risked exile by his own government for

expressing such radical views.  Many different objects in The Overcoat can be mirrored

with the objects of true life.  Everything from Akaky Akakyevitch's coat, to his

administrator is used by Gogol to symbolize the situation of Russia during Gogol's time.

In truth, the Russian government was against the free-thinking man, and so was against

Gogol. 

      Akaky himself is used as a symbol of the Russian people.  The communists were

against any sort of free-thinking, and respected any man who performed his duties without

question.  Akaky is described in the story as being a quiet, hard-working man.  He keeps

mostly to himself, having very little to do with the outside world.  His entire life centers

around his profession.  Akaky's life changes only after he buys his new overcoat.  The

overcoats in the story symbolize different governments.  Akaky's original "dressing

jacket," is the Russian government in power before communism took over.  The

government, like the overcoat, once served its purpose, but is now worn thin and needs a

replacement.  The original color of the coat cannot even be seen anymore.  Each time a

tear appears in the coat, it is patched and forgotten, but the coat eventually cannot be

patched any longer.  Akaky is extremely hesitant in buying a new coat, claiming it would

be too expensive.  This compares to the hesitation of the Russian population to switch to a

new government.  However, the coat no longer serves its intended purpose, and Akaky is

forced to either purchase a new coat or freeze in the cold.  Akaky's new coat symbolizes

the establishment of communism over the Russian people.  At first, the coat serves its

purpose, keeping Akaky warm.  Though it looks nice and expensive, the overcoat is

actually made of fairly cheap materials.  The overcoat gives Akaky a quick glance of

happiness, but is quickly stolen by robbers on the street.  Gogol uses the new overcoat to

make a statement about the communistic government.  In the beginning years of

communism, the people of Russia believed the system to be efficient and superior to all

others, yet the government eventually proved to be a failure, falling far short of the

people's expectations.  

      Akaky's fellow workers, the other clerks in the office, are symbolic of other

countries.  The clerks neglected Akaky and teased him about his old coat, but after he

purchased his new overcoat, the other clerks gained much respect for him, admiring his

new coat and inviting him to dinner.  Akaky was pleased with being treated as an equal.

This is representative of the other countries' view of Russia.  During Russia's previous

government, the other countries of the world both pitied and laughed at the once great

nation.  However, after communist took control, Russia was viewed with more respect

among the countries.  Other nations now recognized Russia as an equal.

      The Person of Consequence is symbolic of a great democratic nation, possibly the

United States.  The Person of Consequence is portrayed as an egotistical person, afraid of

showing weakness to the "lower grades, " but always willing to smile and enjoy himself in

front of his equals.  Here Gogol shows his opinions of the democratic nations.  The

democratic nations treat each other with respect and admiration, but each looks upon the

communists with distrust and conceitedness.  The nations believe that no cowardice must

ever be shown to the communists.  Gogol believed that, once the chains of communism

had been broken by the Russian people, the democratic governments would be hesitant in

helping the struggling country.  In the story, Akaky seeks the help of the Person of

Consequence in retrieving his stolen overcoat.  However, the Person of Consequence

shows no respect for Akaky, yelling at him and ignoring his pleas.  Thus the predictions of

Gogol are portrayed through the actions of the Person of Consequence. 

      After Akaky's death, his ghost haunts citizens on the streets of Petersburg, robbing

them of their overcoats.  The hauntings continue until Akaky steals the overcoat of his

enemy, the Person of Consequence.  The ghost then disappears, with only rumors of

further sightings of the ghost.  Gogol uses Akaky's ghost to predict the future of Russia.

Once communism falls, the people will begin a search for a new government.  The search

will end with Russia  evoloving into a democracy, though the democratic nations are the

enemies of communist Russia during Gogol's life.  The rumors of coninued sightings of the

ghost perhaps suggest Gogol's believe that some will not be satisfied under a democratic

rule.

      Nikolay Gogol was able to escape exile from his country only by hiding his

opinions through the use of symbolism.  No one will ever know the true meanings put

forth in The Overcoat, yet Gogol's general opinions can be recognized.  In a country so

against the right of mankind to voice his opinions freely, Gogol was able to successfully

speak his mind by using his creativity and his talents.  Gogol's works paved the way for

many other Russian authors who, by using Gogol's actions as inspiration, now had the

courage necessary for fighting against the power of the majority.  It is men like Gogol who

shape the nations of the world.  His influence in Russian society could be compared to

many great authors who have influenced the people of the United States, such as John

Locke and Thomas Jefferson.  Without writers such as these, the opinions of the

oppressed could never be made audible, and the desires for a greater future could never

become a reality.

A Victory For Clinton

A Victory For Clinton

      Another four years, another new president?  The election of 1996 for president

moves closer everyday as the republican Robert Dole, and the president Bill Clinton fight it

out.  Far behind and by all means out of the race is Ross Perot.  The polls show

Dole-Kemp behind Clinton-Gore, and the results will stay this way for several key reasons.

Clinton will serve another four years as president since Americans know what to expect

from him as president.  On several key issues, such as the budget, Dole has provided the

voters with vague ideas on how he will tackle his promises.  As three key issues are

examined we find Dole to make claims that can easily be doubted.  Clinton's claims and

views are backed up with four years of experience.  Clinton's four years as president has

seen a stable economy, and he will try to keep this up for another four years.  The

balancing of the budget proves to stand as one of the largest issues going into the election.

      Dole has talked about putting up 23% of federal spending up for cuts.  Dole has

also said he will not touch the areas of social security, defense, interest on the debt,

Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, military pensions, and the Energy Department

research labs with cuts.  This means under Dole we would be likely to see cuts in national

parks with the number of rangers, the Border Patrol with fewer agents, the Bureau of

Prisons with fewer prison spaces, NASA with fewer space shuttle flights, the FBI with

fewer agents, drug interdiction with 2,960 fewer DEA agents, and education with fewer

students in Head Start.  On the record Dole has suggested cuts in the Energy Department,

and the possibility of also eliminating the Commerce Department.  These cuts alone would

not achieve the goal of eliminating the budget deficit by 2002 which shows why Dole's

ideas are too vague.  In the reality for a balanced budget Transportation and the FBI could

face cuts of up to 40%.  Clinton, on the other hand, focuses his cuts on other areas in

order to meet the seven years standard on balancing the budget.  Clinton would plan to

make the majority of his cuts on Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare.  Clinton has already

started dipping into these areas by passing the welfare reform act.  The president's ideas

are more focused on these specifics of balancing the budget which is why he will most

likely be re-elected.  Another decisive area in the 1996 elections exists in the area of taxes.

      Taxes, always a big issue to voters, will be another key to winning the 1996

presidential election.  Dole has said that he will focus his policies on a platform of sweeping

tax cuts.  Dole talks of a 15% across the board tax rate cut, and an end to the Internal

Revenue Service as it is know today.  Dole claims that tax cuts are the key to faster growth.

Dole also believes that he can cut taxes significantly and still execute his balanced budget

plan.  Clinton plan proves to be more acceptable.  In the 1980's tax cuts resulted in

massive deficits.  The growth argument Dole makes would most likely be proven false as

the tax cuts in correspondence with the budget deal would just balloon the deficit.  A

majority of Americans realize this from past experiences, and will tend to lean toward the

President whose focuses are more targeted.  Clinton's plans call for a targeted capital gains

tax cut for the middle-income families who sell their homes, a $1,500 a year tuition tax

credit for the first two years of college, expanded tax free Individual Retirement Accounts,

and a credit to businesses that hire people off welfare.  Voters will chose Clinton again for

his less drastic and more sensible tax cuts.  Along with the budget and tax cuts the issue of

abortion completes the three most decisive factors in a win for President Clinton.

      Bill Clinton's views on abortion were made clear when he vetoed a measure to ban

partial birth or late-term abortions.  Clinton said he vetoed the measure because it did not

include exemptions for women who face serious health consequences if they carried the

fetus to term.  Clinton made his claim that this was a life saving measure for a small, but

vulnerable group of women and families in this country.  While Clinton's views are more

for the women carrying the baby themselves, Mr. Dole tends to belong more to the pro-life

side.  Dole's views are between the GOP's opposing factions.  He is not completely for the

rights of the unborn like Pat Buchanan, nor pro-choice like many other Republicans.  For

this reason Dole is likely to lose a number of votes from the female population.  As Clinton

made his views clear, he also supports government aid for the less advantaged to help the

women pay for this procedure.  Once again American's will side with Bill Clinton because

he has the experience, and is focused in the issues.

      Come next year Bill Clinton will serve another four years as presi