Chapter 2- THE OVERCOAT

Akaky Akakievich was a government servant. As for his official status, he was what is called
councillor. Although he held a post in a company owned the perpetual titular
a
by government, he had no actual powers. Also, when
and how he entered the department, and who
appointed him, no one could remember.
Akaky Akakievich worked as a copyist in a company owned by the
government. He did a marvellous job at copying
documents such as letters, legal documents,
contracts, etc. In his copying, he found a varied and agreeable
employment.
3. Akaky Akakievich was dedicated to his job. But, unfortunately, his work environment
was not favourable for him.
The young officials at his office used to make fun of
him and strewed bits of paper over
snow. But, Akaky never uttered a word.
Akaky's head, calling them
However, if the joking became wholly unbearable, he would exclaim,
Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?'. And there was
something strange in the words and in the voice in
which they were uttered.
4. St Petersburg was being haunted by the approaching Northern cold.
Therefore, all the people and officials were
taking refuge in their heavy winter garments. Akaky too started
wearing his old overcoat, but it was becoming
impossible to continue wearing it as it had become an object of ridicule to the officials who
gave it the noble
name of 'dressing jacket.
Seeing how the matter stood, Akaky decided to get his jacket repaired from Petrovich,
the tailor. However, Petrovich refused to mend it as it
was beyond repair.
5. Petrovich was a tailor who lived somewhere on the fourth floor
up a dark staircase. He had one eye and
marks all over his face. He, most of the time, busied himself with considerable success in pock
repairing trousers and
coats of officials and others.

Petrovich helped Akaky Akakievich by agreeing to make a new

Overcoat for him. He provided considerable suggestions about how the overcoat should be made and even helped
Akaky choose a very good cloth for the same. He provided the best sevice by doing a remarkable
job at making
the overcoat and even went over each seam with his
own teeth, stamping in various patterns.
6. Petrovich had told the amount that Akaky would require to make the new overcoat.
Therefore, to arrange the
money, Akaky decided that it would be necessary to curtail his ordinary expenses. He decided to start with
dispensing tea in the evening, decided to burn no candles, and if he had to work, he would go to his landlady's
room and work by her light. When he would go into the street, he decided to walk as
lightly as he could, almost
upon tip-toe in order not to wear his heels down in too short a time. He would give his laundress as little to wash
as possible, and in order not to wear out his
clothes, he would immediately take off his clothes as soon as he got
home and decided to wear his cotton dressing gown. Along with these, Akaky even did partial fasting and
finally
was able to save eight roubles.

B.1.a. Akakievich's duties were to copy documents in the government company he worked at.
1.b. Akaky immensely loved his work. Not only did he labour with zeal, but he also laboured with love. Outside of his
copying, nothing existed for him.
1.c. In those lines, the speaker's tone showcased appreciation and respect for Akakys dedication to his work. Akaky's
loyalty to his work made the speaker think highly of him and therefore, the speaker remarked that it would be
difficult to find another man who would be as dedicated as Akaky.

2.a. The speaker is talking about Akaky Akakievich here.

2.b. "He' (Akaky) needed to be careful because he had to save money to afford a new overcoat. This was one of the ways
by which Akaky decided to curtail his expenses.
2.c. Akaky saved money by curtailing his expenses. He decided to do without many things for a year in order to save
money. He decided to not drink tea in the evenings, not burn candles, give fewer clothes for washing to the
laundress, etc, to save rmoney.