Favorite Mood Diary: The Nose

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When reading the first parts of Gogol’s The Nose I immediately thought of incidents in the past where people have found actual human fingers inside their fast food orders.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/17/152923061/a-history-of-human-fingers-found-in-fast-food

The thought of human body parts in food is both bewildering and grotesque. Bewildering, what a perfect word. I was thoroughly bewildered and confused reading story. With it’s stage directions it’s obviously meant to performed on a stage, and the fast movements and quick transitions from one scene to the next where multiple things are going on at once are evidence that The Nose is supposed to watched and experienced rather than read.

WARNING, FAST FLASHING LIGHTS, SEIZURE RISK!
http://youtu.be/AjbrmfjJRk0

The image provided on the cover is an accurate representation of what my experience reading The Nose was: a sort of blurry and dazed image of what was going on. I admit that a lot of what may have been metaphors and analogies to explain what the story was actually about, and not just a nose, flew right over my head.

The ending of the story left me with a sort of longing or emptiness because I failed to form a comprehensive understanding during my reading.

Mood Diary: The Nose

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To me, Nicolai Gogol’s The Nose comes even more peculiar than Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Although it is possible to lose a nose, the notion of talking to one’s own nose sounds not only strange, but also grotesque. How are you supposed to know whether your nose understands you or not without its ears or mouth? If there is no response, you will probably feel as if you are talking to a wall.

When I first imagined Major Kovaloff in my head, I immediately thought of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. But when the official at an advertisement office described it to be “perfectly flat like a freshly fried pancake,” I realized the Major didn’t even have nostrils anymore. It must have been difficult for him to constantly talk and breathe at the same time.

2011_the_nose

How Gogol used the nose to depict the theme of social status came very new to me. Who would have known that a missing nose could reveal so much about an individual? Instead of thinking about how to breathe more easily, the Major worries more about how others will perceive him as, without his nose. For someone who “wore a number of seals, on some of which were engraved armorial bearings,” letting others discover perhaps his only weakness would have been the last thing he desired. He does not even wish to publish his name on the “missing nose” advertisement.

This makes me wonder. How would the Major have acted towards his own nose if it weren’t a higher ranking than him? Would he have approached him politely and referred to it as “honourable sir?” I doubt it.

Finding out that his missing nose had finally been spotted indeed makes the Major’s day. When the District Constable notifies him, the Major asks, “where is it?” six times on the libretto of The Nose. He becomes ecstatic as soon as he sees his nose.

“He did not mind anything said against him as an individual, but he could not endure any reflection on his rank or social position. He even believed that in comedies one might allow attacks on junior officers, but never on their seniors.” This description of the Major’s character discloses the “moral” of the story. Yet, Gogol’s usage of the nose as a fundamental metaphor in his short story is simply amazing.

 

Works Cited:

Burns, Neil. The Nose. 2011. JPG file.

Weknowmemes. 8 October 2013.

< http://weknowmemes.com/2012/04/crazy-birthday-kid-gif/>.

Mood Diary – The Nose

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Ever since I acknowledged the  title of the piece I have been curious about the contents of Gogol’s short story “The Nose”. I mean, doesn’t it make you wander what a short story named after a body part is about?

Man with magnifying glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After reading to the point where the barber finds a nose in his bread I was ready to receive a detective story. After all, finding body parts in strange places seems like a very well liked beginning for many detective TV series these days. I was quite excited at the thought since I am a great fan for such shows.

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As you all know by now, my wish for a detective story was not fulfilled by Gogol. Yet, the disappointment was soon replaced by a sense of confusion. After finishing the story I did not know what I could take out of it. On the other hand I keep on thinking what the story could be like if it was remade into a stage play. Probably due to me recent visit to the play “Around the World in 80 Days”, I think “The Nose” could be a really nice story for a comedy. I mean, imagine Major Kovalev  screaming “MY NOSE!!!” at the top of his voice, when Kovalev is holding a handkerchief in front of his face as he argues with the advertisement clerk in a muffled voice, or when Major Kovalev is having a conversation with his own nose in a suit. All of these could be great materials for a comedy, and the only things the story needs are some exaggerated motions and tones of voices.

images

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, we had a class explanation of the deeper meanings into the story, so I was able to grasp the true message behind what appears to be a silly story. “The Nose” demonstrates to us the characteristic of social classes in Russia at the time. Although finally grasping its meanings in the end, I still have a hard time developing a love for strange and complicated stories such as this one.

Mood Diary: The Nose

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After reading Kafka’s Metamorphosis, I wasn’t really surprised or disturbed by Gogol’s The Nose. In fact, I found the story to be very interesting but also very confusing. When reading the short story, many questions popped into my head. It was hard to wrap my head around the idea of a man losing his nose.

Confused Face

“Snap Poll: Amare Staying Put. Happy Face or Sad Face? – Bright Side Of The Sun.” Bright Side Of The Sun, a Phoenix Suns community. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/2/18/1316556/snap-poll-amare-staying-put-happy>.

The story begins with Ivan Jakovlevitch finding a nose in his bread. When I read that part, I didn’t even know what to think. How did someone lose his nose? How did the nose end up inside a piece of bread? I was very confused and horrified. If I found a nose in my food, I would definitely freak out.

Freak Out Face

“Freaked Out Smiley by freakedsmileyplz on deviantART.” freakedsmileyplz (Icon for useage) on deviantART. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://freakedsmileyplz.deviantart.com/art/Freaked-Out-Smiley-89943884>.

The story continues with Kovaloff waking up without a nose. All I could imagine was Voldemort from Harry Potter. Although Kovaloff’s face was perfectly smooth where his nose should be, I assumed he had some kind of nose hole so he could breathe like Voldemort.

Voldemort

“NewsWARP: BOOKS: Harry Potter and the Absolutely Absurd Letter.”NewsWARP. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://news-warp.blogspot.com/2012/05/books-harry-potter-and-absolutely.html>.

Somehow Kovaloff’s nose starts walking the streets in a uniform. I was unsure if the nose had transformed into a person or if a giant, people-sized nose started walking and talking.

Nose Person

“Traumafessions:: Reader Alicia on Giant Nose-Face Ad.” Kindertrauma. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http:// http://www.kindertrauma.com/?p=2451>.

Nose

“Nose Clip Art Royalty Free. 10,530 nose clipart vector EPS illustrations and images available to search from over 15 stock illustration companies..” Stock Photography – Search 16.5 Million Stock Photos, Stock Footage Video Clips, Royalty Free Images, and Illustrations. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/nose.html>.

The story ends with Kovaloff waking up with his nose back on his face. At first, I thought that the nose turned back into a nose and somehow reattached itself back onto his face. But then, I thought maybe Kovaloff was dreaming the whole time and that the events that happened didn’t actually occur. Maybe the whole story was just a dream?

Dreaming

“Two Scientists Create Sleep Mask That Lets People Control Their Dreams | Elite Daily.” Elite Daily | The Online Destination for Generation Y. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://elitedaily.com/news/world/scientists-create-sleep-mask-lets-people-control-dreams/>.

Mood Diary: The Nose

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When I was reading Nikolai Gogol’s The Nose, I wasn’t sure what was happening. From just the title, I didn’t expect a literal story of a nose character. When Ivan Jakovlevitch found the nose inside his bread, I thought that maybe it was going to be a light horror story. But then Major Kovaloff woke up perfectly healthy and alive, albeit without a nose. I imagined his reaction to somewhere along the lines of ↓ but without the nose.

Although I couldn’t understand the logic of The Nose‘s universe, such as the moving nose or the flat piece of skin in place of Kovaloff’s missing nose, it was very amusing to picture the story in my head. I couldn’t quite grasp whether Kovaloff’s nose was an actual nose the size of a regular human being with arms and legs, or an actual nose the size of a nose with arms and legs, or a regular human being simply being called a nose. Though, I probably saw a Probopass simply because Kovaloff probably hadn’t shaved yet, and because it’s one “status” higher than a Nosepass.

What struck me as the most logically part of the story was when the official refused to advertise for Kovaloff’s missing nose because the paper’s readers would think it nonsense and lies. If there was such an advertisement in our paper, I’m sure most of us would think it so too. Yet, despite the absurdity that the official was saying that a missing nose was, he was completely unfazed when Kovaloff revealed his nose-less face, but still called it “hardly credible.”

The Nose is full of things that didn’t seem real. I figured it was supposed to be comical, but just that I didn’t understand Gogol’s sense of humor. And I hardly saw any sort of meaning behind the story before our discussion in class. But now I understand that the nose symbolized social status, and everything makes sense now.

Mood Diary on “The Nose”

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I found this reading of The Nose very interesting. It isn’t everyday one reads a story about a man missing his nose, which happens to magically become highly ranked in the government system. Compared to Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Gogol’s The Nose is very satirical in a less buggy way.

Even though this is a story, I would think that before one bakes bread, one would have to knead it. Therefore, I was surprised that Prasskovna did not find the nose before she baked it. I was also surprised at Prasskovna’s reaction towards Ivan finding the nose inside the bread because in my opinion, her reaction was over dramatic and unnecessary. This got me thinking that the couple’s marriage status is not stable. If it was, I do not think Prasskovna would automatically blame Ivan for the nose in the bread.

I absolutely LOVE the contrast between Ivan and his job. Ivan fashions an unshaven beard and to match the unorganized mess of hair on his face, Ivan wears a coat that probably never got washed since the day he bought it. Meanwhile, Ivan’s job is to make sure to shave other people’s facial hair and make their faces appear clean.

When Kovaloff’s nose was not where it belonged, I wondered how that could’ve happened, how he was breathing, and how he looked. No matter how I think of it, there is no realistic way that this event can happen in real life. There is no skin underneath the nose, and I’m pretty positive that if one does lose his/her nose, there would be either blood, muscle tissue, or any of the sort. No skin. I think Kovaloff breathed mostly through his mouth since there is no other way for him to breath without his precious nose. As for the area where a patch of skin covering where his nose once was, was it slanted or straight? Did it look like Kovaloff was wearing something that would make his nose invincible or was there an impression that made it obvious someone or something had cut it out?

I found it funny how Kovaloff’s nose was ranked a higher position than Kovaloff. Also, how big must Kovaloff’s nose have been to be noticeable in a crowd of people. Was it always that size or did it just grow to be human size? Is it the average person’s nose or is it Pinocchio’s nose after he lies? How does a nose even have eyes, mouth, eyes, or even a nose? Can you picture it? A nose on a nose!

Two aspects of the story that caught my attention was how Kovaloff seemed to care more for the lost of his nose rather than a different body part and how the newspaper company that Kovaloff went to advertise his missing nose has had cases like his before. Kovaloff said in the reading that it would have been better and less troublesome for him to lose an arm or a leg, not his nose. The newspaper company turned down Kovaloff’s request to put an advertisement in the paper because the company thought it was ridiculous, even though it was quite serious for Kovaloff. The official in the company even saw Kovaloff missing his nose and still turned him away.

I am curious as to why Gogol wrote The Nose. I tried to find meaning behind all the events and characters in the story, but I cannot find a good enough lesson. Regardless, this reading was just as intriguing as Kafka’s Metamorphosis.

The Nose

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Bizarre and Questionable

The Nose is even more bizarre and questionable than Metamorphosis.
My rant begins with the nose in freshly baked bread. How does the baker not notice this disturbing obstruction when kneading the dough? How does Kovaloff’s nose magically teleport away? Where is the wound? These events obviously defy logic, but of course this is a surreal work.

I was extremely involved in Ivan’s story after his discovery of the nose. His misfortunes remind me of the cliché that whenever one tries to do something important or shifty, there will always be obstacles. He goes to extended lengths and still fails to dispose of the nose in the end. My enjoyment was discontinued when Gogol suddenly cuts off the rest of Ivan’s story, just as he is confronted by the police.

When Kovaloff is introduced, I could not help but think of Voldemort. The facial feature without the nose just strikes out in a very powerful way. I can certainly understand why Kovaloff covers his face up. He must have felt conscious of his appearance and how people may treat him. Like Ivan, Kovaloff faces similar struggles as he consistently fails to find ways to repossess his nose. His struggles are also complemented with humorous troubles. The witnesses of the nose-less Kovaloff have very mild reactions. They do not shriek in terror and rather speaks to Kovaloff in a very tame way. The advertiser also has a funny moment when he offers snuff to Kovaloff, whose very loss inhibited him from doing so.

In addition to the strange events, the nose is very dreamlike. At first, it is inanimate and normal-sized, and then it morphs into this high status, human-sized nose and walks on the streets of the Grand Bazar. There is little description of how the nose looks from head to toe except that it has a life of its own. Then it is reverted back to normal when the police finds it and returns it to Nikaloff. Later, rumors are spread about the nose running through town. The story becomes increasingly peculiar and abstract.

I have no idea what the nose represents. I can’t find a coherent connection. The story may very well be a dream or represent Nikaloff’s loss of his “manhood” or status. All of which can be valid, but the absurdity of the story is what really sticks out in my head. Nevertheless, The Nose was a very interesting reading; I can’t wait to see the opera adaption.

Mood Diary

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While reading The Nose by Gogol, I had several thoughts running through my head. Initially, I was extremely confused as to what was happening. I mean honestly, how do you not make a bigger deal of finding a nose in your loaf of bread? I also found it extremely weird how the wife automatically assumed that Ivan Yakovlevich cut off the nose of Major Kovalyov. I mean, there has to be some reason why she believes that. Has he done something similarly cruel before? Has he cut his customers before? Or is he just an outright violent person. This might be the logical reason, since according to the story the barber likes to drink quite a bit.

nose

While reading, I also found it interesting that the nose was dressed up as a councilor. The first thing that occurred to me was, HOW DID THE NOSE GET LEGS, and HOW DID IT GROW TO THAT SIZE? It all seems so surreal, and I guess that that’s just Gogol doing his job right. But what really interested me was the symbolism behind the nose. Is it lost hopes and dreams? Or does it mean something else?

DSC04655 noses

People get very offended at comments about noses. At least, most people do. One very offensive comment is “Your nose is big, are you Jewish”. Yes, because a nose characterizes a person right away. According to this misconception, if you are an atheist, or Buddhist, or Christian, or Muslim, or a member of any other religion, you CANNOT have a big nose.

But really, we start this sort of defensiveness at a very young age.

The “I’ve got your nose” game gets annoying very quickly. I mean seriously, WHAT do you mean you have my nose?! First off, it’s MY nose, not yours, so give it back. Secondly, WHY would you even WANT my nose to begin with? And lastly, My nose is CLEARLY still on my face, therefore your argument is invalid.

But this defensiveness over our noses is exactly why the story created by Gogol is so symbolic. By losing his nose, Kovalyov loses an integral part of himself- his identity. He loses his humanity, and therefore his niche. Everyone has a reason to keep going everyday, and if one loses the very object of desire, he loses his driving force altogether.

While losing one’s nose is completely unrealistic, losing an aspect of your life that makes you who you are is very much a part of reality, and it has happened to countless of people. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like without a nose, but it isn’t so difficult to imagine losing our lucky talisman for example. Without it, we believe that we are no longer immune to the world’s hardships, and everything becomes immensely more difficult to accomplish. While brushing your teeth you end up missing your mouth and smearing toothpaste all over your face; while putting on your shoes you trip and fall; you pour orange juice into your cereal, and you accidentally throw out the knife instead of the wrapper that you are holding in your other hand. People are convinced that they need certain things in life without which they cannot function, and as a result they cling to those objects like children clinging to their mothers’ skirts.

Why? Well no one nose really. (See what I did there?)

Actually though, it is due to a psychological attachment to an object or a ritual that provides people with comfort. What’s your comfort zone?

Is it food? A shower? Tea? Coffee? A blanket? A necklace or bracelet or ring or an earring? Or is it as simple as a song? A memory or a picture? Regardless of what it is- it is something that keeps you going. Something that with one look, or touch, or thought can motivate you to get up and keep moving despite how hard the situation may seem. And perhaps you have several things that work together to keep you going.

But whatever it may be,  however big or small, or misshapen, or discolored your “nose” may be, it IS important. It IS yours. And it IS a part of who you are- and that is something to be proud of.

 

 

The Nose

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I love “The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol.

Last year I read a biography on Gogol and an excerpt of his short story, “The Nose.” The readings were mandatory assignments in the Russian class I took and yes, both texts are written in Russian. Translating each line was tedious, but I enjoyed it. Reading a foreign text in the language it was written in is rewarding.

Instead of blindly reading, I was forced to take my time and reflect on Gogol’s work. I realized with much help from my teacher that Gogol’s work has many different interpretations. “The Nose” may portray class inequality, gender distinctions or both.

Russian was my favorite class so I loved reading “The Nose” again. Unfortunately, many good memories are tied with “The Nose” so I am inclined to be excited, but I remember how I felt my first time reading it. Amazed. Magical realism is not a genre I have much experience with. How can a man lose his nose, find it, and have an argument with it. Its absurd!

THE NOSE

THE NOSE

 

Nose Mood Diary

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No Nose ? What a weird topic for a story.  The narrator even goes through the trouble of putting himself into the piece and telling the audience that it’s all nonsense.  I agree with him, but enjoyed this tale nonetheless.

What I got from this piece was something I also got from Kafka’s Metamorphosis: the theme of identity.  Identity plays a huge part in both pieces and also relates back to the main character.  In “The Nose,” Kovalev thinks of himself pretty well.  After he loses his nose, the first thing he thinks about is how he will look to other people.  Not about any health problems.  Not if he will ever smell again.  Not about if he will ever see his nose.  Only his reputation! I was stunned like I was when Gregor only worried about his job after he found out he was a giant insect.

 

nose    (This was my image of the nose, even though I’m sure it looked much nicer in the story)

Then, even after seeing his nose, he is too afraid to approach it because it is a higher class than him.  Really? He’s so worried about his reputation that he hesitated to go get it back? Stupidity at its finest.

The nose even has a sense of identity.  It actually becomes its own being and does well for itself in such a short amount of time: it not only fools its master but even becomes somewhat of a celebrity among the town.  From nose, to rich person, to doctor, to celebrity, and then back to nose — now that’s talent.

I didn’t understand how or why the nose came back onto his face, let alone left it in the beginning.  If I were that nose, I would have escaped again and would have become even more famous than before.

And another point.  Why would Kovalev go back to the same barber that threw his nose in a river? Come on — use your head.  I thought it was really funny how the barber’s wife started yelling at him about his drunkenness and careless when he finds the nose.  How do those relate.  And how and why did it appear in a loaf of bread?  So many open ends to this book — I’m beginning to understand why the narrator himself said it was all nonsense.