Nikolai Gogol was born on April 1, 1809 in the Ukraine in a small village in Poltava province called Sorochintsy. Gogol is known for his remarkable humorous prose that is often described as "laughter through tears of sorrow". Upon reading his most notable pieces like The Overcoat, The Nose, The Governor Inspector, it is clear to see that with images that are too ludicrous to bear a genuine social message, Gogol exposes the foundationless of reality and the magical power of words. His influence can be seen in the works of Dostoyevsky (The Double) and even the later works of Russia's 20th century great satirist, Mikhail Zoshchenko. Nikolai Gogol died on May 4, 1852.
Gogol's piece, The Portrait, however takes on a concrete, fundamental issue that is often faced by the artist, and that is the issue of the role of the artist. This short story looks at the destructive power of wealth bestowed on its new inheritor. The protagonist of this piece, Chartkov embodies the figure who attempts to answer for us whether art is godlike or diabolical, sacramental or sacrilegious and at what point does it change from one to the other. These are questions Chartkov are faced with as he pursues a career as a painter. Only himself can grapple with these questions. As he grapples, he shifts from a state of order to a state of chaos.
Study Questions
-O. James
© Orin James 2013
Chaos Theory
Study Questions
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