Reimagining Gogol's "The Nose"

A surrealist 19th century Russian short story which illustrates the detrimental effects of social hierarchy, Gogol narrates the tale of an arrogant Collegiate Assessor by the name of Kovalyov, who wakes up one morning without his nose. He later finds that it had not only developed a life of its own, but also managed to surpass Kovalyov by obtaining the rank of state councilor. The overarching moral of the story resonates with me deeply; Gogol urges his audience to be more conscious of their surroundings, not so much as an air of caution for arrogant people who may face the risk of waking up one day without an appendage, but so they do not become desensitized to the way class dictates human sympathy. I aim to preserve Gogol’s message through my illustrations, along with embracing the outlandish and obscure themes of the story through my own creative liberties.