Question

Question 1 of 10

Read this passage from "The Nose":
"In heaven's name, why should such a
misfortune befall me? If I had lost an arm or a
leg, it would be less insupportable; but a man
without a nose! Devil take it! - what is he good
for? He is only fit to be thrown out of the
window. If it had been taken from me in war or
in a duel, or if I had lost it by my own fault! But it
has disappeared inexplicably. But no! it is
impossible," he continued after reflecting a few
moments, "it is incredible that a nose can
disappear like that - quite incredible. I must be
dreaming, or suffering from some hallucination;
perhaps I swallowed, by mistake instead of
water, the brandy with which I rub my chin after
being shaved. That fool of an Ivan must have
forgotten to take it away, and I must have
swallowed it."
-Nikolai Gogol, "The Nose"
What inference can you make about Kovaloff from the
passage?
A. He is so upset that he is about to do something
drastic.
B. He is grateful that he is still able to breathe and
work.
c. He cares too much about what society thinks of his
appearance.
O D. He blames others for things that he caused himself.

Answer 1

Kovaloff is extremely distressed about losing his nose as it reflects his vanity and concern for social standing

Step-by-step explanation:

From the given passage in Nikolai Gogol's The Nose, we can infer that Kovaloff is greatly distressed about losing his nose. This part of his body symbolizes much more than a physical trait; it represents his social standing and personal identity. Kovaloff's disproportionate concern for his appearance to society highlights a pervasive vanity and preoccupation with public perception. He considers a life without a nose as incomplete, undignified, and a fate worse than losing a limb. Kovaloff's dramatic expression of despair over the loss, including contemplating throwing himself out a window, illustrates his belief that his worth is heavily dependent on his physical and social image.