Foil

Character Role Analysis

Kovalev and The Nose

Like all good protagonist and antagonist pairs, Kovalev and the nose are also foils for each other. Each is the other in a fun house mirror reflection. Check it out:

The nose is a distilled and highly focused version of Kovalev. Its got all the ambition and drive and none of the insecurity, issues with women, and other problems that apparently are stalling Kovalev's career. And Kovalev represents what the nose is missing—um, a body. Our thoughts? Maybe Gogol is suggesting that they should hook up, but let the nose be in charge this time.