The Diary of a Madman Prejudice Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)

Quote #1

In short, I wouldn't have gone to the office if it weren't for the hope of seeing the treasurer and maybe cajoling at least some pay out of that Jew in advance. What a creature! For him to hand out any money a month ahead—Lord God, the Last Judgment would come sooner! Even if you beg on your life, even if you're destitute—he won't hand out anything, the hoary devil! (1.1)

The anti-Semitism of this remark isn't just in the negative comments and insults Poprishchin is making here. It's also in the caricaturization of the Jewish character as a pitiless treasurer controlling the purse strings. If you look at all the minor characters in this story (and even at all the ones whom Poprishchin is prejudiced against), the Jewish treasurer is the most caricaturized among them. Some lit critics think Gogol portrayed a lot of Jewish characters in his stories in stereotyped ways (source).

Quote #2

In the provincial government, in the civil courts and treasuries, it's quite a different matter: there, lo and behold, a man squeezes himself into a corner and scribbles away. His tailcoat is vile, his mug begs to be spat in, but just look what kind of country house he rents! […] He looks like such a goody-goody, he talks with such delicacy—"Lend me your little knife to trim my little pen"—and then he skins a petitioner so that the man's left in nothing but his shirt. (1.1)

Poprishchin's comments about the provincial civil servants scream two things: status anxiety and jealousy. He might be a hotshot city guy, but he is really insecure and wants to make sure he feels more superior to the guys from the 'burbs. But then he also sits in his small city apartment and covets their big houses and fancy horse carriages.

Quote #3

And why does she have to go out in such rainy weather! Go on, now, tell me women don't have a great passion for all these rags. (1.2)

First off, a contradiction: Poprishchin derides Sophie for going shopping even in a rainstorm, but then he himself later wishes he had proper clothes in 3.1. Putting down women for paying too much attention to their looks is a classic misogynist move.