How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
It would be difficult to find another man who lived so entirely for his duties. It is saying but little to say that he served with zeal: no, he served with love. (10)
What's this quote doing in the section on dissatisfaction? Well, in order to understand dissatisfaction in this story you have to start with Akaky's satisfaction. This guy isn't just content with his job. He loves it.
Quote #2
One director being a kindly man, and desirous of rewarding him for his long service, ordered him to be given something more important than mere copying; namely, he was ordered to make a report of an already concluded affair, to another court: the matter consisted simply in changing the heading, and altering a few words from the first to the third person. This caused him so much toil, that he was all in a perspiration, rubbed his forehead, and finally said, "No, give me rather something to copy." After that they let him copy on forever. (11)
Another word for dissatisfaction could be ambition. This quote makes it clear that Akaky has no ambition at all, and would rather continue copying for the rest of his life.
Quote #3
To tell the truth, it was a little hard for him at first to accustom himself to these deprivations; but he got used to them at length, after a fashion, and all went smoothly—he even got used to being hungry in the evening; but he made up for it by treating himself in spirit, bearing ever in mind the thought of his future coat. From that time forth, his existence seemed to become, in some way, fuller, as if he were married, as if some other man lived in him, as if he were not alone, and some charming friend had consented to go along life's path with him—and the friend was no other than that overcoat, with thick wadding and a strong lining incapable of wearing out. (57)
Akaky's in love with his coat. You've gotta admit, that's kind of creepy. More importantly, notice that he's dreaming about something that he doesn't have. That right there is the beginning of dissatisfaction.
Quote #4
Fire gleamed in his eyes: occasionally, the boldest and most daring ideas flitted through his mind; why not, in fact, have marten fur on the collar? The thought of this nearly made him absent-minded. Once, in copying a letter, he nearly made a mistake, so that he exclaimed almost aloud, "Ugh!" and crossed himself. (58)
What effects does his newfound dissatisfaction have on Akaky? Are they portrayed as negative or positive? Notice that he doesn't just aim for a new coat, but he starts aiming for the fanciest of coats.
Quote #5
Once in the course of each month, he had a conference with Petrovich on the subject of the coat—where it would be better to buy the cloth, and the color, and the price—and he always returned home satisfied, though troubled, reflecting that the time would come at last when it could all be bought, and then the overcoat could be made. (58)
Some people say the best part of desiring something is the anticipation of getting what it is you want. No physical object can live up to the dreams that you have for it in your mind. That's probably why you dream about eating a gallon of ice cream even though it will just make you sick.
Quote #6
It was—it is difficult to say precisely on what day, but it was probably the most glorious day in Akaky Akakievich's life, when Petrovich at length brought home the coat. (63)
Just for comparison, remember that other people normally say that either their wedding or the birth of their child is the best day of their lives. The best day of Akaky's life is getting a coat.
Quote #7
He returned home in the most happy frame of mind, threw off his coat, and hung it carefully on the wall, admiring afresh the cloth and the lining; and then he brought out his old, worn-out coat, for comparison. He looked at it, and laughed, so vast was the difference. And long after dinner he laughed again when the condition of the "mantle" recurred to his mind. (69)
We are going to guess that this is the kind of laugh grown-ups do when they look at pictures of themselves as teenagers and realized how horribly they were dressed. It's kind of like a "Thank goodness I don't suck that much now" laugh.
Quote #8
He halted out of curiosity before the lighted window of a shop, to look at a picture representing a handsome woman, who had thrown off her shoe, thereby baring her whole foot in a very pretty way; and behind her the head of a man with side- whiskers and a handsome mustache peeped from the door of another room. Akaky Akakievich shook his head, and laughed, and then went on his way. Why did he laugh? Because he had met with a thing utterly unknown, but for which every one cherishes, nevertheless, some sort of feeling; or else he thought, like many officials, as follows: "Well, those French! What is to be said? If they like anything of that sort, then, in fact, that" ... But possibly he did not think that. For it is impossible to enter a man's mind, and know all that he thinks. (72)
When Akaky goes out to the party in the fancy part of town, he makes a different kind of laugh. He laughs because he sees something that he barely even understands, but he still wants it, even though he wouldn't dare admit it. Those are some complicated desires that he's starting to experience, and he's only had the coat for one day.
Quote #9
"But of course the coat is mine!" said one of them in a loud voice, seizing hold of the collar. Akaky Akakievich was about to shout for the watch, when the second man thrust a fist into his mouth, about the size of an official's head, muttering, "Now scream!" (79)
Imagine that you have been dreaming about getting a new coat for months. Imagine that it is as important to you as getting married or having a baby. Now imagine that someone steals your coat after you have only worn it for one day. Can you guess how Akaky feels?
Quote #10
[...] he fancied that he was standing before the general, listening to a thorough setting-down, and saying, "Forgive, your excellency!" but at last he began to curse, uttering the most horrible words, so that his aged landlady crossed herself, never in her life having heard anything of the kind from him—the more so, as those words followed directly after the words your excellency. Later he talked utter nonsense, of which nothing could be understood: all that was evident, was that his incoherent words and thoughts hovered ever about one thing—his coat. (99)
Akaky's death seems to tell us that desire (also known as dissatisfaction) leads to death. If he had been satisfied, none of this would have happened, and his personality wouldn't have warped to the point where he curses out high-ranking officials.