How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
In the department of… But it is better not to name the department. There is nothing more irritable than all kinds of departments, regiments, courts of justice and, in a word, every branch of public service. (1)
How would the story be different if the narrator named the specific department? Why do you think he feels this way about public service branches?
Quote #2
As for his rank—for with us the rank must be stated first of all—he was what is called a perpetual titular councilor, over which, as is well known, some writers make merry and crack their jokes, as they have the praiseworthy custom of attacking those who cannot bite back. (2)
Normally officials rise through the ranks, but Akaky is a perpetual titular councilor. Titular councilors and all the ranks below them are called the same thing, your nobleness. In order to be really special, Akaky would have to rise above his rank. Then he'd be called something like your high nobleness, or even Your Excellency.
Quote #3
If his pay had been in proportion to his zeal, he would, perhaps, to his own surprise, have been made even a councilor of state. (10)
A councilor of state? That's a whole four ranks above Akaky. If zeal and doing well at your job are not what get you promoted, what does?
Quote #4
Petrovich seated on a large, unpainted table, with his legs tucked under him like a Turkish pasha. (23)
Even though Petrovich is one of the few characters who is an official, the narrator still describes him to us in terms of ranking. A Turkish Pasha is something like a British Lord.
Quote #5
When he told the matter, she clasped her hands, and said that he must go straight to the superintendent, for the captain would turn up his nose, promise well, and drop the matter there: the very best thing to do, would be to go to the superintendent [...] (82)
Since we already know that the hierarchy is pretty strict, how do you think this plan is going to go? We don't have a good feeling about it.
Quote #6
"But, your excellency," said Akaky Akakievich, trying to collect his small handful of wits, and conscious at the same time that he was perspiring terribly, "I, your excellency, presumed to trouble you because secretaries that... are an untrustworthy race." ... (94)
Poor Akaky, he doesn't even know what to say. But it's interesting that even though he's such a low-ranking official, he still looks down on secretaries. Also notice that he calls them a race instead of a rank or an occupation, as if being a secretary is biological or something.
Quote #7
"Do you know to whom you speak? Do you realize who stands before you? Do you realize it? Do you realize it? I ask you!" (95)
Here the prominent person is yelling at Akaky for even daring to talk to him. We like to call this his diva moment.
Quote #8
Constant complaints poured in from all quarters, that the backs and shoulders, not only of titular but even of court councilors, were entirely exposed to the danger of a cold, on account of the frequent dragging off of their coats. (105)
It's normal for bad things happen to people of low rank, but now it's even happening to higher-ranking officials. Shock! Gasp! The horror!
Quote #9
Wishing to divert his mind in some way, and forget the disagreeable impression, he set out that evening for one of his friends' houses, where he found quite a large party assembled; and, what was better, nearly every one was of the same rank, so that he need not feel in the least constrained. (108)
Why do you think the prominent personage feels constrained when he's around people of a different rank? Do you think he feels more constrained by being around people with lower ranks or higher ranks?
Quote #10
This occurrence made a deep impression upon him. He even began to say less frequently to the under-officials, "How dare you? Do you realize who stands before you?" and, if he did utter the words, it was after first having learned the bearings of the matter. (115)
Akaky has performed a miracle. Despite all the rules and regulations about how different ranks of officers should interact with one another, Akaky has managed to get the prominent person to change his ways. All it took was a little supernatural revenge.