Discussion Question 2 (of 2)

Although "The Overcoat" can be read as a tale of perfect poetic justice, for the moment let's look at the story as a tragedy. Please say which you think is the greater failure in "The Overcoat": Is it the story of an individual's (Akakii's) failure to meet the needs and requirements of his community, or the community's failure to meet the needs of the individual?
Please write a reply of three or four sentences in which you argue for either individual or societal failure, supporting your position with evidence from the text.