Like "The Nose", (where there is also a possibility of the narrator's mental imbalance) Gogol's "Diary of a Madman" satirizes the delusional tendencies of the landed gentry, specifically those working within a governmental bureaucracy. The narrator's main obsession remains his social standing. With nearly every description of character, the madman includes a mention of rank or status. The narrator wonders about the thoughts of his superior officer at work, and criticizes those beneath him. Even the illusory speech and writings of the dog take on a class aspect. He is concerned that the dog is a better writer, (and therefore of higher status) and the animal itself offers his/her opinion on class-related matters such as diet and appearance.