Yes, a physical quantity can have magnitude and direction but still be a scalar if it doesn't obey the vector addition. An example is Electric Current which has magnitude and a fixed direction, but it does not follow vector laws of addition.

Asksionov thought of killing himself because he remembered all those harsh situations that he had faced in his life without committing any crime . Even his wife didn't  believe in him . He got frustrated by thinking all these painful situations that he was ready to kill himself.

the symbols used in the story are:

1. house and shops- it symbolizes Aksionov's family and material possessions
2. nightmare-it symbolizes a bad omen.
3. blood-stained knife- it indicates Aksionov's lack of control over his fate.
4. the prison- Aksionov's pain and subsequent mystical transformation are symbolized by the prison.
5. the book(the lives of the saints)- gives an impression of religiosity.