Heart of a Dog

Brief Overview

Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov tells the story of Professor Preobrazhensky, who conducts an experiment to transplant human organs into a dog named Sharik. As a result of the operation, Sharik transforms into a human named Polygraph Polygraphovich Sharikov. However, Sharikov turns out to be rude, uncultured, and aggressive, leading to numerous problems. Eventually, Preobrazhensky decides to revert Sharikov to his original state, realizing that it is impossible to artificially change the nature of a living being.

Main Ideas

• Critique of socialist experiments and utopian ideas about creating a new human.
• Ethical and moral questions related to interfering with human nature and conducting scientific experiments.
• The issue of a scientist's responsibility for their discoveries and their consequences.
• Satirical depiction of Soviet society and bureaucracy.
• Conflict between human nature and imposed social roles.
• Questions of identity and self-determination, both on a personal and societal level.

Historical Context and Significance

Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov is a satirical novella written in 1925 that critically examines the social and political changes in Soviet Russia following the October Revolution. The book tells the story of Professor Preobrazhensky, who conducts an experiment to transform a dog, Sharik, into a human, resulting in the creation of Sharikov—a crude and ignorant being. The novella serves as an allegory for the Soviet regime's attempts to create a 'new man' and criticizes bureaucracy, social inequality, and moral decay. Heart of a Dog had a significant impact on Russian literature and culture, becoming a symbol of resistance to totalitarianism and the absurdity of radical social experiments. The work was banned in the USSR for a long time, but after its publication in 1987, it quickly gained popularity and recognition, becoming a classic of Russian literature.

Main Characters and Their Development

• Professor Preobrazhensky — a distinguished surgeon who conducts an experiment to transplant a human's pituitary gland and testicles into a dog. Through the experiment, he transforms the stray dog Sharik into a human, Sharikov. Preobrazhensky is a man of firm beliefs and principles, opposing revolutionary changes in society and valuing order and discipline.
• Sharikov (Sharik) — a stray dog whom Professor Preobrazhensky transforms into a human. Initially, he was a loyal and grateful dog, but after the operation, he becomes a rude, uncultured, and aggressive person. Sharikov embodies the degradation and destruction of human nature under the influence of base instincts.
• Dr. Bormenthal — Professor Preobrazhensky's assistant, who helps him conduct the experiment. He is devoted to his mentor and supports him in all endeavors. Bormenthal also experiences an internal conflict, witnessing Sharikov's degradation and realizing the consequences of the experiment.
• Zina — Professor Preobrazhensky's housemaid. She carries out all tasks and maintains order in the house. Zina is a model of loyalty and diligence, and she also witnesses all the events occurring in the household.
• Darya Petrovna — Professor Preobrazhensky's housekeeper. She takes care of the household and helps maintain order in the house. Darya Petrovna represents the old intelligentsia, striving to preserve traditions and values amidst new revolutionary changes.

Style and Technique

Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov is written in a satirical and grotesque style, allowing the author to critically reflect on the social and political realities of his time. The language of the work is rich with ironic and sarcastic remarks, highlighting the absurdity of the events. Bulgakov employs numerous literary devices such as allegory, hyperbole, and parody. The structure of the story is well-organized: the narrative is initially from the perspective of the dog Sharik, allowing the reader to see the world through the eyes of an animal, and later a human. This creates a dual perception effect and enhances the satirical focus of the work. Dialogues play an important role, revealing the characters' personalities and their social roles. Bulgakov masterfully uses contrasts, juxtaposing scientific progress and moral values, making the work multilayered and profound.

Quotes

• Ruin is not in the lavatories, but in the minds.
• Congratulations, citizen, you've lied.
• What is this ruin of yours? An old woman with a stick?
• A dog should be kept on a leash. Everyone knows that. And anyone who disagrees can try living on the street themselves.
• A person without documents is not a person.

Interesting Facts

• The book was written in 1925 but was first published only in 1987 in the Soviet Union.
• The main character, Professor Preobrazhensky, is a distinguished surgeon who conducts an experiment to transform a dog into a human.
• The dog named Sharik, after the operation, transforms into a human named Polygraph Polygraphovich Sharikov.
• The work is a satire on Soviet society and criticizes attempts to forcibly change human nature.
• The book was banned from publication in the USSR due to its criticism of the Soviet regime and was only circulated in samizdat.
• Bulgakov used elements of fantasy and grotesque to emphasize the absurdity of certain aspects of Soviet reality.
• The character Sharikov became a symbol of ignorance and crudeness that can arise from social experiments.

Book Review

Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov is a satirical novella that explores themes of human nature, social experimentation, and the ethical boundaries of science. Critics note that Bulgakov masterfully uses grotesque and irony to showcase the absurdity of attempts to alter human essence through external interventions. The central character, Professor Preobrazhensky, symbolizes scientific progress and its dangers when it oversteps moral boundaries. Sharikov's transformation from a dog into a human serves as a metaphor for critiquing the Soviet regime and its experiments on society. Critics also highlight the work's relevance despite its historical context and admire the depth of philosophical questions raised in the novella.