The main problems in the dog's heart briefly. Essay “Heart of a Dog, Problems and Artistic Originality of the Story M

Without exception, all of Bulgakov’s works literally fascinate the reader and put before him the most difficult questions, which turns out to be not so easy to solve. Bulgakov's story " Heart of a Dog“makes you think about a person’s place in the world, about responsibility for one’s actions and the actions of others. The story is written amazing language, full of caustic sarcasm, but at the same time it is perceived as a deep, philosophical work.
Bulgakov makes the heroes of the story symbols of the era. Professor Preobrazhensky is a true Russian intellectual, a representative of a vanishing category of society. A lot of things that were important and necessary for people go away with him. The professor's remarks may seem funny. But humor does not detract from their relevance. “Darling! I'm not even talking about steam heating... Let it be: once social revolution- no need to drown”; “Why, when this whole story began, did everyone start walking in dirty galoshes and felt boots along the marble stairs?”; “Why was the carpet removed from the main staircase?” “Why can’t the proletarian leave his galoshes downstairs, but dirty the marble?”
From the point of view of balls, which are essentially a symbol new era, everyday aesthetics are completely unnecessary. At the same time, the “new people” are ready to abandon everything that has been created over centuries. The desire to build new life is perceived by them as the need to completely destroy what was done previously. Bulgakov puts many apt remarks into the mouth of Professor Preobrazhensky.
“What is this “ruin” of yours? Old woman with a stick? The witch who broke all the glass, extinguished all the lamps?... The devastation is not in the closets, but in the heads.”
Many characters in the story make apt and very accurate comments. Including a stray dog even before turning into a person, who is distinguished by rare observation and intelligence. Real life post-revolutionary Russia appears before us in all its frightening plausibility. Gloomy pictures confront us from the very beginning of the story. Blizzard as a symbol of sadness; neglected empty streets as a symbol of poverty and wretchedness. At the very beginning of the story, we look at the situation through the eyes of a homeless mongrel. Nothing pleases our eyes. Here is a girl typist running past who earns mere pennies, “in the ninth grade, four and a half chervonets.”
To create an objective picture there cannot be insignificant details. The image of a typist is also not accidental. The young girl looks so unhappy, frozen, half-starved that we begin to understand how unfair and ugly reality is. And how much the phrase says: “I am now the chairman, and no matter how much I steal, that’s it, that’s all.” female body, on cancer necks, on Abrau-Durso. Because I was hungry enough when I was young, that’s enough for me, but there is no afterlife.”
Bulgakov in his story raises very serious questions - he makes us think about the morality of the people we encounter on the pages of the work. Theft reigns everywhere. Nobody cares about maintaining order, the country is falling into decay, society is degrading.
And against the background of this degradation appears new person, Sharikov. The fact that in Bulgakov’s story this new man until recently was a stray dog is very symbolic. It is especially important that, being a dog, Sharikov was distinguished by greater decency and evoked sincere compassion and sympathy. Having become a man, he only causes disgust.
The new man, who is represented in the story by Polygraph Poligrafych Sharikov, fully meets the requirements of the “new life” and is a “product” of his era. He is unspiritual, uneducated, ungrateful, stupid, aggressive. He feels like a real master of life, not paying attention to anyone else.
Deserves close attention and denunciation of Professor Preobrazhensky. This indicates Sharikov’s complete lack of any human qualities. Distinctive features This character is meanness, envy, hatred of everything and everyone around him.
The master of life, and this is exactly what the “new man” began to feel like after the revolution, is very strong. He stops at nothing, does not think about morality and ethics. The fantastic experiment in the story is a reflection of a real, huge social experiment - revolution. The character of the story, Sharikov, could not become a man; before us is just a Creature, vaguely similar to him.
Next to the “ball” ones are those who are weaker and more vulnerable. And communication with “new people” brings only suffering. It is impossible to imagine something more monstrous than a society in which everything is controlled by the Sharikovs, these heartless and evil creatures. In the story, Professor Preobrazhensky finds “control” over Sharikov, he simply turns him back into a dog. But social experiment- revolution - has no reverse. And that is why the story leaves a feeling of some understatement. The writer poses a problem, giving readers the opportunity to think about it. Therefore, even today, after a significant period of time, we can think about the “balloon” society, the echoes of which we still feel.

Bulgakov's creativity is the pinnacle phenomenon of Russian artistic culture XX century. The fate of the Master, deprived of the opportunity to be published and heard, is tragic. From 1927 to 1940, Bulgakov did not see a single line of his own in print.

Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov came to literature already in the years Soviet power. He experienced all the difficulties and contradictions of Soviet reality in the thirties. His childhood and youth are connected with Kiev, the subsequent years of his life - with Moscow. It was during the Moscow period of Bulgakov’s life that the story “Heart of a Dog” was written. It reveals with brilliant skill and talent the theme of disharmony, brought to the point of absurdity thanks to human intervention in the eternal laws of nature.

In this work, the writer rises to the top of satirical fiction. If satire states, then satirical fiction warns society of impending dangers and cataclysms. Bulgakov embodies his conviction in the preference of normal evolution over the violent method of invading life; he speaks of the terrible destructive power of complacent aggressive innovation. These themes are eternal, and they have not lost their significance even now.

The story “Heart of a Dog” is distinguished by an extremely clear author’s idea: the revolution that took place in Russia was not the result of natural spiritual development society, but an irresponsible and premature experiment. Therefore, the country must be returned to its previous state, without allowing the irreversible consequences of such an experiment.

So, let's look at the main characters of "Heart of a Dog". Professor Preobrazhensky is a democrat by origin and convictions, a typical Moscow intellectual. He sacredly serves science, helps people, and will never harm him. Proud and majestic, Professor Preobrazhensky spouts ancient aphorisms. Being a luminary of Moscow genetics, the brilliant surgeon is engaged in profitable operations to rejuvenate aging women.

But the professor plans to improve nature itself, he decides to compete with life itself, create a new person by transplanting part of the human brain. This is how Sharikov is born, embodying the new Soviet man. What are the prospects for its development? Nothing impressive: the heart of a stray dog and the brain of a man with three convictions and a pronounced passion for alcohol. This is what a new person, a new society must develop from.

Sharikov wants to become one of the people no matter what, to become no worse than others. But he cannot understand that for this it is necessary to go through a long path of spiritual development; it requires work to develop the intellect, horizons, and mastery of knowledge. Polygraph Poligrafovich Sharikov (as the creature is now called) puts on patent leather shoes and a poisonous-colored tie, but otherwise his suit is dirty, unkempt, and tasteless.

A person with a doglike disposition, the basis of which was the lumpen, feels like the master of life, he is arrogant, arrogant, and aggressive. The conflict between Professor Preobrazhensky and the humanoid lumpen is absolutely inevitable. The life of the professor and the inhabitants of his apartment becomes a living hell. Here is one of their everyday scenes:

“-...Don’t throw cigarette butts on the floor, I ask you for the hundredth time. So that I don't hear any more dirty word in the apartment! Don't give a damn! “There’s a spittoon,” the professor is indignant.

“For some reason, dad, you’re painfully oppressing me,” the man suddenly said tearfully.”

Despite the dissatisfaction of the owner of the house, Sharikov lives in his own way: during the day he sleeps in the kitchen, messes around, does all sorts of outrages, confident that “nowadays everyone has their own right.” And in this he is not alone. Polygraph Poligrafovich finds an ally in Shvonder, the local chairman of the house committee. He bears the same responsibility as the professor for the humanoid monster. Shvonder supported social status Sharikov, armed him with an ideological phrase, he is his ideologist, his “spiritual shepherd.” Shvonder supplies Sharikov with “scientific” literature and gives him Engels’s correspondence with Kautsky to “study”. The beast-like creature does not approve of any author: “Otherwise they write, write... Congress, some Germans...” He draws one conclusion: “Everything must be divided.” This is how Sharikov’s psychology developed. He instinctively sensed the main credo of the new masters of life: plunder, steal, take away everything created. Main principle socialist society - universal leveling, called equality. We all know what this led to.

The finest hour for Polygraph Tsoligrafovich was his “service”. Having disappeared from home, he appears before the astonished professor as such a fine fellow, full of dignity and self-respect, “in leather jacket from someone else’s shoulder, in worn leather pants and high English boots.” The incredible smell of cats immediately spread throughout the entire hallway. He presents the stunned professor with a paper that says that Comrade Sharikov is the head of the department for cleaning the city from stray animals. Shvonder placed him there.

So, Bulgakov’s Sharik made a dizzying leap: from a stray dog, he turned into an orderly to cleanse the city of stray dogs and cats. Well, pursuing your own - characteristic feature all ball ones. They destroy their own, as if covering up traces of their own origin...

The last chord of Sharikov’s activity is the denunciation of Professor Preobrazhensky. It should be noted that it was in the thirties that denunciation became one of the foundations of a socialist society, which would be more correctly called totalitarian.

Sharikov is alien to shame, conscience, and morality. He has no human qualities, there is only meanness, hatred, malice.

However, Professor Preobrazhensky still does not abandon the idea of making Sharikov a man. He hopes for evolution, gradual development. But there is no development and there will not be if the person himself does not strive for it. Preobrazhensky's good intentions turn into tragedy. He comes to the conclusion that violent intervention in the nature of man and society leads to catastrophic results. In the story, the professor corrects his mistake by turning Sharikov back into a dog. But in life such experiments are irreversible. Bulgakov managed to warn about this at the very beginning of the destructive transformations that began in our country in 1917.

After the revolution, all conditions were created for the emergence huge amount balls with dog hearts. The totalitarian system greatly contributed to this. Due to the fact that these monsters have penetrated into all areas of life, Russia is now going through difficult times.

Outwardly, the Sharikovs are no different from people, but they are always among us. Their non-human essence manifests itself all the time. The judge convicts an innocent man to fulfill a plan to solve crimes; the doctor turns away from the patient; a mother abandons her child; officials, for whom bribes have become the order of the day, are ready to betray their own. All that is most lofty and sacred turns into its opposite, since the inhuman has awakened within them and tramples them into the dirt. When a non-human comes to power, he tries to dehumanize everyone around him, since a non-human is easier to control. She has everything human feelings replaced by the instinct of self-preservation.

The heart of a dog is in league with human mind- the main threat of our time. That is why the story, written at the beginning of the century, remains relevant today and serves as a warning to future generations. Today is so close to yesterday... At first glance, it seems that everything has changed, that the country has become different. But consciousness and stereotypes remained the same. More than one generation will pass before the Sharikovs disappear from our lives, people become different, the vices described by Bulgakov in his immortal work. How I want to believe that this time will come! ..

M. A. Bulgakov came to literature already during the years of Soviet power. He was not an emigrant and experienced first-hand all the difficulties and contradictions of Soviet reality in the 1930s. XX century The theme of disharmony, brought to the point of absurdity thanks to human intervention in the eternal laws of nature, was revealed with brilliant skill and talent by Bulgakov in the story “The Heart of a Dog.” Eternal problem the best minds in Russia - the relationship between the intelligentsia and the people. What is the role of the intelligentsia, what is its participation in the destinies of the people - this is what the author of the story made the reader think about in the distant 20s. XX century The story combines elements of fantasy with everyday background. Professor Preobrazhensky is a democrat by origin and convictions, a typical Moscow intellectual. He sacredly preserves the traditions of Moscow University students: to serve science, to help people and not to harm them, to value the life of any person - good and bad. His assistant, Doctor Bormenthal, reverently treats his teacher, admires his talent, skill, and human qualities. But he does not have that self-control, that holy service to the ideas of humanism that we see in Preobrazhensky.

Bormenthal is capable of becoming angry, indignant, and even using force if this is necessary for the good of the cause. And now these two people are performing an experiment unprecedented in world science - transplanting stray dog human pituitary gland. The result was with scientific point unexpected and phenomenal in terms of everyday life, but in everyday life it led to the most disastrous results. The creature formed in this way has the appearance of its human donor - Klim Chugunkin. This hybrid is rude, undeveloped, arrogant and arrogant. He, at all costs, wants to become one of the people, to become no worse than others. But he cannot understand that for this he must overcome the path of long spiritual development, work on developing his intellect, his horizons, and master knowledge.

Polygraph Poligrafovich Sharikov puts on patent leather shoes and a poisonous-colored tie, but otherwise his suit is dirty, unkempt, and tasteless. With the help of the house manager Shvonder, he registers in Preobrazhensky’s apartment,

He demands the “sixteen arshins” of living space allotted to him, and even tries to bring his wife into the house. He believes that he is raising his ideological level: he is reading a book recommended by Shvonder - the correspondence of Engels with Kautsky. From Preobrazhensky’s point of view, all this is a bluff, empty attempts that in no way contribute to Sharikov’s mental and spiritual development. However, from the point of view of Shvonder and others like him, Sharikov is quite suitable for the society that they are creating with such pathos and enthusiasm. Sharikov was even hired at government agency, made him a little boss. For him, becoming a boss means transforming himself outwardly, gaining power over people. This is how it happens. He is now dressed in a leather jacket and boots, drives a state car, and controls the fate of a poor girl secretary. Professor Preobrazhensky still does not abandon the idea of making Sharikov a man. He hopes for evolution, gradual development. But there is no development and there will not be if the person himself does not strive for it. In fact, the professor's whole life turns into a complete nightmare. Sharikov comes home drunk, pesters women, breaks and destroys everything around him. It became a thunderstorm not only for the inhabitants of the apartment, but also for the residents of the entire house. What can the Sharikovs do if they are given complete freedom in life? It’s scary to imagine the picture of the life that they are able to create around themselves. So Preobrazhensky’s good intentions turn into tragedy. He comes to the conclusion that violent intervention in the nature of man and society leads to catastrophic results. In the story “Heart of a Dog,” the professor corrects his mistake - Sharikov turns into a dog again. He is happy with his fate and with himself. But in life such experiments are irreversible. And Bulgakov was able to warn about this at the very beginning of those destructive transformations that began in our country in 1917.

PROBLEMS AND ARTISTIC ORIGINALITY OF M. A. BULGAKOV’S STORY “THE HEART OF A DOG”

Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov was born in Kyiv, in the family of Afanasy Ivanovich Bulgakov, a teacher at the Theological Academy. According to his relatives, he began composing early. Basically it was short stories, satirical poems, dramatic scenes. Gradually, interest in Bulgakov's works increases. It becomes obvious that Bulgakov’s talent as an artist was, as they say, from God. The writer's fame was brought to him by the novel " White Guard”, later reworked into the play “Days of the Turbins”. Great success had the comedy “Zoyka’s Apartment” and humorous collection stories "Diaboliad" (1925). However, starting from 1928, a climate of persecution was created around Bulgakov’s name, and the writer’s very name became, as it were, outlawed. The plays “Running”, “Ivan Vasilyevich”, “Crimson Island”, the novel “The Master and Margarita” are far from full list works that did not see the light of day during the author’s lifetime. The story “Heart of a Dog” is also on this list. This work, written in 1925, was published only in 1987 in the magazine “Znamya”. The story is based on a risky experiment. Bulgakov’s choice of such a plot is not accidental. Everything that happened then and what was called the construction of socialism was perceived by the author of “Heart of a Dog” precisely as an experiment - huge in scale and more than dangerous. Bulgakov was also skeptical about attempts to create a new perfect society using revolutionary, that is, not excluding violence, methods, and about educating a new one using the same violent methods. free man. For the author of the story, this was unacceptable interference in the natural course of things, the consequences of which could be disastrous for everyone, including the “experimenters” themselves. “Heart of a Dog” warns the reader about this.
One of the main characters, the spokesman for the author's thoughts in the story, is Professor Preobrazhensky. This is a major scientist-physiologist. He appears as the embodiment of education and high culture. By conviction, he is a supporter of the old pre-revolutionary order. All his sympathies are with the former homeowners, factory owners, factory owners, under whom, as he says, there was order and he lived comfortably and well. Bulgakov does not analyze Political Views Preobrazhensky. But the scientist expresses very definite thoughts about the devastation, about the inability of the proletarians to cope with it. In his opinion, first of all, people need to be taught basic culture in everyday life and at work, only then will things get better, devastation will disappear, and there will be order. People will become different. But this philosophy of Preobrazhensky also fails. He cannot raise in Sharikovo reasonable person: “I have been more exhausted in these two weeks than in the last fourteen years...”
What is the reason for the failure of Preobrazhensky and Dr. Bormental? And it's not just about genetic engineering. Preobrazhensky is confident that purely animal instincts affecting behavior former dog Sharikov, you can get rid of it: “Cats are temporary... It’s a matter of discipline and two or three weeks. I assure you. Just another month and he will stop attacking them.” The question is not about physiology, but about the fact that Sharikov is a type specific environment. The dog becomes a man, but his actions are determined by genes received from the drunkard and boor Klim Chugunkin: “... he no longer has a dog, but human heart. And the lousiest of all that exist in nature!” The contrast between the intellectual principle embodied in intelligent people, physiologists Preobrazhensky and Bormental, and the dark instincts of the “homunculus” Sharikov (with a low, sloping forehead) is so striking that it creates not only a comic, grotesque effect, but also colors it in tragic tones.
Shvonder also plays an important role here. He is trying to influence and educate Sharikov. This either a dog or a man, in a conversation with Preobrazhensky, literally repeats Shvonder’s words and phrases not only about rights, but also about his superiority over the bourgeoisie: “We didn’t study at universities, we didn’t live in apartments with 15 rooms with baths... “Naturally, the attempt to educate a new person in yesterday’s Sharikov is a satirical attack by the writer against the Shvonders. It is worth noting that Bulgakov’s satire and humor in this story reach the highest degree of skill. Suffice it to recall the brilliantly written scene with the rejuvenated old man showing off his love affairs, or a scene with a “passionate lady” not in her first youth, who is ready to do anything to keep her lover. These scenes are depicted through the dog's perception. “To hell with you,” he thought dully, putting his head on his paws and dozing off with shame.” The image of Shvonder, who decided to educate Sharikov in the “Marxist spirit”, is also comical: the very process of humanizing Sharikov is depicted in sharp satirical and humorous tones. The plot is structured by contrast - an intelligent and affectionate dog becomes a rude, ill-mannered boor, in which the inherited properties of Klim Chugunkin are more and more clearly manifested. This character's vulgar speech is fused with his actions. They are gradually becoming more outrageous and intolerant. Either he scares a lady on the stairs, then he rushes like crazy after the cats running away, then he disappears through taverns and taverns. As a result, there is a humorous scene with the criminal police, who came in the epilogue of the story, following Shvonder’s denunciation, to look for Sharikov; The professor explains a lot. He presents the dog as proof of his innocence and explains: “That is, he said... This does not mean being human...”
The innovation of the story “Heart of a Dog” lies not only in Bulgakov’s satirical and humorous skill, but also in the complex philosophical concept of this work. According to the author of “Heart of a Dog,” humanity turns out to be powerless in the fight against the dark instincts awakening in people. The tragedy was that the Sharikovs quickly multiplied in life. And they, in the words of Poligraf Poligrafych, “strangled and strangled”... Thus, we understand that Bulgakov in the story “The Heart of a Dog” with enormous impressive force, in his favorite manner of grotesque and humor, raised the question of the power of dark instincts in human life. His satire against the Sharikovs, Shvonders, and Klimov Chugunkins reached the highest degree of skill and expressiveness. Bulgakov's sympathies are on the side of Preobrazhensky. But the writer does not have this faith that the dark instincts in people’s lives can be eliminated either with the help of science or with the help of the general efforts of the team. We can say that the story is painted in pessimistic tones.
Bulgakov quickly burst into the wide and diverse stream of literature of the twenties and took a prominent place in it. He created a series classical works in many genres. Mikhail Afanasyevich became one of the founders of the new satire. He defended universal human ideals, denounced vices that, unfortunately, have not yet been eliminated...

Bulgakov's work is the pinnacle phenomenon of Russian artistic culture of the 20th century. The fate of the Master, deprived of the opportunity to be published and heard, is tragic. From 1927 to 1940, Bulgakov did not see a single line of his own in print.

Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov came to literature already during the years of Soviet power. He experienced all the difficulties and contradictions of Soviet reality in the thirties. His childhood and youth are connected with Kiev, the subsequent years of his life - with Moscow. It was during the Moscow period of Bulgakov’s life that the story “Heart of a Dog” was written. It reveals with brilliant skill and talent the theme of disharmony, brought to the point of absurdity thanks to human intervention in the eternal laws of nature.

The story “Heart of a Dog” is distinguished by the author’s extremely clear idea: the revolution that took place in Russia was not the result of the natural spiritual development of society, but an irresponsible and premature experiment. Therefore, the country must be returned to its previous state, without allowing the irreversible consequences of such an experiment.

But the professor plans to improve nature itself, he decides to compete with life itself, to create a new person by transplanting part of the human brain into a dog. This is how Sharikov is born, embodying the new Soviet man. What are the prospects for its development? Nothing impressive: the heart of a stray dog and the brain of a man with three convictions and a pronounced passion for alcohol. This is what a new person, a new society must develop from.

“-...Don’t throw cigarette butts on the floor, I ask you for the hundredth time. So that I no longer hear a single swear word in the apartment! Don't give a damn! “There’s a spittoon,” the professor is indignant.

“For some reason, dad, you’re painfully oppressing me,” the man suddenly said tearfully.”

Despite the dissatisfaction of the owner of the house, Sharikov lives in his own way: during the day he sleeps in the kitchen, messes around, does all sorts of outrages, confident that “nowadays everyone has their own right.” And in this he is not alone. Polygraph Poligrafovich finds an ally in Shvonder, the local chairman of the house committee. He bears the same responsibility as the professor for the humanoid monster. Shvonder supported Sharikov’s social status, armed him with an ideological phrase, he is his ideologist, his “spiritual shepherd.” Shvonder supplies Sharikov with “scientific” literature and gives him Engels’s correspondence with Kautsky to “study”. The beast-like creature does not approve of any author: “Otherwise they write, write... Congress, some Germans...” He draws one conclusion: “Everything must be divided.” This is how Sharikov’s psychology developed. He instinctively sensed the main credo of the new masters of life: plunder, steal, take away everything created. The main principle of a socialist society is universal equalization, called equality. We all know what this led to.

The finest hour for Polygraph Tsoligrafovich was his “service”. Having disappeared from the house, he appears before the astonished professor as a kind of young man, full of dignity and self-respect, “in a leather jacket from someone else’s shoulder, in worn leather pants and high English boots.” The incredible smell of cats immediately spread throughout the entire hallway. He presents the stunned professor with a paper that says that Comrade Sharikov is the head of the department for cleaning the city from stray animals. Shvonder placed him there.

So, Bulgakov’s Sharik made a dizzying leap: from a stray dog, he turned into an orderly to cleanse the city of stray dogs and cats. Well, pursuing one's own is a characteristic feature of all ballers. They destroy their own, as if covering up traces of their own origin...

Sharikov is alien to shame, conscience, and morality. He lacks human qualities, there is only meanness, hatred, malice.

After the revolution, all conditions were created for the appearance of a huge number of balls with dog hearts. The totalitarian system greatly contributed to this. Due to the fact that these monsters have penetrated into all areas of life, Russia is now going through difficult times.

Outwardly, the Sharikovs are no different from people, but they are always among us. Their non-human essence manifests itself all the time. The judge convicts an innocent man to fulfill a plan to solve crimes; the doctor turns away from the patient; a mother abandons her child; officials, for whom bribes have become the order of the day, are ready to betray their own. All that is most lofty and sacred turns into its opposite, since the inhuman has awakened within them and tramples them into the dirt. When a non-human comes to power, he tries to dehumanize everyone around him, since a non-human is easier to control. In her, all human feelings are replaced by the instinct of self-preservation.

The heart of a dog in alliance with the human mind is the main threat of our time. That is why the story, written at the beginning of the century, remains relevant today and serves as a warning to future generations. Today is so close to yesterday... At first glance, it seems that everything has changed, that the country has become different. But consciousness and stereotypes remained the same. More than one generation will pass before the Sharikovs disappear from our lives, people become different, and the vices described by Bulgakov in his immortal work disappear. How I want to believe that this time will come!

Bulgakov's creativity is the pinnacle phenomenon of Russian artistic culture of the 20th century. The fate of the Master, deprived of the opportunity to be published and heard, is tragic. From 1927 to 1940, Bulgakov did not see a single line of his own in print.

“For some reason, dad, you’re painfully oppressing me,” the man suddenly said tearfully.”

Despite the dissatisfaction of the owner of the house, Sharikov lives in his own way: during the day he sleeps in the kitchen, messes around, does all sorts of outrages, confident that “nowadays everyone has their own right.” And in this he is not alone. Polygraph Poligrafovich finds an ally in Shvonder, the local chairman of the house committee. He bears the same responsibility as the professor for the humanoid monster. Shvonder supported Sharikov’s social status, armed him with an ideological phrase, he is his ideologist, his “spiritual shepherd.” Shvonder supplies Sharikov with “scientific” literature and gives him Engels’s correspondence with Kautsky to “study”. The beast-like creature does not approve of any author: “Otherwise they write, write... Congress, some Germans...” He draws one conclusion: “Everything must be divided.” This is how Sharikov’s psychology developed. He instinctively sensed the main credo of the new masters of life: plunder, steal, take away everything created. The main principle of a socialist society is universal equalization, called equality. We all know what this led to.

Sharikov is alien to shame, conscience, and morality. He lacks human qualities, there is only meanness, hatred, malice.

Outwardly, the Sharikovs are no different from people, but they are always among us. Their non-human essence manifests itself all the time. The judge convicts an innocent man to fulfill a plan to solve crimes; the doctor turns away from the patient; a mother abandons her child; officials, for whom bribes have become the order of the day, are ready to betray their own. All that is most lofty and sacred turns into its opposite, since the inhuman has awakened within them and tramples them into the dirt. When a non-human comes to power, he tries to dehumanize everyone around him, since a non-human is easier to control. In her, all human feelings are replaced by the instinct of self-preservation.