How was the dog made into a ball in "The Adventures of Sharik"? - briefly
In Mikhail Bulgakov's "Heart of a Dog," the transformation of the dog into a human is achieved through a complex surgical procedure. The protagonist, Professor Preobrazhensky, removes the dog's testes and implants them into a recently deceased human subject, resulting in a grotesque and unsettling hybrid being named Sharikov.
How was the dog made into a ball in "The Adventures of Sharik"? - in detail
In Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical novel "The Heart of a Dog," also known as "The Adventures of Sharik," the transformation of the dog into a man is a central plot device that serves as a critique of Soviet society and its ideals. The process by which the dog, originally named Sharik but later referred to as Poligraf Poligrafovich Sharikov, is transformed involves both surgical procedures and philosophical debates about the essence of humanity.
The story begins with Professor Preobrazhensky, a brilliant scientist who has been working on a series of experiments aimed at reversing the evolutionary process. His goal is to create a "new Soviet man" by transplanting human organs into a dog. The professor believes that this transformation will result in an individual who embodies the best qualities of both humans and animals, ultimately contributing to the advancement of communist ideals.
The surgical procedure involves several stages. First, the professor removes the dog's testicles, which he believes are the source of its aggressive and uncontrolled behavior. Next, he transplants human organs into the dog, including a pituitary gland and various other glands to stimulate human-like characteristics. The final step in this transformation is the transplantation of a human brain into the dog's skull.
Throughout the novel, Bulgakov explores the philosophical implications of this transformation. Sharikov, the newly created being, struggles to reconcile his animal instincts with his newfound humanity. He exhibits both primitive and sophisticated behaviors, demonstrating the complex interplay between nature and nurture. This tension highlights Bulgakov's critique of Soviet ideology, which sought to create a "new man" through political indoctrination and social engineering.
Bulgakov also uses Sharikov's transformation to comment on the dehumanizing effects of totalitarianism. As Sharikov becomes more integrated into society, he is subjected to the same pressures and corruptions that affect his human counterparts. This serves as a stark reminder that true humanity cannot be achieved through mere biological alterations; it requires moral and ethical development.
In conclusion, "The Heart of a Dog" uses the scientific transformation of a dog into a man as a powerful allegory to examine the flaws and contradictions of Soviet ideology. Through Sharikov's journey, Bulgakov raises profound questions about the nature of humanity, the limits of science, and the dangers of attempting to engineer society according to utopian visions.