The Heart of a Dog (Bulgakov)
Short summary
Moscow, 1920s. Elderly Professor Philip Philipovich Preobrazhensky, a respected scientist specializing in rejuvenation, took in a scruffy stray dog from the snowy streets of the city. In his luxurious apartment, together with his assistant, surgeon Dr. Bormenthal, the professor performed experimental surgeries on animals, attempting to advance human rejuvenation techniques.
The dog, named Sharik, underwent groundbreaking surgery when the professor transplanted human glands and a pituitary gland into him. Miraculously, Sharik transformed into a crude, vulgar, and aggressive human-like being, taking the name Poligraph Poligraphovich Sharikov. As a bald, ill-mannered young man in his twenties, he caused chaos and offense in the professor's cultured house.
Under the influence of Shvonder, an ardently political house committee chairman, Sharikov embraced radical socialist views, becoming rude, demanding, and unruly. Philip Philipovich, disturbed by these developments, was driven to exclaim, "You can't serve two gods! You can't sweep the dirt out of the tram tracks and settle the fate of the Spanish beggars at the same time! No one can ever manage it, doctor - and above all it can't be done by people who are two hundred years behind."
You can't serve two gods! You can't sweep the dirt out of the tram tracks and settle the fate of the Spanish beggars at the same time! No one can ever manage it, doctor - and above all it can't be done by people who are two hundred years behind.
Sharikov became an employee of the cleansing department responsible for eliminating cats, turning even more brutal and insubordinate. Eventually, after his threats and violence put everyone at risk, Dr. Bormenthal and the professor subdued him and reversed the surgery. Soon after, police came to investigate Sharikov's disappearance, but all they found was Sharik, now harmlessly reverted to a dog. The professor concluded that science was not yet capable of turning animals into people, and life returned to orderly peace.
Detailed summary by chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Chapter 1. A stray dog finds a benefactor
The story begins on a cold winter evening in Moscow. A stray dog with a scalded side is suffering in a doorway, contemplating his miserable existence after being burned by boiling water thrown by a cook. As he lies dying from cold and hunger, the dog observes a well-dressed gentleman approaching. The man stops, speaks kindly to the dog, and offers him a piece of sausage. Impressed by this unexpected kindness, the dog decides to follow the man through the streets of Moscow.
The gentleman leads Sharik to an elegant apartment building where, to the dog's surprise, the porter shows respect rather than chasing him away. Inside the luxurious apartment, Sharik is treated with kindness by the household staff. The gentleman examines Sharik's wound, determining it was caused by scalding water, and instructs his maid Zina to take the dog to the consulting room for treatment.
Chapter 2. Professor Preobrazhensky's unusual clients and lifestyle
The gentleman is revealed to be Professor Philip Philipovich Preobrazhensky, a renowned surgeon specializing in rejuvenation procedures. His apartment doubles as a medical practice where he receives wealthy clients seeking his services. Sharik observes the professor's daily routine and his interactions with patients, including a rejuvenated elderly man with dyed green hair who expresses extreme gratitude for the professor's treatment that has restored his sexual vigor.
Later, the professor and his assistant Doctor Bormenthal discuss their medical practice over dinner. Sharik, now recovering from his injuries, is allowed to join them at meals. During one such dinner, they are interrupted by members of the house committee led by Shvonder, who inform the professor that they intend to reduce his living space by moving additional tenants into his apartment.
Once a social revolution takes place there's no need to stoke the boiler. But I ask you: why, when this whole business started, should everybody suddenly start clumping up and down the marble staircase in dirty galoshes and felt boots?
Professor Preobrazhensky successfully defends his living space by making a phone call to a highly placed official. The house committee members leave in defeat, and the professor continues his comfortable lifestyle, expressing his disdain for the changes brought by the revolution. Sharik, meanwhile, adapts to his new life of comfort and regular meals.
Chapter 3. The mysterious operation on Sharik
After Sharik has spent about ten days in the professor's household, a significant change occurs. Doctor Bormenthal arrives with a mysterious package, and both doctors become extremely excited. They lure Sharik into the consulting room, where they chloroform him. The dog loses consciousness, believing he is about to be killed.
What follows is a complex surgical procedure performed by Professor Preobrazhensky with Doctor Bormenthal assisting. The operation involves removing Sharik's testicles and pituitary gland and replacing them with those from a recently deceased human. The human donor is later revealed to be Klim Chugunkin, a 28-year-old criminal and alcoholic who played the balalaika in bars.
The operation is extremely risky, and Sharik nearly dies several times during the procedure. The doctors work with precision and determination, with Professor Preobrazhensky displaying remarkable surgical skill. After the operation, Sharik remains in critical condition for several days, with the doctors administering various medications to keep him alive.
The sole result of that discovery will be that from now on we shall all have that creature Sharik hanging round our necks. If someone were to knock me down and skewer me right now, I'd give him 50 roubles reward!
Doctor Bormenthal keeps detailed notes of Sharik's condition following the operation. Initially, the purpose of the experiment appears to be related to rejuvenation research, but the results soon take an unexpected turn. The dog begins to undergo a startling transformation that neither doctor had fully anticipated.
Chapter 4. Sharik's transformation into a human
In the days following the operation, Sharik undergoes a remarkable metamorphosis. He begins to lose his fur, his body elongates, and his skull enlarges. Most astonishingly, he begins to speak. At first, he can only pronounce simple words, but his vocabulary rapidly expands. Doctor Bormenthal continues to document these changes in his notes, recording Sharik's first words and his growing ability to form sentences.
The transformation progresses until Sharik has fully taken on human form, though retaining some canine behaviors such as chasing cats. The doctors are forced to dress him in human clothes and teach him basic human behaviors like using a napkin and proper table manners. Professor Preobrazhensky becomes increasingly concerned about the outcome of his experiment as Sharik's human personality develops.
The pituitary is a magic box which determines the individual human image. Yes, individual... but it's of no use to me at all - to hell with it. I was concerned about something quite different, about eugenics, about the improvement of the human race.
It becomes apparent that Sharik has not simply gained human form but has taken on many of the personality traits of the donor, Klim Chugunkin. The professor realizes that his experiment, while scientifically groundbreaking, has resulted in the creation of a crude, vulgar individual with criminal tendencies rather than an improved human specimen.
Chapter 5. The troublesome behavior of Sharikov
As the transformation completes, the creature now identifies himself as Poligraph Poligraphovich Sharikov. With Shvonder's assistance, he obtains official identity papers and demands to be treated as a citizen with full rights. He becomes increasingly difficult to manage, displaying crude manners, using foul language, and causing various disruptions in the household.
One incident involves Sharikov turning on the water taps in the bathroom, causing a flood throughout the apartment. On another occasion, he chases a cat through the apartment, breaking valuable items. His behavior becomes increasingly problematic as he asserts his independence and challenges the professor's authority.
Professor Preobrazhensky and Doctor Bormenthal attempt to civilize Sharikov by teaching him proper behavior and manners, but their efforts yield limited success. Sharikov resists their instruction and becomes resentful of their attempts to control him. The household staff, including Zina and Darya Petrovna, find themselves dealing with his inappropriate behavior and crude advances.
You belong to the lowest possible stage of development. You are still in the formative stage. You are intellectually weak, all your actions are purely bestial. Yet you allow yourself... to offer advice on a cosmic scale and of quite cosmic stupidity.
The professor grows increasingly frustrated with his creation and regrets the experiment. He realizes that while he has achieved a scientific breakthrough, he has also created a significant problem that now threatens the peace of his household and his professional reputation.
Chapter 6. Sharikov's rebellion and political awakening
Sharikov's behavior worsens as he begins to adopt political ideas. Under Shvonder's influence, he reads communist literature, including correspondence between Engels and Kautsky. During a dinner conversation, he attempts to discuss politics with Professor Preobrazhensky and Doctor Bormenthal, advocating for the redistribution of wealth and criticizing the professor for having seven rooms when others have none.
The professor responds with contempt to Sharikov's simplistic understanding of politics and his crude attempts at ideological discussion. He points out the hypocrisy in Sharikov's position, noting that if wealth were to be shared equally, Sharikov would need to contribute his portion of the income from the professor's medical practice.
Tensions escalate when Sharikov steals money from the professor and returns drunk with two disreputable companions. They cause a disturbance in the apartment and steal several items before being driven away by the threat of police intervention. When confronted about the theft, Sharikov denies responsibility and instead accuses Zina of taking the money, causing further outrage from the professor and Doctor Bormenthal.
Chapter 7. Sharikov's new job and growing independence
With Shvonder's assistance, Sharikov secures a position at the Moscow Cleansing Department as the director of the sub-department for eliminating vagrant quadrupeds (cats, etc.). He proudly returns to the apartment wearing a leather jacket, leather breeches, and high boots, announcing his new employment to the professor. The job involves catching and killing stray cats, which appeals to Sharikov's canine instincts.
His new position gives Sharikov a sense of authority and independence. He begins to assert himself more aggressively in the household, demanding respect and challenging the professor's rules. He even brings home a young woman, a typist from his office named Citizeness Basnetsova, announcing his intention to marry her and have her move into the apartment.
Professor Preobrazhensky intervenes, speaking privately with the young woman and revealing Sharikov's true nature and origins. Humiliated and disillusioned, she leaves in tears. Sharikov is furious at this interference and threatens revenge, claiming he has connections and will make trouble for the professor. Doctor Bormenthal responds with threats of his own, warning Sharikov not to harass the young woman or attempt to harm her career.
I am faced by despair. I confess I am utterly perplexed... My only comfort is that Shvonder is the biggest fool of all. He doesn't realise that Sharikov is much more of a threat to him than he is to me.
Chapter 8. The breaking point and confrontation
The situation reaches a breaking point when Sharikov files a report with the authorities, denouncing Professor Preobrazhensky and Doctor Bormenthal as counter-revolutionaries. The report claims they possess firearms, make counter-revolutionary speeches, and have ordered the burning of Engels' works. Fortunately, the report falls into the hands of a former patient of the professor who warns him about it.
That evening, a confrontation occurs in the consulting room. When Professor Preobrazhensky orders Sharikov to leave the apartment, Sharikov refuses and pulls out a revolver. Doctor Bormenthal overpowers him, and the two doctors take Sharikov into the operating room. The household staff is instructed not to leave the apartment or allow anyone to enter, and the doors are locked.
What happens next is not explicitly described, but it is implied that the doctors perform another operation on Sharikov. Doctor Bormenthal is seen burning his medical notes by the fireplace, and both men appear exhausted and injured, with scratches on their faces. For ten days, the apartment remains quiet and locked down, with no sign of Sharikov.
Chapter 9. The detective's visit and unexpected revelation
Ten days after the confrontation, the police arrive at the apartment with a search warrant. They are investigating the alleged murder of Poligraph Poligraphovich Sharikov, based on his sudden disappearance. Shvonder accompanies them, eager to see the professor held accountable.
Professor Preobrazhensky calmly denies any wrongdoing and explains that Sharikov has not been murdered but has simply reverted to his original canine form. To prove his claim, he calls for Doctor Bormenthal to bring in Sharik. To everyone's astonishment, a dog enters the room—a dog with a scar on his head who can still speak a few words but is clearly becoming more canine with each passing day.
Science has not yet found the means of turning animals into people. I tried, but unsuccessfully, as you can see. He talked and then he began to revert back to his primitive state. Atavism.
Epilogue. Life returns to normal at Preobrazhensky's apartment
After the police leave, life in Professor Preobrazhensky's apartment gradually returns to normal. Sharik resumes his place as the household pet, though he retains some human-like qualities. He can still speak a few words, but these abilities are diminishing as he continues to revert to his canine nature. The professor resumes his medical practice, and the disruption caused by the experiment fades into the past.
The story concludes with Sharik contentedly lying on a rug in the professor's study, watching him work and feeling grateful for his comfortable life. The failed experiment serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of radical attempts to transform nature and society through artificial means.