This paper explains that, in M. Bulgakov's "The Heart of a Dog", the theme of
deification leads into 'the crux of the
professor's
tragedy', which is found in the Bulgakovian principle that creation always has undertones of its anti-thesis, anti-creation. The author describes Preobrazhenskii as a victim because, by the end of the book, he is visibly older (
quotation in Russian) and he speaks in a voice that is (quotation in Russian) clearly deranged. The paper relates that the language used in the book is akin to that of the murderous act taking place - 'shouts', 'swoops', 'pierces' and 'plunges'; the professor 'growls', 'roars' and 'hisses' as he clenches his teeth. Written in English with many quotes in Russian throughout the paper and in the footnotes, most without translation.