"Destruction is not in the closets, but in the heads": the meaning and origin of the expression

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov is a writer who is regularly quoted and does not lose relevance to this day. From under his pen, among others, a wonderful story, reflecting its time, "The Heart of a Dog" came out. However, the thoughts expressed in it are relevant in the modern world.

Summary of the story

The story tells about the experiment of Professor Preobrazhensky and its consequences. Preobrazhensky and Bormental discuss the current situation, during this discussion the famous "devastation is not in the closets, but in the heads" is pronounced. After some time, Preobrazhensky picks up and nurses a dog, to which he transplants human endocrine glands. The ball turns into Polygraph Polygraphovich. The attempts of the professor and the doctor to make a "decent person" out of him fail miserably - Klim Chugunkin defeated Sharik. But after the extreme tension of the situation, Preobrazhensky and Bormental return everything to its place. Sharik remains to live in the professor's apartment as a pet.

What does this quote mean?

"Destruction is not in the closets, but in the heads" - the words of Professor Preobrazhensky, the hero of "The Heart of a Dog". It is preceded by a monologue that reveals the very essence of this phrase. The professor describes quite ordinary situations of "devastation" that have occurred or are capable of occurring due to specific actions of people, "devastation in their heads." Especially if the correct course of things is violated, for example, choral singing is performed instead of operations, or the rules of conduct in public places are not observed. This is exactly what it is, devastation "not in the closets, but in the heads."

Result

The story "Heart of a Dog" undoubtedly reflects the time in which it was written, the time at the junction of two eras. However, from this it does not lose its veracity, its reality in terms of displaying social issues, the relationship of people from different strata of society to each other, numerous conflicts due to the difference in worldviews, and, of course, the very devastation that is usually scolded everywhere and everywhere, singing in chorus instead of operating. To our great regret, modern man forgets one simple truth expressed by Professor Preobrazhensky. The devastation is not in the closets, but in the heads. It is precisely because a person is looking for the reasons for the current situation "in the outside world", not realizing that you can start to change it with your actions, nothing changes in his life, the "devastation-old woman" does not want to leave those places where hercreate such a comfortable environment.