A. Colin Wright stated that: “[t]he publication in May-June 1925 of the Diavoliada collection is significant in Bulgakov’s life […] it confirmed him as an established writer and a successful one.”(p49) however, some critics argue that it could be viewed as an artistic failure. This is the story of one person, Korotkov, whose life is changed by new bureaucratic foundations. It can be viewed both ways as a failure and as an excellent work. This essay looks at is as being an excellent work, the magic way Bulgakov manages in a few pages to express the absurdity of a new system, the disregard towards the new soviet man. The narrative voice of this story is not distinct; however it focuses more on the action and the pace instead of Korotkov itself.
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Its collective plot moves from such confrontation, through the victory of chaos, to the establishment (sometimes only adumbrated) of the new organization…”(p42) This is seen as Korotkov’s impaired ability to identify surroundings. Bulgakov’s hero experiences the chaos, the change in leadership in his company and elsewhere and does not come out of this situation in victory. He is destroyed by changes and that impacts his psychological disorientation, his vision of the environment around him, for example <> (Bulgakov, p275) The personification of a teapot is not in this case just a figurative speech to alert the reader and attract his attention, this is also the sign that Korotkov is becoming more delirious and cannot comprehend. Moreover, this citation explains the complication of soviet system itself, it displays the hardship of trying to achieve something and this results in Korotkov’s madness. Also, in chapter seven the reader can see that << [с]вет немедленно померк в коротковских глазах, и пол легонечко качнулся под ногами. >> (Bulgakov, p271) This hyperbole presents the extent of Korotkov’s disorientation. It is not just his mind and vision that are compromised; the character cannot trust his feeling of surroundings either. Furthermore, it could be argues that Korotkov’s misinterpretations only occur in the offices, there are no evident proof that he is delirious at home, just drunk. This could lead to the arguing statement that the soviet organization is disorganised and chaotic, it pushes people towards insanity and the chaos is welcomed friend there. The bureaucracy is one of the main themes in the story and it appears in almost every chapter and plays a huge role in Korotkov’s life and his circumstances that change throughout the story. Moreover, the massiveness of the building and the emaciation of the corridors represent
Its collective plot moves from such confrontation, through the victory of chaos, to the establishment (sometimes only adumbrated) of the new organization…”(p42) This is seen as Korotkov’s impaired ability to identify surroundings. Bulgakov’s hero experiences the chaos, the change in leadership in his company and elsewhere and does not come out of this situation in victory. He is destroyed by changes and that impacts his psychological disorientation, his vision of the environment around him, for example <> (Bulgakov, p275) The personification of a teapot is not in this case just a figurative speech to alert the reader and attract his attention, this is also the sign that Korotkov is becoming more delirious and cannot comprehend. Moreover, this citation explains the complication of soviet system itself, it displays the hardship of trying to achieve something and this results in Korotkov’s madness. Also, in chapter seven the reader can see that << [с]вет немедленно померк в коротковских глазах, и пол легонечко качнулся под ногами. >> (Bulgakov, p271) This hyperbole presents the extent of Korotkov’s disorientation. It is not just his mind and vision that are compromised; the character cannot trust his feeling of surroundings either. Furthermore, it could be argues that Korotkov’s misinterpretations only occur in the offices, there are no evident proof that he is delirious at home, just drunk. This could lead to the arguing statement that the soviet organization is disorganised and chaotic, it pushes people towards insanity and the chaos is welcomed friend there. The bureaucracy is one of the main themes in the story and it appears in almost every chapter and plays a huge role in Korotkov’s life and his circumstances that change throughout the story. Moreover, the massiveness of the building and the emaciation of the corridors represent