Sharik / Polygraph Polygraphovich Sharikov
The central character in Heart of a Dog is a mangy stray mutt who gets turned into a man—and then, at the end of the book, back into a dog—by the gentleman scientist Philip Philippovich…
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Professor Philip Philippovich Preobrazhensky
Preobrazhensky is the eccentric surgeon, professor, and aristocrat whose experiment on Sharik drives the plot of Heart of a Dog. He is a world-renowned expert on the brain, and his expensive rejuvenation operations are…
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Dr. Ivan Arnoldovich Bormenthal
Bormenthal is Prof. Preobrazhensky’s loyal assistant, friend, and admirer. Notably, the fifth chapter of the novel consists of his journal. He helps Philip with his surgeries and day-to-day medical practice, and partway through the…
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Shvonder
Shvonder is a young working-class communist who moves into Prof. Preobrazhensky’s building, immediately gets appointed to lead the building management committee, and spends most of the novel trying to confiscate all or part of…
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Darya Petrovna Ivanova
Darya Petrovna is Prof. Preobrazhensky’s talented cook. She befriends Sharik the dog, but gets sexually assaulted in the night by Sharikov the man. Her relationship with Prof. Preobrazhensky is close but occasionally strained—for instance…
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Fyodor
Fyodor is the doorman at Prof. Preobrazhensky’s building. Notably, he climbs through the window to turn off the faucet after Sharikov floods Preobrazhensky’s bathroom and helps resolve disputes between Sharikov and the neighbors. Like…
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Klim Grigorievich Chugunkin
Chugunkin is the alcoholic, petty thief, womanizer, and balalaika player whose pituitary gland Prof. Preobrazhensky implants into Sharik. Sharik then manifests Chugunkin’s offensive personality, an exaggerated version of what Bulgakov considers to be the…
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Vasnetsova
Vasnetsova is a young typist who appears briefly at the beginning and end of the book. In the opening scene, she rushes out of the government cafeteria into the winter and gives Sharik his name…
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Zinaida (Zina) ProkofievnaBunina
Zina is Prof. Preobrazhensky’s young housekeeper, who helps him deal with Sharik’s antics as a dog and harassment as a man. In addition to cleaning and serving dinner, she also reports to Preobrazhensky…
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Minor Characters
Vyazemskaya
Vyazemskaya is a woman who belongs to Shvonder’s building management committee. She is androgynous-looking, and Prof. Preobrazhensky initially mistakes her for a man. This points to the way communism is changing social norms and gender roles.
