The artistic category “home/homelessness” in the novels by M. A. Bulgakov and M. Petrosyan The house in which…

The article analyses the artistic category “home/homelessness” which is prominent in the contemporary literature and is characterized by a complex philosophical semantics. The article focuses on the novels by M. A. Bulgakov and M. Petrosyan (a contemporary Russian-speaking Armenian writer) "The House in Which…" and studies the significance of this category for the plot, artistic structure and the conflicts in the novels. In Petrosyan’s novel, the “House” is not only portrayed as a “safe territory” the characters strive to save themselves from homelessness. The House symbolizes the model of the world with its own strict hierarchical structure and an ability to move through different levels based on characters’ moral choices. The characters of both novels are faced with the moral dilemmas which form the basis of the plot. The movements through the House enable it to serve as a medium between the reality and a different dimension (Bulgakov) and reality and a fantasy world (Petrosyan). In both cases the authors lead their characters towards an ideal. By overcoming all the challenges, the characters find deeper freedom and wisdom which surpass those of the House-medium.Московский педагогический государственный университет123-13