My Dreams Become More and More Painful ... Ethical and Axiological Issues in Mikhail Bulgakov’s Drama Flight

This article discusses ethical and axiological issues in the drama Flight by Mikhail Bulgakov. This work, changed and rewritten many times, remains overshadowed by his prose texts, although it is an original and multi-problematic text which rewards examination. Some characteristic features of Flight include combinations of various aesthetic conventions, transitions from dramatic tragedy to grotesque comedy, and the oneiric convention, which supports both the development of existential dilemmas and the search of the main character, Roman Khludov, lost, meandering and increasingly aware of the tragic consequences of his life choices. The multitude of religious, literary, historical, social, and political contexts makes the piece an interpretative challenge, revealing new senses and meanings upon each reading.