“The Days of the Turbins” by M.A. Bulgakov in the context of the formation of historical memory of the Civil War in Russia

Abstract. This article analyzes Mikhail Bulgakov’s play “The Days of the Turbins” in the context of the formation of historical memory of the Russian Civil War. The author
examines the play’s origins and its premiere at the Moscow Art Theater, tracing its path to its first public publication in the USSR in 1955. The article demonstrates how the
questions and issues raised in the play challenged the dominant Soviet narrative about the Civil War. Instead of the usual demonization of the “Whites”, Mikhail Bulgakov creates vibrant, multifaceted characters, immersing the viewer in a world of moral choices and psychological conflicts. Through the drama of the Turbin family, the writer reveals an identity crisis, the powerlessness of individuals in the face of the massive events of the military-revolutionary era, and the fluidity of moral and ethical frameworks, which became a reflection of the larger crisis that engulfed all of Russian society during that period.

Keywords: Civil War, historical memory, Days of the Turbins, Mikhail Bulgakov, USSR, White Movement, Bolsheviks.