The Master and Margarita
Reviews
I love art that isn’t immediately known to you from the first chance getting to know it. There's something captivating about not fully grasping the entire context—it opens the door to personal discoveries about history, world leaders, literary references, and so much more. I find it fascinating to uncover philosophy in Christianity or other religions through the lens of a different belief system. It’s not that it makes me feel smarter; rather, it offers an experience I know I could never find in contemporary literature. I think I’m in love with the inherent strangeness of classic books, and Bulgakov’s writing, in particular, is so mesmerizing that I never want to stop immersing myself in it.
I have a theory about Woland’s role in The Master and Margarita. He was present at Christ’s execution and later appears in Moscow during Stalin’s Soviet regime, a time when the government aggressively promoted atheism and rejected religion. Woland seems to have a specific purpose: to expose and punish the people’s denial of Christ and their refusal to believe in His existence. He finds amusement in their ignorance, especially in how stubbornly they reject the idea of God. But Woland’s actions aren’t just for his own entertainment. He eliminates anyone who opposes him or tries to stand in his way. What’s interesting is how he punishes people in ways that match their beliefs. Since they deny God, Woland becomes a kind of divine reckoning, enforcing justice in his own way. His presence forces the people to face the consequences of their disbelief. To Woland, this approach makes sense—if they’ve already dismissed God, he feels free to act as he pleases, without following divine rules. This connects to the translator’s note: “As Woland’s existence proves the existence of a God the Soviet state has abandoned—so the writer tells lies in order to say something true.” Woland’s presence challenges the Soviet regime’s rejection of God, showing that denying spiritual truths doesn’t make them disappear. Instead, their ignorance and defiance invite forces like Woland, who punish them in ways they can’t understand or escape.
An utter mystery. For me, seductive and out of the blue.
Surrealist satire set in Stalin's Soviet Union spotlighting the absurdity of the bureaucracy and championing the human humor and spirit. The novel follows Satan and his retinue, highlighted by a large, vodka drinking cat, who appear in 1930's Moscow and begin to expose the hypocrisy of the Soviet elite. They eventually come in contact with the novel's namesakes: an author known by his love, Margarita, as the Master. Across Moscow with some pitstops in Christ's Jerusalem, the story is about religion, the state's hypocrisy, seizing life, following passions, and being an individual. Almost impossible to summarize, the novel can seem to be disjointed, but is ultimately highly memorable because it's full of gallows humor and tender moments.
Bulgakov’s writing is as divine and illustrious as the various expeditions taken by the devil and his party. Book 2 was more of a favourite for me, with the storyline weaving in and out of a dark phantasmal blur. For some reason aspects of the novel reminded me of darker themes in Spirited Away.
Interposed between a retelling of the crucifixion of Christ is the most charming bewildering and lighthearted Russian story about mischief and the pitfalls of cowardice. Unlike many of his contemporary counterparts (Gogol, Pushkin, Tolstoy) bulgakov does not fixate on Soviet era Russia’s strife and misery but instead tells a tale about satan in Moscow with his crew of henchmen while they rampage though the city. So enjoyable and lighthearted. Couldn’t help but laugh out loud each time behemoth the hind leg walking vodka drinking cigarette smoking black cat decided to play a game of William Tell or fire off his Browning at the Russian secret service.
my brain needs a break. will review later.
Had high expectations for this book, after hearing heaps of praise about it, yet somehow my expectations were still exceeded. What makes this novel so singular in its brilliance is its heart that cohesively brings together widely disparate elements of its narrative (e.g. satire, fairy tale, etc). A classic that I plan to re-read many, many times.
Superb and unforgettable.
i only got halfway thru before i had to put it down. what was even happening.. i couldnt follow especially with all the random characters. i can usually get thru older & complex books but nothing was connecting and the dialogue was so strange that it was more confusing than funny. i wanted to believe i would get into it but i just couldnt :(
akala ko nasa psych ward ako e. I guess I'm not yet ready for this kind of book, this magical realism shit coz I did not appreciate it the way other people did, I have an idea what the author is trying to say but still it's not for me.
«Non bisogna certo fare dei grandi progetti, caro vicino, è vero! Io, per esempio, volevo fare il giro di tutta la Terra. Si vede che non era stato scritto. Vedo solo un insignificante pezzetto di questa Terra. Penso che non sia il migliore che esista al mondo, ma, lo ripeto, non è poi così misero.»
ding ding ding
i don’t have the words to explain just how much i adored this book, but it’s going to stick with me for a long time. hands down one of the best books i’ve ever read.
Classic! Deeply layered, wonderfully chroeographed and satisfying storyline.
Early Magical Realism
Follow me, reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar’s vile tongue be cut out! Follow me, my reader, and me alone, and I will show you such a love!
4,5
I very much enjoyed reading a book that makes no claims on truthfulness whatsoever.
Good book, it takes focus while reading to follow the story. It takes a mature mind to understand. It's a decent book but not something you should go for when looking for a light read.
Faust in Moscow with laffs and a less-straightforward moral; also a solemn and harrowing Passion play; also a revenge play on the various apparatchiks and shill artists that made Bulgakov's life a constant question mark. I loved book one, in which the devil upends Stalinist control with seances, magic tricks, telegram lulz, and horrible trolling of only somewhat venal people. Love leaped out in front of us like a murderer in an alley leaping out of nowhere, and struck us both at once. As lightning strikes, as a Finnish knife strikes! It has a sweet fairytale air over and above the murders and the Satanic chaos. Follow me reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar's vile tongue be cut out! Was wondering if it's a Christian novel, but it is heretical to balls. Yeshua to Pilate: In fact, I'm beginning to fear that this confusion will go on for a long time. And all because [Mark] writes down what I said incorrectly.
knigavuhe.org/book/master-i-margarita/
This is hilariously bizarre as far as Russian Literature is concerned; But Bulghakov ruins the early nineteenth century bureaucracy with his gothic imagery of the Devil, assisted by his equally devastating companions. A fantastic read, crazy in its depiction of love and remorse, and ends beautifully.
kinda want to believe in god now
You know those really old monochrome, low-budget movies that still has no CGI whatsoever? That’s actually what I feel when I was reading The Master and Margarita. So much going on... In one place... But it’s silly too at the same time. I can’t say I understand it one hundred percent (since it’s my first russian literature and I’m still quite adapting myself with classics and how they’re written) and magical realism has never been my forte afterall. But character wise I LOVE Behemoth and when he’s paired with Koroviev too. They’re entertaining to read. But I just love Behemoth.
Highlights
‘Go on?' repeated the visitor. ‘Why, you can guess for yourself how it went on.’ He suddenly wiped an unexpected tear with his right sleeve and continued: ‘Love leaped out in front of us like a murderer in an alley leaping out of nowhere, and struck us both at once. As lightning strikes, as a Finnish knife strikes! She, by the way, insisted afterwards that it wasn't so, that we had, of course, loved each other for a long, long time, without knowing each other, never having seen each other, and that she was living with a different man...as I was, too, then...’
“GODS, my gods! How sad the earth is at eventide! How mysterious are the mists over the swamps. Anyone who has wandered in these mists, who has suffered a great deal before death, or flown above the earth, bearing a burden beyond his strength knows this. One who is exhausted knows this. And without regret he forsakes the mists of the earth, its swamps and rivers, and. sinks into the arms of death with a light heart, knowing that death alone …”
“You pronounced your words as if you refuse to acknowledge the existence of either shadows or evil. But would you kindly ponder this question: what would your good do if evil didn’t exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and from living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You’re stupid.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t believe you,” said Woland. “That cannot be. Manuscripts don’t burn.”
“Just like a murderer jumps out of nowhere in an alley, love jumped out in front of us and struck us both at once! The way lightning strikes, or a Finnish knife! She, by the way, would later say that it wasn’t like that, that we had, of course, loved each other for a very long time, without knowing or ever having seen each other, and that she was living with another man … and I was then … with that … what’s her name”
“The poet had wasted his night while others were feasting and now understood that it was impossible to get it back. One needed only to raise one’s head from the lamp to the sky to understand that the night was irretrievably lost. Waiters were hurriedly tearing the tablecloths from the tables. The cats slinking around the veranda had a morning look. Day irresistibly heaved itself upon the poet.”
“I demand to be turned back to my usual shape! the pig suddenly grunted, half angry, half begging. I refuse to take part in an illegal assembly! Margarita Nikolayevna, kindly take your maid off my back.”
Gimme the briefcase, you skunk !
Kindly consider the question: what would your good do if evil did not exist. and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it? Shadows are cast by objects and people.
Ti addormenterai, col tuo berretto consumato ed eterno, ti addormenterai col sorriso sulle labbra. Il sonno si rafforzerà e saggi saranno i tuoi pensieri. E mandarmi via ormai non potrai. Il tuo sonno lo proteggerò io.
Ed egli senza rimpianto abbandona le brume della terra, le sue paludi e i suoi fiumi, a cuor leggero si consegna nelle mani della morte sapendo che essa lo placherà.
Quante volte ve l'ho detto: il vostro errore fondamentale sta nel sottovalutare l'importanza degli occhi umani. Capite, la lingua può nascondere la verità, ma gli occhi mai!