«The Master and Margarita» is a novel by Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov, begun in the late 1920s and worked on until the writer's death in 1940. The novel remained unfinished and wasn't published until 1966-1967, 26 years after the author's death.
The work consists of two interwoven storylines. The first tells of a visit by Woland (Satan) and his retinue to 1930s Moscow, where they set off a series of strange events that expose the vices and shortcomings of Soviet society. The second storyline is a novel about Pontius Pilate and Yeshua Ha-Nozri (Jesus), written by the protagonist, known as the Master.
The novel's key themes:
- The clash of good and evil, light and darkness
- Cowardice as the worst of human vices
- Freedom and responsibility
- The power of art and creativity
- Love as a redemptive force
- A critique of bureaucracy and conformism
Famous quotes from Woland:
«Never ask for anything! Never for anything, and especially not from those who are stronger than you. They'll offer everything themselves and give it all away!»
«A fact is the most stubborn thing in the world.»
«Manuscripts don't burn.»
«What's the matter with you people, whatever you reach for, there's nothing there!»
«Yes, man is mortal, but that would be only half the trouble. The worst of it is that he's sometimes suddenly mortal, that's the trick!»
Famous quotes from Pontius Pilate:
«Cowardice is without doubt one of the most terrible vices. So said Yeshua Ha-Nozri. No, philosopher, I disagree with you: it is THE most terrible vice.»
«The execution would have taken place under any circumstances. But I, the procurator, did not confirm the death sentence.»
«Oh gods, gods, why do you punish me?.. Yes, there's no doubt, it's her again, that invincible, terrible illness... hemicrania, in which half the head aches... there's no cure for it, no relief at all... I'll try not to move my head.»
«And the kingdom of truth and justice will come, and man will pass into the kingdom of truth and justice, where no power at all will be needed.»
«The Master and Margarita» is considered one of the greatest works of 20th-century Russian literature and has spawned countless interpretations. It has had an enormous influence on culture and inspired numerous adaptations in theater, film, and music.