The Master and Margarita

“Who are you, then?”
“I am part of that power which eternally wills evil and eternally works good.”
— The Master and Margarita

Part 1

The novel opens in 1930s Moscow, where the devil, disguised as the mysterious Professor Woland, arrives with his entourage—including the grotesque Behemoth, the assassin Azazello, and the vampire Hella. They wreak havoc on the city, exposing the greed and hypocrisy of Soviet society. Their first victim is Berlioz, a literary editor who denies God’s existence and is promptly decapitated by a tram. His friend, the poet Ivan Bezdomny, witnesses this and is driven to madness, attempting to chase Woland but ending up in a psychiatric hospital.

Meanwhile, Woland and his retinue take over a theater, staging a black magic show that humiliates the audience by showering them with money that later vanishes, leaving them in disgrace. The chaos escalates as corrupt officials and citizens face supernatural retribution.

The Master’s Story

In the asylum, Ivan meets the Master, a tormented writer who burned his manuscript—a novel about Pontius Pilate. The Master recounts his love affair with Margarita, who refused to abandon him despite his despair. His novel, which reimagines Christ’s crucifixion from Pilate’s perspective, was rejected by Soviet critics, leading to his breakdown.

Part 2

Margarita, desperate to reunite with the Master, agrees to become Woland’s hostess at Satan’s Ball. After a magical flight across Moscow, she endures the surreal and grotesque event, where historical sinners mingle. Impressed by her loyalty, Woland grants her wish: the Master is freed from the asylum.

Woland restores the Master’s burned manuscript, declaring that “manuscripts don’t burn.” The couple is granted peace in a secluded afterlife, while Moscow reels from the devil’s visit. The novel concludes with Pilate, finally forgiven after centuries of guilt, walking away with Yeshua (Jesus) into the moonlight.

Key Ideas

• The duality of good and evil, embodied by Woland’s chaotic justice.
• Artistic censorship and the Soviet persecution of free thought.
• Redemption through love, as seen in Margarita’s sacrifice.
• The timeless nature of truth, symbolized by the indestructible manuscript.
• Satire of Soviet bureaucracy and moral hypocrisy.

Notable Adaptations

• Fans of satirical and philosophical literature.
• Readers interested in Soviet-era critiques and magical realism.
• Those who enjoy layered narratives blending history and fantasy.