cheerfulbee03's Book Journey

I love this book. It's endearing, and every time I reread it, I discover something new. Woland is one of my favourite literary depictions of the Devil: he feels alive, complex and almost human.

There is so much that could be said about this novel, but one of the most important things I took away from it – and the thing that surprised me the most – is that it cannot be reduced to a simply anti-Stalinist novel.

During a series of lectures on Bulgakov and his most famous novel, I encountered a compelling critical interpretation. Bulgakov wrote letters to Stalin, who even called him personally in response. Although Bulgakov was undoubtedly a victim of the Soviet system – his works were censored, and many were never published or staged – he still believed it was possible to communicate with those in power. For this reason, The Master and Margarita should not be considered anti-Stalinist in the strictest sense. That certainly doesn't make it Stalinist, either. Rather, it was one of the most powerful ways Bulgakov – a man whose only real weapon was the written word – could engage with power itself.

One aspect of the novel that puzzled me during my first reading was the inclusion of the Pontius Pilate chapters. During the lessons, I learned about a critical interpretation according to which the Pontius Pilate chapters can be read as a transfiguration of the relationship Bulgakov longed to have with Stalin – that is, with power. In this reading, Bulgakov becomes a figure akin to Jeshua Ha-Nozri, attempting to reason with Pontius Pilate. The latter is portrayed as weak and unable to take a stand. This, in itself, constitutes a criticism of the authorities that had "mutilated" his artistic production.

All things considered, I think this is my favourite novel, and I hope that the more I learn about it, the more I'll come to appreciate it. It's so rich in symbolism and subtext – and, of course, full of witchcraft (and who doesn't love witchcraft?) – that I can't imagine ever getting tired of reading it.