On the pages of the novel "The Master and Margarita", the author shows the moral flaws of society in the modern era and in the distant past. From time immemorial, people have been asking the questions “what is truth” and “what are the moral criteria”. Great thinkers and philosophers did not come to an unequivocal answer, but Mikhail Bulgakov tried to develop this problem in his work.
The main characters of the novel
The author introduces two storylines into the story: the action takes place in Moscow in the 30s and in Yershalaim two thousand years ago. In the book “The Master and Margarita” the image of the Master is central: he writes a novel about Pontius Pilate, burns it, and then finds himself in a psychiatric hospital. Later, they placed Ivan Homeless, the author of the anti-religious story of Jesus Christ. The second assures physicians that Woland appeared in Moscow - Satan himself, but they do not believe him and make a diagnosis. Masters are waiting for Margarita, who for the sake of his salvation signs a contract with the dark forces. Woland invites her to become the queen at the ball, to which the woman agrees.
In Yershalaim, the Jewish procurator Pontius Pilate, obeying the will of Caesar, executes the innocent Yeshua Ga-Nozri. Subsequently, the hegemon regrets his act and suffers for a long time. In the last chapters of the novel "The Master and Margarita" the image of the Master plays an important role in the fate of Pontius Pilate: he frees him, and he regains happiness with his beloved.
The ideological content of the book
A black magician Woland visits the Russian capital with the cat Behemoth, the demon Azazello, the senior subordinate Koroviev and the witch Gella. The fateful chain of events begins at the Patriarch Ponds. Woland talks with Michael Berlioz and Ivan Homeless, who completely deny the existence of Jesus Christ. Satan predicts death to Berlioz - a tram will cross him, and in the evening this terrible event takes place. Woland settles in his apartment and begins to prepare for a dark ball, and before that he arranges a session of dark magic for Muscovites. Margarita signs a contract with Satan and agrees to become the queen of triumph.
In Yershalaim, by order of Caesar, Yeshua Ga-Nozri was executed, and only the Jewish prosecutor could stop it. Out of cowardice, he does not do this, for which he is doomed to eternal torment: for many thousands of moons he sits with the dog Banga and reflects on his actions, and only the Master is destined to release him at the end of the novel.
The problem of moral choice in a book
For many centuries, people have committed acts against or in the name of morality. The image of Margarita in the novel "The Master and Margarita" demonstrates the second type of deeds. This strong woman is ready to give up everything for the sake of truth and love.
Often people get benefits for themselves through deception, hypocrisy, violence, betrayal, lies, and then, fearing to lose them, again go to vile deeds. Pontius Pilate did not want to sacrifice his place and status, for which he was doomed to eternal torment.
Mikhail Bulgakov contrasts the positive and negative images of the novel "Master and Margarita", wanting to show that without a moral feeling a person cannot be happy. There are no people without sins in the world, but a repentant can atone for his guilt. For Pontius Pilate, his forgiveness consisted in the freedom that the Master granted him.
The image of Yeshua
The master and Margarita are the positive heroes of the novel, which are adjacent to the prototype of Jesus Christ. In the heads of Yershalaim, Bulgakov contrasts the image of the hegemon and the impoverished preacher Ha-Nozri. Yeshua refuses to renounce the truth, for which he is sentenced to death. Together with the inhabitants of Rome, he believed that the time would come when there would be no power and violence. Is there really a component of a crime in these words for which one should be deprived of life?
Pontius Pilate Yeshua was pretty, and he wants to save him, but he is afraid to risk his measured life. A dilemma arises before him: execute, but go against conscience, or have mercy, but lose power? The hegemon chooses the first: he is only menacing in appearance, like a lion; in fact, a cowardly hare heart beats in him.
The image of Pontius Pilate
The fate of the inhabitants of Rome is in the hands of the Jewish procurator. One historical source says that Pilate is responsible for countless executions committed without trial. Such cruelty was manifested due to the fear of losing one's status. His entourage behave in a similar way. The pages of the Yershalaim chapters by Mikhail Bulgakov perfectly demonstrate this typical characteristic of images.
"The Master and Margarita" is a novel of profound philosophical content. The author argues that even the most terrible villain can become a righteous man. Pontius Pilate is aware of his monstrous mistake: an honest man like Yeshua should not lose his life. The hegemon comes to the conclusion of cowardice: "This is the most terrible vice." The author introduces the image of the Master and Margarita to show that not all people are so cowardly - many do not fear punishment and go on desperate acts in the name of morality. For his mistake, the prosecutor is doomed to immortality, and this is perhaps the most painful punishment.
The Master and Margarita: the image of the master
The author does not give a name to the protagonist of his novel, since there were many people like him in Soviet Russia. The writers of this era can be compared with living mummies: they write only what the public expects, and do not try to stand out with original ideas. They refuse to publish a novel about Pontius Pilate because in the anti-religious Russia this topic has lost its relevance. The great idea, for which the Master sacrificed his wealth, remains unlit, and the author burns his creation in desperation.
Woland decides to return the novel to the writer and utters the famous phrase: "Manuscripts do not burn!" In the book "The Master and Margarita" the image of the Master echoes the life of Mikhail Bulgakov himself. The young writer burned a draft of his Christian-themed novel, during his lifetime, he did not deserve recognition from critics and only a few decades later began to interest the public.
The image of Margarita
A moral person does a lot for the sake of relatives and friends, without fear of death. Mankind knows women who are braver than men in their actions. That was the main character. The image of Margarita in the novel "The Master and Margarita" differs from all others: young, beautiful, she was the wife of a very large specialist, but renounced luxury. She did not know happiness before meeting with the Master.
In the name of love, Margarita agrees to work with Satan himself. Woland appears in Moscow to test the main characters of the novel, reward them for their loyalty and love, and punish liars and traitors. He repeatedly visits Moscow, and during his absence a lot has changed: architecture, clothing, lifestyle, but not the people themselves. In the novel "The Master and Margarita" the images of Muscovite heroes are greedy and cruel. It is not surprising that Woland chooses Margarita, the honest woman with a big loving heart, as the queen of his dark ball. For all the positive qualities of Margarita, he rewards her - again connects with the Master. For the sake of love, a woman is ready to go to the most difficult trials, having stood which, gains her happiness.
Dark retinue
In the novel "The Master and Margarita", the image of Woland is far from the true Satan, about whom terrible legends have been composed for many years. He looks like a man who acts in good faith and fulfills his promises. Woland reunited Margarita with her beloved Master, punished the immoral Muscovites, suggested how to free Pontius Pilate, and finally quietly evaporated. Almighty Satan has the best of human qualities, which cannot be said of the Jewish procurator. The author contrasts the image of the Master and Margarita with Woland and the hegemon: the road to heaven is closed to them, but they are the most honest, virtuous in the novel, and most importantly - they remained faithful to each other, having passed many moral tests.