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chery 's review for:
The Master and Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
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.
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.