- Essays
- On literature
- Bulgakov
- Yeshua and Pontius Pilate in the novel The Master and Margarita
Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov's novel “The Master and Margarita” is truly philosophical. Behind the addictive flow of a measured narrative about human destinies, there are many truly “eternal” questions about what is good and what is bad, what is the true purpose of each person, why and for what purpose we live. And the heroes of the Yershalaim chapters of the work, Yeshua Ha-Nozri and Pontius Pilate, are among the most impressive and amazing heroes of the novel.
Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea, during his life was accustomed to command and control, pass sentences and make a wide variety of decisions, even cruel and inhumane ones. He constantly feels lonely, because he has only one true friend - his dog. However, the meeting with Yeshua turned the procurator’s life upside down, forcing him to doubt almost everything.
Yeshua Ha-Nozri, whose prototype is Jesus Christ, appeared before Pontius Pilate as a criminal. They said that he was inciting people to revolt, but in reality Yeshua was simply talking to them. After several minutes of communication with Ga-Notsri, the procurator realized that an extraordinary person was standing in front of him. Extraordinarily intelligent, subtle and deep, Yeshua noticed what others did not notice, what Pontius Pilate himself did not notice. There was a feeling that a harmony reigned in Yeshua’s soul, which Pilate could only dream of in the intervals between the painful headaches that had been tormenting him for many years. However, the procurator of Judea was afraid. He was afraid of an unusual person, afraid of condemnation from his people, simply afraid of not doing what other people expected - and sentenced the innocent Yeshua to execution.
After this decision, which over time turned out to be truly fateful, everything changed. Dying, Yeshua said that cowardice is the most terrible vice, and Pontius Pilate fully realized and felt this. For a very long period of time, he suffered and was tormented by difficult thoughts, but having realized his sin and repented, Pilate found peace and met Yeshua again, this time in another world and without further separation.
In my opinion, in the novel “The Master and Margarita” Bulgakov strives to open the eyes of readers to what the world would be like if neither evil nor good existed in it. Without evil in the person of the bad deed of Pontius Pilate, he would never have known what true good is, which Yeshua revealed to him, and he would also never have known what kind of life he should strive for and how he should act in order for there to be harmony in the soul. Of course, a person is prone to making mistakes, this is absolutely natural, but not learning from them is a real crime. Sincere repentance should be followed by the same sincere forgiveness, and I believe that it was precisely this philosophy of life that Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov sought to reveal to his readers through the example of two such dissimilar heroes of the work - Yeshua Ha-Nozri, the wanderer, and Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea.
Quotes from The Master and Margarita
I'll tell you a fairy tale. There was only one aunt in the world. And she had no children and no happiness at all. And so at first she cried for a long time, and then she became angry. - addressing the little boy. (Margarita)
“Forgive me and forget me as soon as possible. I'm leaving you forever. Don't look for me, it's useless. I became a witch because of the grief and disasters that struck me. I have to go. Goodbye. Margarita." (Margarita)
I'm talking about mercy... Sometimes, completely unexpectedly and insidiously, it penetrates into the narrowest cracks.
But I wonder if they come to arrest you? — Koroviev and Azazello, after the ball. (Margarita)
This hero went into the abyss, gone forever, the son of the astrologer king, forgiven on Sunday night, the cruel fifth procurator of Judea, the horseman Pontius Pilate. - last lines of the novel
I will take care of your sleep.
There is no need to be rude on the phone. There is no need to lie on the phone. It's clear? (Azazello)
In a white cloak with a bloody lining and a shuffling cavalry gait, early in the morning of the fourteenth day of the spring month of Nisan, the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, came out into the covered colonnade between the two wings of the palace of Herod the Great.
Kill the stubborn creature. (Azazello)
What country's wine do you prefer at this time of day? (Woland)
Cowardice is the most terrible human vice.
Quotes from the author
“...he looked around the houses in fear, as if afraid to see an atheist in every window.” Author .
– From the description of the meeting of Woland, Berlioz and Bezdomny at the Patriarch’s Ponds. In those years, atheism was promoted as the norm, and therefore in the eyes of any foreigner such a universal position could look frightening.
“Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in the world? May the liar’s vile tongue be cut out!” Author .
– About Margarita and her immortal feeling for the Master, reckless and endless.
Best Quotes
However, you... again, excuse me, because, I’m not mistaken, you are an ignorant person? — addressing Homeless. (Master)
It is difficult to say what exactly let Ivan Nikolaevich down - whether it was the graphic power of his talent or complete unfamiliarity with the issue on which he was going to write - but Jesus in his portrayal turned out to be completely like a living, although not an attractive character. — about the satirical poem by Ivan Bezdomny
I challenge you to a duel! Hippopotamus
Your life is meager, hegemon. (Yeshua Ha-Nozri)
Housekeepers know everything - it is a mistake to think that they are blind.
The most terrible anger is the anger of powerlessness.
Envy is a crappy feeling.
Manuscripts don't burn. — returning to the Master the novel that was burned 4 months ago. (Woland)
There are no evil people in the world.
After wiggling his toes, Styopa realized that he was wearing socks, and with a shaking hand he ran over his thigh to determine whether he was wearing trousers or not, but he couldn’t tell. - awakening of Styopa Likhodeev
Keep in mind that Christ existed. (Woland)
Congratulations, citizen, having lied!
History will judge us.
Insult is a common reward for good work.
Everyone will be rewarded according to their faith.
However! I feel like you drank port after the vodka! For mercy's sake, is it really possible to do this! (Woland)
A brick will never fall on anyone’s head for no reason at all.
Oh gods, my gods, poison to me, poison to me!... (Pontius Pilate)
Love jumped out in front of us, like a killer jumps out of the ground in an alley, and struck us both at once! That's how lightning strikes, that's how a Finnish knife strikes! - about love for Margarita. (Master)
But it is impossible to send him to Solovki for the reason that he has been in places much more remote than Solovki for over a hundred years, and there is no way to get him out of there, I assure you! — about Kant (Woland)
People are like people. They love money, but this has always been the case... Humanity loves money, no matter what it is made of, whether leather, paper, bronze or gold. Well, frivolous... well, well... ordinary people... in general, they resemble the old ones... the housing issue only spoiled them... - about Muscovites. (Woland)
Character Role
Yeshua is one of the central characters in Bulgakov's novel. Through him, the writer expressed an important thought: there is goodness in the heart of every person. Traditional gospel texts showed a different point of view. So, Jesus said that in the human heart there is good and evil.
Ha-Nozri did not commit the slightest evil in his life. Before his death, he forgave everyone, even Pontius Pilate. Yeshua does not condemn the procurator for cowardice. This is what gives him the opportunity to leave clean.
The wandering philosopher was distinguished by observation and insight. At the first meeting with Pilate, Yeshua says that he has a headache and wants to pet the dog. There was no magic in it. Ha-Nozri noticed the movements of the hand and a barely noticeable grimace of pain on Pilate’s face.
If you compare the two worlds, Yershalaim and Moscow, you will notice many similar points:
- Ga-Notsri and the Master have a similar fate.
- Levi Matvey and Ivan Bezdomny are students.
- Judas from Kiriath and Aloysius Mogarych are traitors.
The role of Ga-Nozri in the novel is quite important - he embodies love. Nothing could harden his heart, force him to abandon his beliefs. Even after his execution, he remained true to his philosophy. This is how people should relate to the world.
Wise Quotes
But there were even worse things in the bedroom: a third person was lounging on the jeweler’s pouffe in a cheeky pose, namely, an eerie-sized black cat with a glass of vodka in one paw and a fork, on which he had managed to pry a pickled mushroom, in the other.
Master: No, the devil knows what it is, damn, damn, damn! Margarita: You just unwittingly told the truth. The devil knows what it is... - about Woland
Never be afraid of anything. This is unreasonable.
We speak different languages, as always, but the things we talk about do not change. (quotes from the master and margarita)
Not a single cat has ever drunk brotherhood with anyone.
I don’t play pranks, I don’t hurt anyone, I fix the primus stove. And I also consider it my duty to warn that the cat is an ancient and inviolable animal. Hippopotamus
An unhappy person is cruel and callous. And all just because good people mutilated him.
No document, no person. Koroviev (Bassoon)
The next morning he wakes up silent, but completely calm and healthy. His punctured memory subsides, and until the next full moon no one disturbs the professor. Neither the noseless murderer of Gestas, nor the cruel fifth procurator of Judea, the horseman Pontic Pilate. - last lines of the epilogue
No force can silence the crowd until it exhales everything that has accumulated inside it and falls silent itself.
I'm broken, I'm bored, and I want to go to the basement. (Master)
Never talk to strangers - Chapter 1 title
The Marquise... poisoned her father, two brothers and two sisters because of their inheritance! The Queen is delighted! Koroviev (Bassoon)
But today is the night when scores are settled. The knight paid his account and closed it! (Woland)
Love jumped out in front of us, like a killer jumps out of the ground in an alley, and struck us both at once! (quotes from the master and margarita)
Well, the one who loves must share the fate of the one he loves.
Who said that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in the world? May the liar's vile tongue be cut out! — Beginning of the second part
Oh my gods! My mind no longer serves me... I’m poisoning, poisoning!
What's the point of dying amid the groans and wheezes of hopeless patients. Isn't it better to throw a feast for these twenty-seven thousand and, after taking poison, move to another world to the sound of strings, surrounded by drunken beauties and dashing friends? (Woland)
Minor Character Quotes
“After all, we want to live and fly!” Natasha .
– Margarita’s housekeeper means both that she likes to follow the hostess to Woland’s ball, and that breaking out of the vicious circle of everyday life is the dream of any person, no matter who he is.
“... I must admit that among intellectuals there are also extremely smart ones. This cannot be denied!..” Ivan Bezdomny .
– The hero’s thoughts are addressed to Dr. Stravinsky in a psychiatric hospital. The owl is all the more relevant because the idea is found in other works of Bulgakov. For example, in “Heart of a Dog,” where the word “intellectual” in the mouths of representatives of the new class of the proletariat is given a negative meaning.
“For some reason they usually say “you” to cats, although not a single cat has ever drunk brotherhood with anyone.” Hippopotamus .
– A funny expression with which the cat addressed the Master, where the heroes returned after the ball.
“No document, no person.” Koroviev .
– The words were spoken to the Master when his medical history was burned in the fireplace, as evidence of the existence of a mentally ill person in the hospital. A catch phrase that emphasizes the importance of identity documents in the life of any person.
Smart Quotes
He walked accompanied by Banga, and next to him walked a wandering philosopher. They were arguing about something very difficult and important, and neither of them could defeat the other. They did not agree with each other on anything, and this made their dispute especially interesting and endless.
It goes without saying that today’s execution turned out to be a pure misunderstanding - after all, the philosopher who invented such an incredibly absurd thing like that all people are kind was walking nearby, therefore, he was alive. There was no execution! Did not have! That's the beauty of this journey up the ladder of the moon. - Pontius Pilate's dream
Each will be given according to his faith. (Woland)
I'll cut off your hand! (Azazello)
The most interesting thing about this lie is that it is a lie from the first to the last word.
For mercy's sake... would I allow myself to pour vodka for the lady? This is pure alcohol!
And under the moon there is no rest for me (Pontius Pilate)
It is easy and pleasant to speak the truth. - during interrogation. (Yeshua Ha-Nozri)
Why chase after the footsteps of what is already over.
I came out with yellow flowers so that you could finally find me... (Margarita)
If you, bastard, allow yourself to get involved in the conversation again... - at the ball, Behemoth. (Margarita)
Listen to the silence! (Margarita)
Yes, man is mortal, but that would not be so bad. The bad thing is that he is sometimes suddenly mortal, that's the trick! And he can’t say at all what he will do this evening. (Woland)
Someone who until recently believed that he was in control of something suddenly finds himself lying motionless in a wooden box, and those around him, realizing that the person lying there is no longer of any use, burn him in the oven.
All power is violence against people.
These women are difficult people! Why, for example, was I sent on this matter? Let Behemoth ride, he’s charming... (Azazello)
The question arises: was Maximilian Andreevich in a hurry to complain to the police about the robbers who committed savage violence against him in broad daylight? No, in no case, this can be said with confidence. Enter the police and say that now a cat with glasses was reading my passport, and then a man in tights with a knife... no, citizens, Maximilian Andreevich was a really smart person!
History of creation
Bulgakov worked on the novel very carefully and spent a lot of time studying various books. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus Christ was not the prototype of Yeshua. If you carefully study the work of Mikhail Afanasyevich, you will notice a number of discrepancies with the Gospel text:
- Yeshua was born in Gamala, while Christ was born in Bethlehem. Ha-Nozri is a man of unknown origin, presumably his father was Syrian.
- Yeshua had no disciples, and he does not recognize Matthew Levi and considers him dangerous.
- Ga-Notsri entered the city as an ordinary person, unnoticed by anyone.
- Yeshua was taken to execution in a cart, and Jesus was forced to carry the cross to Calvary.
Bulgakov's hero was distinguished not only by his biography. He had a special worldview. Pontius Pilate identified Ha-Notsri as a philosopher . Yeshua said that all people are good by nature. Even Mark Ratboy is one, but some people are just unhappy and that's why they do bad things.
Bulgakov did not seek to denigrate the Gospel. He only wanted to clear it of unreliable events. Therefore, Berlioz says that Woland's story is interesting, but it has discrepancies with biblical texts.
