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The Master and Margarita (Book 1)

November 30, 2020

Mikhail Bulgakov

Moscow, Russia

Mikhail Bulgakov

Today's episode:

Paige and I are rushing through the streets and alleyways of Moscow, chased by cats. We meet two guests, Roman and Igor, who are brothers who rescue us and bring us to the bookstore to show us the tale of The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. A tale about the devil disguised as a magician who causes major and hilarious mischief for the citizens of Moscow. This satirical piece is a classic masterpiece that not only captures the Stalin era but of life in Moscow then and now. Not only that, we visit Pontious Pilate in biblical times and run around with Margarita flying on a broom like a witch, and more!

We explore it all together. Listen today!

Important Characters

  • Woland = central character, Satan, symbolic fictional representation of Joseph Stalin

  • Margarita = titular character, heroine, 30 years old, in love with Master though married to another man

  • The Master = titular character, author, in love with Margarita

  • Ivan "Homeless" Nikolaevich Ponyrev

  • Mikhael Alexandrovich Berlioz = Head of MASOLIT, gets head severed by a tram in chapter 1

  • Styopa Likhodeev = the director of the Variety theater, ends up in Yalta

  • Nikanor Ivanovich Bosoy = chairman of the tenants’ association asked with overseeing apartment no. 50, Berlioz’s property 

  • Grigory Danilovich Rimsky = financial director of the Variety theater.

  • Judas of Kiriath = for money he tricks Yeshua and gets him arrested

  • Baron Meigel = employee of "Spectacles Commission"

  • Alexander Riukhin = a fellow literary colleague and poet of "Homeless"

Biblical related Characters:

  • Yeshua Ha-Nozri = a.k.a. Jesus of Nazareth

  • Joseph Kaifa = high priest of the Jews

  • Matthew Levi = disciple of Yeshua

  • Judas of Kiriath = for money he tricks Yeshua and gets him arrested

  • Banga = Pontius Pilate's dog

  • Pontius Pilate = fifth procurator of Judea and subject of the Master's novel

The Devil, Woland, crew characters:

  • Koroviev = Woland's right-hand man, wears a pince-nez, a jockey's cap, and chequered clothes. Koroviev is good at manipulating people into showing their worst selves.

  • Behemoth = huge black cat, can do everything humans can do, most mischievious of the crew

  • Azazello = "muscle" of the crew, short, fat, broad-shouldered, mouth has a single fang, hair flaming red

  • Hella = beautfiul redheaded succubus or vampire, usually naked

Minor Characters:

  • Ivan Savalyevich Varenukha = administrator of the Variety theater

  • Dr. Stravinsky = head of psychiatric clinic

  • Aphranius = Aphranius is the shadowy figure that serves as Pontius Pilate’s head of secret police.

  • Dysmas = Dysmas is one of the other men executed at the same time as Yeshua Ha-Nozri.GestasGestas is one of the other men executed at the same time as Yeshua Ha-Nozri.

  • Prokhor PetrovichProkhor is the chairman of the “Commission on Spectacles and Entertainment of the Lighter Type.”

Topics in this episode:

  • Soviet Russia

  • Vodka and Russians - A sterotype or true nature?

  • "All men are good"...did you really say that Yeshua?

  • Fighting

  • Crime and Russian Police

  • Criticizing Putin and government

  • and more!

Where to buy the book?

Preview or Buy the book here!

This book in this episode was translated by Mirra Ginsburg. We read the kindle version of this novel.

Pages: 418

Thanks for listening!

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Helpful resources:

Howard, James. "The Master and Margarita Characters." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 11 Jan 2019. Web. 3 Mar 2021.