whats your view on Bulgakov's Master and Margarita?

Question

What did you find in this book for youself except bizzarre surr story?

And most of all, what do you think about Margarita?

thank you for your answers. first of all, please, forgive me my bad English ))

i was in love with that book and have read it probably 15 times. and every time is like a first time!!

M&M is complicated book because that to understand it the reader must have at least a slight knowlege in political and cultural situation in USSR 1920-30, also -- about an author himself. And, for an obviou sreason, knowledge in Christianity values. Still, even without those the book is great reading!

ill tell my thoughts about Margarita later.

oh! one more rather strange question -- do you really believe that Yeshua Ha-Nozri is Jesus Christ? And never had any doubts about it?

here is link to this book with very good introduction and notes. http://lib.ru/BULGAKOW/master97_engl.txt

Answer 1

This is one of my favorite books. Bulkagov uses such colorful characters, of which Behemoth is my favorite. I love how he continually balances light and darkness, fire and water, destruction and tranquility, and, most importantly, the relationship between Moscow and Jerusalem. I found Margarita to be a reflection of vanity and superficiality and quite patronizing, but perhaps that is just me.

Answer 2

I read it a while ago. One goal I have which I'll probably never be able to reach is to be able to read it in Russian some day. My Russian language skills are not good. I can't even get through a newspaper article without a dictionary. Anyway, I loved M&M. I think it is one of those perfect books - if there are any, like Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. The book is very rich in symbolic meaning, philosophy and certainly in Soviet psychology. I'll have to go read it again! One thing that was very disturbing for me though was in 1993, I was actually in Moscow, and someone took me by Bulgakov's home. It wasn't well kept up at all and opened up into a courtyard in the back full of trash. Maybe this has changed. Bulgakov was a true Russian treasure. How sad! I also loved "Heart of a Dog" and one of his short stories..... what was it now? "The Golden Egg."

Answer 3

I've just started reading this (thanks, Sweetheart for sending it to me!)

I'm finding it very weird and strange - l'm really not that sure what to make of some of it. I find myself pulled into the scenes, but then am not sure what I find there. I haven't made up my mind yet - but thanks for your comments crippled-plaything.

I find the pethora of characters confusing.

What do YOU think vlad?


30/6/2006

OK, l have almost finished this - and while l am enjoying it (love Behemoth - a great character; and the whole idea of the Devil's Ball is wonderful) I can't help feeling l am missing a great deal. Knowing next to nothing about Russian history is probably a hinderance. l like the character of Margarita - and l want some of that cream!

As for all those women sawnning around naked - works for me! LOL

Answer 4

In my view the greatest book ever written. When I moved to the US from Russia it was the only book I took with me.
The eternal problems of Good and Evil, Real Love and Jesus Christ's Earthly mission revealed. No wonder the book was banned in Russia. Gosh, I was so glad I got to read it in 10th grade!

Answer 5

Bulgakov is rewriting the story of Dr. Faustus and Mefistofeles, concentrating in this final character, with the aid of fact he can love the mankind possibly its errors. grasp and Margarita should be readed like an ironic play, truly in characters like Asmodeo or the cat Popota. And the scenes of vamipirism are scrumptious...

Answer 6

Great read!! The politics and so on are great but boring to discuss (did too much in the seminars I had to do on it). Let's face it, the best bit is the giant talking cat- he rocks!! I dunno about the nekkid girl though- surely Russia would be a bit cold for that?

Answer 7

havent read the book but hey 2 points