Please guys this book deserves much better and deeper analysis. You are inteligent people and I think this analysis is bellow the level of yours. As a person coming from that area of Europe I feel obligated to write this…The symbolism is much more “layered”. I am saying this after many years of reading the book and from the top of my head for example. In order to truly understand but also “feel” this book…you have to do more research and immerse yourself into the “Russian soul” of the given era. 1-Read Russian/Soviet history of that era 2-Read about Stalin and Bulgakov and their relationship 3-”Cowardice is the most terrible of vices” is being told to Pilate in the book, Bulgakov was intelligent man he knew the truth about oppresion in USSR, but he was afraid to directly write about it out of fear, this book is his redemption and he wrote it close to the end of his life. This book as his redemption just like Pilate got his despite his cowardice. The book "Master and Margarita" is enough for "Ethernal peace" BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR HEAVEN. That is what he is trying to say and I almost feel rude trying to write it here since it is an insult trying to simplify it in this way. 4- “Master” is the best translation for the English language, in Slavic language this word has slightly different meaning, let say in this case it is more related to skill of Mastery/Knowledge/Wisdom. 5- Decadence of Muscovites once they denounce Christian moral values, and symbolism of the way of how each side character in the book experiences a different “moral fall" should not be ignored. 6-The meaning of certain names in the book that makes sense only in Slavic languages like for example Writer Bezdomni last name is composed of 2 words Bez-Without and Domni-Home,City, Country,Home Country… Why is Bezdomni last name signifying he has no Home Country? (Just like Raskolnikov soul from “Crime and Punishment”). 7-What is the symbol of numerous black cats that were caught and brought to the police? 8-What are the archetypes of Behemoth, Azazelo and Koroviev representing?How that relate to Soviet era? 9-What is a symbol of a person who dissapears and an empty "Suit" is signing the documents? How that relate to Soviet era? And many many many more... Dont take me wrong...The book could be interpreted in both ways, but by not having a prerequisite knowledge of the "Russian soul and history of the given era" you are depriving yourself from many TOOLS you'll need in order to get the context and proper analysis of the symbols in this book. My first language is not Enlgish I apologize for grammatical errors if there are some.
Hey Nikolamandic! We appreciate your careful analysis and comment! This is A.J.. It was my episode, and I certainly felt unequal to fully doing this book justice. As we are generalists, we only have a few weeks to prep each episode, and the effort has to be done while I also try to do my other two jobs. The works we attempt probably deserve years of scholarship, but we simply can't dedicate enough time to each genre considering the vast amount of works available to us. We depend on listeners like you to help us out! Thanks! And yes, this book is certainly more complex than I can possibly hope to understand in the short period I had to read and study it.
You are missing the point on Woland. He is not Stalin. I would argue is not one person, but have many functions. He is the Devil but also Michael Bulgacov. Not an evil Devil, but one that tempt the people and judge them. He is also a reference to Goethe's Mephistopheles. But he is also the one who sets everything in motion. Just like the writer Bulkakov he is a creator and can magically make anything happen. M as in Master. M as in Mikhail and M is also W up side down. Woland is both the Devil and the author. He is probably more characters/ have more functions. He is also the supernatural that challenges the rational and atheistic cultur and mind. 8n many ways is both good and bad or perhaps neither good or bad. You could argue he is a force of nature/chaos , a temptor, a judge and a savior, hope and a creator/author.
it's a well known fact that this novel was written for Stalin. With a very nasty message to Stalin, So the guy in this video can be actually right, Woland can be Stalin itself.
I read Alma Classics. Margarita was chosen as the queen because in all of Satan's Balls, the queen has to be named Margarita and a local. Im not sure if it was Korovyev, Azazello or Woland himself who explained to Margarita that she is the great great great great great granddaughter of the Queen of France. Maybe it has something to do w her royal blood as well.
I always saw the Master and Margarita as symbols for Old Russia / The Tsar and Tsarinna. Representatives of Christ on earth in the minds of Russian Orthodoxy Mythology. The Master's book is the history of Russia. The hopeful ending is that Russia will live on despite Woland/Stalin. Love and creative passions, light and darkness operates together but in the end love triumphs.
Could it be that Margarita is made queen bc she is the one who truly believes this story of Pontius Pilate should be written? She’s the one trying to save it. The story is a thread that runs through this novel in a variety of ways - Woland starting the novel talking about it to prove Jesus was real, the Master writing it and people rejecting it, Margarita calling him a Master bc of his writing of this story, the Devil rewarding both the master and margarita and saving the story, and the Devil allowing Pontius pilot to redeem himself with Jesus. I don’t know much about the analogies to 20th century Soviet Union, but this importance on the decision to free Barabbas instead of Jesus weighing on Pontius Pilate running through the whole thing… that has to mean something significant, right? And the balance of good and evil in each character, just like that balance in pilot and the master and margarita and even woland? Also interesting that the actual author’s wife released the book. Kinda like she was his margarita.
Hiya! I have some critical notes on the characterization of Stalin. Stalin was very much a member of the Bolshevik party from its inception in 1903. I didn't even have to dig that deep to find it, it's right there at the bottom of the Early Life section of his Wikipedia page, sourced and everything: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin#Early_life. Furthermore, the chicken story sounded like absolute fable to me, and a quick Google search confirmed this. I find it kind of alarming a teacher is just relating this hearsay as fact. I usually like you guys, but now that you're talking about a subject I know a bit more about it's easy to poke holes. I say this with the best of intentions: please be more careful with your historical framing and fact checking regarding future episodes.
Thanks for keeping us honest! I will say: Graeme wasn't leading the episode, and didn't know he would be talking about Stalin until right before the episode started. We used to have a recurring "classical stuff we got wrong" section, so it looks like we're due for another one after this episode. Thanks for the response!
I was about to add the same. Stalin was not his birth name either. His real name was Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili he was born in Georgia. Stalin means steel.
Как все просто получается у вас. Если бы так все объяснялось, наверно Булгаков не стал карандаш точить. Сталин, ГУЛАГ, водка, балалайка.. Все точно для этого и писалось. Оптимизм в финале точно прослеживается (сарказм).
We apologize for any deficiencies! We are still learning, and my (A.J.) knowledge of Russian history is deficient. I admit it. But I loved the book and would recommend it to anybody.
Please guys this book deserves much better and deeper analysis. You are inteligent people and I think this analysis is bellow the level of yours. As a person coming from that area of Europe I feel obligated to write this…The symbolism is much more “layered”.
I am saying this after many years of reading the book and from the top of my head for example.
In order to truly understand but also “feel” this book…you have to do more research and immerse yourself into the “Russian soul” of the given era.
1-Read Russian/Soviet history of that era
2-Read about Stalin and Bulgakov and their relationship
3-”Cowardice is the most terrible of vices” is being told to Pilate in the book, Bulgakov was intelligent man he knew the truth about oppresion in USSR, but he was afraid to directly write about it out of fear, this book is his redemption and he wrote it close to the end of his life.
This book as his redemption just like Pilate got his despite his cowardice.
The book "Master and Margarita" is enough for "Ethernal peace" BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR HEAVEN. That is what he is trying to say and I almost feel rude trying to write it here since it is an insult trying to simplify it in this way.
4- “Master” is the best translation for the English language, in Slavic language this word has slightly different meaning, let say in this case it is more related to skill of Mastery/Knowledge/Wisdom.
5- Decadence of Muscovites once they denounce Christian moral values, and symbolism of the way of how each side character in the book experiences a different “moral fall" should not be ignored.
6-The meaning of certain names in the book that makes sense only in Slavic languages like for example Writer Bezdomni last name is composed of 2 words Bez-Without and Domni-Home,City, Country,Home Country… Why is Bezdomni last name signifying he has no Home Country? (Just like Raskolnikov soul from “Crime and Punishment”).
7-What is the symbol of numerous black cats that were caught and brought to the police?
8-What are the archetypes of Behemoth, Azazelo and Koroviev representing?How that relate to Soviet era?
9-What is a symbol of a person who dissapears and an empty "Suit" is signing the documents? How that relate to Soviet era?
And many many many more...
Dont take me wrong...The book could be interpreted in both ways, but by not having a prerequisite knowledge of the "Russian soul and history of the given era" you are depriving yourself from many TOOLS you'll need in order to get the context and proper analysis of the symbols in this book.
My first language is not Enlgish I apologize for grammatical errors if there are some.
Hey Nikolamandic! We appreciate your careful analysis and comment! This is A.J.. It was my episode, and I certainly felt unequal to fully doing this book justice. As we are generalists, we only have a few weeks to prep each episode, and the effort has to be done while I also try to do my other two jobs. The works we attempt probably deserve years of scholarship, but we simply can't dedicate enough time to each genre considering the vast amount of works available to us. We depend on listeners like you to help us out! Thanks! And yes, this book is certainly more complex than I can possibly hope to understand in the short period I had to read and study it.
great comment, thank you 🤗
You are missing the point on Woland. He is not Stalin. I would argue is not one person, but have many functions. He is the Devil but also Michael Bulgacov. Not an evil Devil, but one that tempt the people and judge them. He is also a reference to Goethe's Mephistopheles. But he is also the one who sets everything in motion. Just like the writer Bulkakov he is a creator and can magically make anything happen. M as in Master. M as in Mikhail and M is also W up side down. Woland is both the Devil and the author. He is probably more characters/ have more functions. He is also the supernatural that challenges the rational and atheistic cultur and mind. 8n many ways is both good and bad or perhaps neither good or bad. You could argue he is a force of nature/chaos , a temptor, a judge and a savior, hope and a creator/author.
it's a well known fact that this novel was written for Stalin. With a very nasty message to Stalin, So the guy in this video can be actually right, Woland can be Stalin itself.
@@vadimonus no.
M for Master (Мастер), М for Michael (Михаил), but В for Woland (Воланд) -- not M upside down.
@@CMHlthr Thanks for the info 🙏 Clear and to the point 👍
@@vadimonus no. He is the author
I read Alma Classics. Margarita was chosen as the queen because in all of Satan's Balls, the queen has to be named Margarita and a local.
Im not sure if it was Korovyev, Azazello or Woland himself who explained to Margarita that she is the great great great great great granddaughter of the Queen of France. Maybe it has something to do w her royal blood as well.
She was the queen because her name was Margarita. She was also special because she had royal blood.
I always saw the Master and Margarita as symbols for Old Russia / The Tsar and Tsarinna. Representatives of Christ on earth in the minds of Russian Orthodoxy Mythology.
The Master's book is the history of Russia. The hopeful ending is that Russia will live on despite Woland/Stalin. Love and creative passions, light and darkness operates together but in the end love triumphs.
Many believe that Master wrote Satan’s version of evangelium and Margarita as sent by him to inspire Master to publish it.
Love it , keep up the good work ... Thank you .
Could it be that Margarita is made queen bc she is the one who truly believes this story of Pontius Pilate should be written? She’s the one trying to save it. The story is a thread that runs through this novel in a variety of ways - Woland starting the novel talking about it to prove Jesus was real, the Master writing it and people rejecting it, Margarita calling him a Master bc of his writing of this story, the Devil rewarding both the master and margarita and saving the story, and the Devil allowing Pontius pilot to redeem himself with Jesus.
I don’t know much about the analogies to 20th century Soviet Union, but this importance on the decision to free Barabbas instead of Jesus weighing on Pontius Pilate running through the whole thing… that has to mean something significant, right? And the balance of good and evil in each character, just like that balance in pilot and the master and margarita and even woland?
Also interesting that the actual author’s wife released the book. Kinda like she was his margarita.
Hiya! I have some critical notes on the characterization of Stalin.
Stalin was very much a member of the Bolshevik party from its inception in 1903. I didn't even have to dig that deep to find it, it's right there at the bottom of the Early Life section of his Wikipedia page, sourced and everything: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin#Early_life.
Furthermore, the chicken story sounded like absolute fable to me, and a quick Google search confirmed this. I find it kind of alarming a teacher is just relating this hearsay as fact.
I usually like you guys, but now that you're talking about a subject I know a bit more about it's easy to poke holes. I say this with the best of intentions: please be more careful with your historical framing and fact checking regarding future episodes.
Thanks for keeping us honest! I will say: Graeme wasn't leading the episode, and didn't know he would be talking about Stalin until right before the episode started. We used to have a recurring "classical stuff we got wrong" section, so it looks like we're due for another one after this episode. Thanks for the response!
I was about to add the same. Stalin was not his birth name either. His real name was Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili he was born in Georgia. Stalin means steel.
Как все просто получается у вас. Если бы так все объяснялось, наверно Булгаков не стал карандаш точить. Сталин, ГУЛАГ, водка, балалайка.. Все точно для этого и писалось. Оптимизм в финале точно прослеживается (сарказм).
We apologize for any deficiencies! We are still learning, and my (A.J.) knowledge of Russian history is deficient. I admit it. But I loved the book and would recommend it to anybody.