The Master and Margarita by
Mikhail Bulgakov
FLT 252
Spring 2012
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
• 90% of Russian population still
rural
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
• 90% of Russian population still
rural
• Unlikely place for socialist
revolution
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
• 90% of Russian population still
rural
• Unlikely place for socialist
revolution
• 1861 Serfdom is formally
abolished
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
• 90% of Russian population still
rural
• Unlikely place for socialist
revolution
• 1861 Serfdom is formally
abolished
• Nevertheless, difference between
rich and poor is large
End of the Nineteenth Century in Russia
• Industrialization had effected
Western Europe
• 90% of Russian population still
rural
• Unlikely place for socialist
revolution
• 1861 Serfdom is formally
abolished
• Nevertheless, difference between
rich and poor is large
• Czar Nicolas II becomes focus of
protests
1903
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
• He heads the majority Bolsheviks (coming
from bolshe meaning “more”)
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
• He heads the majority Bolsheviks (coming
from bolshe meaning “more”)
• Opposed to the Mensheviks (coming
from menshe meaning less)
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
• He heads the majority Bolsheviks (coming
from bolshe meaning “more”)
• Opposed to the Mensheviks (coming
from menshe meaning less)
• Mensheviks want to cooperate with the Czar to produce reformations
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
• He heads the majority Bolsheviks (coming
from bolshe meaning “more”)
• Opposed to the Mensheviks (coming
from menshe meaning less)
• Mensheviks want to cooperate with the Czar to produce reformations
• Bolsheviks are revolutionary and want to remove the state machinery completely
1903
• 30 July: first conference begins in Brussels
and moves to London
• Editorial staff for The Spark is decided
• Vladimir Lenin comes out as the winner
• He heads the majority Bolsheviks (coming
from bolshe meaning “more”)
• Opposed to the Mensheviks (coming
from menshe meaning less)
• Mensheviks want to cooperate with the Czar to produce reformations
• Bolsheviks are revolutionary and want to remove the state machinery completely
• At a later stage, the same Bolsheviks present at this meeting would adopt the
name The Communist Party of the Soviet Union
1904: Japan defeats Russian navy in various battles. Strikes begin in capital of Saint
Petersburg
9 January 1905: “Bloody Sunday” massacre
9 January 1905: “Bloody Sunday” massacre
1914-1916: Czar involves Russia in WWI where his soldiers suffer
terribly. Starvation and food riots spread with anger towards the
Czar’s regime.
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
“White” army Cossacks
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
• Civil War is terrible;
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
• Civil War is terrible; over 15 million die
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
• Civil War is terrible; over 15 million die
• 1920: Trotsky’s Red Army defeats the Whites
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
• Civil War is terrible; over 15 million die
• 1920: Trotsky’s Red Army defeats the Whites
• 1922 Lenin dies;
1917-1920: Revolution and Civil War
• 25 February 1917: second general strike; army refuses to intervene
• 26 February 1917: alternative government created, Leon Trotsky as president
• 2 March 1917: Czar abdicates; Lenin returns from Switzerland; Joseph Stalin from Siberia
• Civil war begins between “Whites” (loyal to the Czar) and “Reds”
• 16 July 1918: Czar and his family are killed
• Civil War is terrible; over 15 million die
• 1920: Trotsky’s Red Army defeats the Whites
• 1924 Lenin dies; Stalin becomes his successor
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1931-1932: Worst famine ever known in the country pushes millions to cities
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1931-1932: Worst famine ever known in the country pushes millions to cities
• Harsh laws to maintain order; thousands killed, deported, or missing
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1931-1932: Worst famine ever known in the country pushes millions to cities
• Harsh laws to maintain order; thousands killed, deported, or missing
• Stalin’s wife commits suicide (1932)
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1931-1932: Worst famine ever known in the country pushes millions to cities
• Harsh laws to maintain order; thousands killed, deported, or missing
• Stalin’s wife commits suicide (1932)
• 1933: First Five-Year Plan is declared “accomplished”
• 1927: engineers put on show trial
• 1928: first “Five-Year Plan” begins collectivization of agriculture and industry
• Some resistance is offered; results in millions being deported
• 1929: “Collectivization without Limits” begins; any resistance is dealt with harshly
• April 1929: secret police and show trials take active roles
• 1929: Religion is purged; more than 80% go into exile
• 1930: Intelligentsia is purged
• 1931: Russian Association of Proletarian Writers is created
• 1931-1932: Worst famine ever known in the country pushes millions to cities
• Harsh laws to maintain order; thousands killed, deported, or missing
• Stalin’s wife commits suicide (1932)
• 1933: First Five-Year Plan is declared “accomplished”
• Etc……….
1909
1909
1910s
1909
1910s
1926
1909
1910s
1926
Early 1930s
1909
1910s
1936
1926
Early 1930s
1909
1910s
1936
1926
Early 1930s
1940
• Mikhail Afanashevich Bulgakov was
Ukraine's current capital
born on 3 May 1891 in Kiev,
• Mikhail Afanashevich Bulgakov was
Ukraine's current capital
• One of seven children
born on 3 May 1891 in Kiev,
• Mikhail Afanashevich Bulgakov was
Ukraine's current capital
• One of seven children
• Father was a professor of Theology
born on 3 May 1891 in Kiev,
• Mikhail Afanashevich Bulgakov was
Ukraine's current capital
• One of seven children
• Father was a professor of Theology
• Studied medicine
born on 3 May 1891 in Kiev,
• 1913: married the actress Tatiana Nikolaevna Lappa
• 1913: married the actress Tatiana Nikolaevna Lappa
• 1918: moved into this house; started medical practice
• 1913: married the actress Tatiana Nikolaevna Lappa
• 1918: moved into this house; started medical practice
• During Civil War was drafted several times as a doctor; fought for
the White Army
• 1913: married the actress Tatiana Nikolaevna Lappa
• 1918: moved into this house; started medical practice
• During Civil War was drafted several times as a doctor; fought for
the White Army
• Began to write
• 1913: married the actress Tatiana Nikolaevna Lappa
• 1918: moved into this house; started medical practice
• During Civil War was drafted several times as a doctor; fought for
the White Army
• Began to write
• 1921: war ends; moves to Moscow to pursue writing
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• First divorce; marries Lyubov Yevgenyeva Belozerskaya
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• First divorce; marries Lyubov Yevgenyeva Belozerskaya
• Begins to write satire-filled novels
“My spirit is satirical. And I write stories that
are probably unpleasant to the communist
regime. But I always write exactly what I see,
honestly! The negative in the land of the
Soviets draws my attention and it is feeding
my work as a satirist.”
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• First divorce; marries Lyubov Yevgenyeva Belozerskaya
• Begins to write satire-filled novels
• Play “The White Guard” demonstrates sympathy to the “Whites”
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• First divorce; marries Lyubov Yevgenyeva Belozerskaya
• Begins to write satire-filled novels
• Play “The White Guard” demonstrates sympathy to the “Whites”
• Rewritten it appears as “The Day of the Turbins”; Stalin likes it
• Works as journalist and also writes theatre pieces
• First divorce; marries Lyubov Yevgenyeva Belozerskaya
• Begins to write satire-filled novels
• Play “The White Guard” demonstrates sympathy to the “Whites”
• Rewritten it appears as “The Day of the Turbins”; Stalin likes it
• Nevertheless, censorship begins in earnest
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• "Micha Bulgakov rummages around on rubbish dumps.“
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• "Micha Bulgakov rummages around on rubbish dumps.“
• “He roots in the leftovers after a dozen of guests has thrown up."
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• "Micha Bulgakov rummages around on rubbish dumps.“
• “He roots in the leftovers after a dozen of guests has thrown up."
• "I'm a sensitive guy, I'll just bash his head down with a sink."
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• "Micha Bulgakov rummages around on rubbish dumps.“
• “He roots in the leftovers after a dozen of guests has thrown up."
• "I'm a sensitive guy, I'll just bash his head down with a sink."
• 28 March 1930: in ten year of authorship, 301 articles on him in the soviet press "among
which: laudatory - 3, hostile-abusive - 298".
• On September 15, 1929 the newspaper Izvestia wrote: "His talent is patently obvious, but
so is the reactionary social character of his work".
• сукин сын (son of a bitch)
• мурло (dirty snout)
• литературний уборщик (literary scavenger)
• "Micha Bulgakov rummages around on rubbish dumps.“
• “He roots in the leftovers after a dozen of guests has thrown up."
• "I'm a sensitive guy, I'll just bash his head down with a sink."
• 28 March 1930: in ten year of authorship, 301 articles on him in the soviet press "among
which: laudatory - 3, hostile-abusive - 298".
• "I demand the government of the USSR to order me urgently to leave the borders of the
USSR accompanied by my wife Lyubov Evgenyeva Bulgakova".
• Stalin replies
• Stalin replies
• Given job at Moscow Art Theatre
• Stalin replies
• Given job at Moscow Art Theatre
• Marries long-time lover Elena Sergeevna Shilovskaya (model for
relationship)
• Stalin replies
• Given job at Moscow Art Theatre
• Marries long-time lover Elena Sergeevna Shilovskaya (model for
relationship)
• Made safer adaptations of established works
• Stalin replies
• Given job at Moscow Art Theatre
• Marries long-time lover Elena Sergeevna Shilovskaya (model for
relationship)
• Made safer adaptations of established works
• Falls out of favor again making play about Stalin
• Stalin replies
• Given job at Moscow Art Theatre
• Marries long-time lover Elena Sergeevna Shilovskaya (model for
relationship)
• Made safer adaptations of established works
• Falls out of favor again making play about Stalin
• Dies on 10 March 1940
1928/1929 - 1940
1928/1929 – 1940
Six + versions of the
text
1928/1929 – 1940
Six + versions of the
text
“Manuscripts do
not burn”
The White Chancellor
Satan
Here I Am (Faust Opera)
The Hat with the Feather
The Black Theologian
He Appeared
The Foreigner’s Hoof
There He Is!
The Black Magician
The Hoof of the Advisor
• Wednesday until the night between Saturday and Sunday
• Wednesday until the night between Saturday and Sunday
• Corresponds to the Christian Holy Week
• Wednesday until the night between Saturday and Sunday
• Corresponds to the Christian Holy Week
• Jewish Passover
• Wednesday until the night between Saturday and Sunday
• Corresponds to the Christian Holy Week
• Jewish Passover
• Marianne Gourg argues it is also Walpurgis night and its Witches’
Sabbath
• Wednesday until the night between Saturday and Sunday
• Corresponds to the Christian Holy Week
• Jewish Passover
• Marianne Gourg argues it is also Walpurgis night and its Witches’
Sabbath
• Most probably 1929
“One hot spring evening, just as the sun was going
down, two men appeared at Patriarch’s Ponds…”