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Essay on Blending Good and Evil in the Master and Margarita

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In Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, Woland has created some kind of partnership with Yeshua Ha-Nozri. He explains to Matthu Levi, a mere mortal, that he is misunderstood by fools. Woland is simply an alternate interpretation of the Devil. During his short conversation with Matthu Levi he asks him what good deeds are they able to do if there is no evil to right. "You spoke the words as though you did not recognize the existence of either shadows or evil. But would you be kind enough to give some thought to this: what would your good be doing if there were no evil, and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it? Even after Woland has burned down a fair portion of Moscow as well as created commotion among the lives of …show more content…

He delivers the message that Yeshua wants the master to be granted peace. Yeshua does not possess the power to do this task himself and asks that Woland do it. Woland can obviously do it easily. The Master is given peace, not light in the end because he has acquiesced to the pressure on him from society. The master's one flaw is that he is a coward, like Pontius Pilate. Because of this one fact he is given peace, not light. Yeshua did not blame anyone for his death, furthermore he did not seize the opportunity to be free when he was offered it. Pontius Pilate has eternally tormented himself for being a coward and not doing anything to save Yeshua. Yeshua's intentions are rather clear when he gets Woland to bring the Master to free Pilate. Woland's ultimate business in Moscow was to locate the Master and get the novel from him. Although he has caused a great deal of trouble for characters such as Varenuhka, Styopa, Ivan, and Rimsky, he has ultimately served his purpose as the justice-bringer to the flawed as well as allowing Yeshua to right his wrongs. During the aftermath of Satan's Ball, he allows the various characters to return to their original roles. However, it is not without consequence. For example he only lets Varenuhka return if he promises never to be rude over the phone again. Woland has punished evil-doers. It is in this very apartment where Woland refers to the tasks of "other departments". "Every department must take care

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