The Master and Margarita Review and Analysis

The Master and Margarita by M. A. Bulgakov is one of the books that had a deep impact on me as a reader. It was the first text that inspired me to look for different interpretations and to read the manuscripts.
In this video, I try to discuss some of its aspect without spoilers. This is not a summary, but rather an introduction to it.
One of the best soundtracks ever:
• Master And Margarita O...
Berlioz : Symphonie Fantastique :
• Berlioz : Symphonie Fa...
Gounod: Faust
• Gounod: Faust
Schubert-Die Winterreise:
• Schubert-Die Winterrei...
MUSIC:
The Path of the Goblin King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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The Chamber Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Gagool Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Not As It Seems Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Mysterioso March Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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The Builder Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Six Musical Moments, D. 780 - III. Allegro moderato in F minor by Franz Schubert
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#russianliterature #bulgakov

[@jarlaleksandrbranting5167]

Thank you for the exceptional review. Few authors have managed to achieve such intellectual depths as Mikhail Bulgakov and the analysis of the book reveals it perfectly. Being interested in Russian literature, I really appreciate the fact that you not only interpret the book, but also connect it to broader cultural contexts (such as, for instance, the fact that Ivan's encounter with the devil in The Brothers Karamazov had an impact on The Master and Margarita). Manuscripts don't burn (рукописи не горят)!

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you for writing such a thoughtful comment! I appreciate it!

[@pollypolygraph]

A wonderful video - I could listen to you discuss Bulgakov for hours. He is a new favourite writer of mine: I love The Fatal Eggs and The Diaboliad too.

[@TripleRoux]

Thank you, this was so good! The book is our family favorite and even though I know it half by heart, you made me think of aspects I haven't considered yet and I loved that! I would be so on happy if you would make a second part to talk about the women and the ball and everything that we see through Margarita's eyes...

[@jeffseng6385]

I just finished reading the book and was “so delighted to you!” You bring a great deal of fun and understanding to the reading. Thank you very much

[@sitting_nut]

thanks for sharing so much. this was worth the long wait. this video is itself a work of art. a very high quality presentation. its enjoyable and informative directly, but also rich with details, allusions, and great deal of concentrated knowledge and learning, that needs to be slowly unpacked and savored at leisure, while rereading the book.

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you for being so supportive! 😊

[@kayjones2533]

This was wonderful. I have two copies but have always felt this was not for me. You have inspired me to give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing your incredible knowledge and insights x

[@SophiaClef]

I'm so happy to hear that. 😊 I hope you like it!

[@natojavakhishvili6622]

Loved your review. So far the best on KZbin. Thanks

[@watanabeshiho5473]

I absolutely adore your content! The way you're going in depth with the analysis reminds me of my lovely literature teacher, who has started my love for the subject. I hope you have a great day, night, or hell! A whole year! 😂❤️

[@SophiaClef]

Oh, thank you! This year has been awful so far, so every bit helps. Ironically, I've never had a good literature teacher.

[@koroviev8897]

Hi Sophia. This video was my first contact with your channel and I am very happy youtube suggested your content to me. I find your experience with the text very relatable, since I also read it before much else of russian literature. I remember the feelings of awe and also of utter confusion. I think I will be re-reading it very soon thanks to you c:

[@SophiaClef]

Hi! Thank you! I hope you find something new when you re-read it!

[@fernandopavon888]

Excellent review! Thank you!! 👍

[@jessealvesgaldino7915]

I just finished the book and came looking for more. Great vid, thank you!

[@SophiaClef]

You're welcome!😊

[@nhenrion]

I’m addicted to your reviews. I’m rereading Dostoevsky right now, and your passion for the books is infectious and delightful. Now I have to go back and read Bulgakov.

[@NickyGorinov]

You are wonderful because your analysis is wonderful and vice versa.

[@sarthak6013]

Your passion always motivates me.

[@SophiaClef]

That's awesome! Thank you!

[@NoxAlbel]

Great content!!! Keep going!!! 👏👏👏

[@laylavladi]

thank you for making this! ♡

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you for watching!

[@borntobemild-]

I've waited 15 years since I first read this book to hear a perspective such as yours

[@english4freedom]

I wanted to recommend Prince Silver (Князь Серебряный) by A Tolstoi - a magnificent work recreating the atmosphere of Ivan Grozny's Russia.. also the book has a successor - The Oprichnik's Day by Sorokin - great inquiries into "darkness".

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you! I'll check them out.

[@kouroushsadeghzadeh1172]

Great review and analysis! I did not pay attention to these allusions and details! Many thanks! How could you make such inferences?

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you! I think rereading helps.

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

Bulgakov scholar Julie Curtis recommends Burgin and O'Connor and Aplin. She does not recommend P&V, whose translations I find overly hyped and not as good as their publicity machine claims. I like Ginzburg's but it is, of course, of the Moskva publication censored version. As for Anna, I prefer the Kent/Berberova translation. I also like the Alma version.

[@SophiaClef]

What do you like about The Master and Margarita?

[@english4freedom]

I liked ... the movie Master and Margarita!)

[@SophiaClef]

@@english4freedom Which one? The TV-series?

[@koroviev8897]

Woland's entourage!

[@richardcgs2001]

I like the Russian TV serialized version from, I think, 2005, with Anna Kovalchuk as Margarita. That encouraged me to read the book, which I just finished on Christmas.

[@attention5638]

I think I was far too young when I had read this, and so much of it went over my head. One really needs to know a bit about literature and culture to get a lot of it. I had never heard the theory that it was written for Stalin. That is a little absurd haha I was reading a lot of Goethe at the time I read this, so Faust was an obvious connection for me, but I don't believe I had read Gogol yet. I think is about time for a reread.

[@SophiaClef]

I hope you enjoy it even more when you reread it! With the Stalin theory I was making fun of some teachers, rather than readers.

[@ceasarsaran8573]

Its not written for anyone. Its a perfect for any country that doesnt allow creative freedom. If you replaced the MASSOLIT with the politically correct tyrants at the New York Times, you would get the same narrow minded, bigoted atheists. Being told your work needs more gay characters and inclusivity isnt any different then being told you cant write about the life of Christ.

[@rickyratnayake835]

This inspired me to keep reading the book, there's so many contextual references that I missed! Your comments on themes of fate & control were interesting, would love to see a in-depth analysis =].

[@rickyratnayake835]

P.s. switched to the Burgin and O'Connor translation. It's got a much more natural flow and voice than the P&V penguin classics version - much less of a struggle to read!

[@ceasarsaran8573]

My favorite book.

[@studentrussian6453]

Привет. Читал эту книгу в школе. Помню не любил книги, но Булгакова читал взахлёб. Только главу про Понтия Пилата пропустил - слишком занудная. А позже узнал, что я не один эту часть книги пропускали)) Забавно, да?

[@ceasarsaran8573]

Not very. I think its the most interesting part of the book.

[@bobbiop785]

Do you recommend any particular English translation for this novel?

[@SophiaClef]

I think most of the recent ones are good, though I haven't read all of them.

[@bobbiop785]

@@SophiaClef thanks

[@user-jd3ih2qp1b]

Great book.Red it 3times and two the serial.(now they probably will burn it,so if you have time,find the other Bulgakov's"Heart of a dog").

[@nadiatavakoli2000]

Very engaging video. Nevertheless, halfway through I had to slow down the video to .75!! The talking in the video is so fast and with no pause that I could hardly breathe while trying to follow everything!!

[@english4freedom]

Thanks a lot for your videos! One can "kill two birds with one stone // two rabbits with one shot!" -- learn some English and benefit from a fresh perspective on the Russian classics :)

[@SophiaClef]

Thank you! I hope they're helpful!

[@SophiaClef]

for some reason KZbin removed your last comment, so I can't reply to it. I don't have a book club yet, but I would like to start one in the future once I can engage with the community more.

[@english4freedom]

@@SophiaClef interesting - this website just cancels all my comments longer than 3 lines -- didn't know)

[@SophiaClef]

Well, now you are a special viewer. I clicked on always approve comments from this user, to let KZbin know that your comments aren't dangerous. They usually appear as notifications, but disappear when I click on them. Hopefully, everything is fine now. In your previous comment you recommended something but YT interrupted you. Could you write that again, please, to see if this thing works and to satisfy my curiosity?

[@english4freedom]

​@@SophiaClef I can recommend M. Gorky's Untimely Thoughtsand Olga Berggolts' Blockade Diary -- really impressive books!

[@Asgardartgrad]

русский учи , чуда