57 pages 1 hour read

Mikhail Bulgakov

The Master and Margarita

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1967

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“Here he politely removed his beret, and the friends had no choice but to raise themselves slightly and bow in response.”


(Part 1, Chapter 1, Page 10)

Woland is polite and well-mannered when meeting people who do not know his identity. Despite being Satan, he presents himself as a presentable, civil man. In reality, these mannerisms are careful manipulations. Woland parodies polite society by adhering to manners and gestures, such as removing his beret in company, while at the same time being the physical embodiment of evil in the world. Woland makes the other men act politely in his presence, manipulating them and mocking them at the same time as he reveals the inherent hypocrisy of society.

Quotation Mark Icon

“There is no devil!”


(Part 1, Chapter 3, Page 34)

Ivan insists that “there is no devil” (34). His statement will prove to be very wrong as the novel unfolds, but the fervor with which Ivan makes this statement is telling. Ivan is a self-confessed atheist who does not believe in God or the devil. Despite the growing evidence around him, however, he continues to decry the spiritual or the supernatural. Ivan makes a statement with almost religious fervor, showing that his atheism is hollow and cannot accommodate evidence. Instead, he is religious in his disbelief.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 57 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools

Related Titles

By Mikhail Bulgakov