The Master and Margarita Book 1, Chapters 1 - 9

 

Chapter 1

Mikhail Alexandrovich Berlioz and Ivan Nikolayevich Ponyryov walk to the Patriarch Ponds on a spring evening in the 1930s. They are both writers, Berlioz is the more of the two. He is not only the chairman of Moscow’s Writer’s Union, but also the editor of an atheist periodical. Ivan is a young poet, who often writes under the pen name of Homeless. The two of them drink some soda and sit down in the park to discuss Ivan’s recently submitted poem. Berlioz wants Ivan to rewrite the poem because the current poem humanizes Jesus, and discusses his faults. Berlioz doesn’t believe that Jesus ever existed and that the poem should represent that viewpoint instead of its current one. Their discussion is interrupted by the arrival of a tall man in a handsome suit, who is carrying a cane whose head is shaped like that of a poodle. He confesses to having overheard their conversation and wishes to confirm if they were indeed discussing their belief that Jesus had never existed. 

He is very excited to learn that both of them are atheists, and do not believe in the existence of God, or follow any religion. During their conversation about religious philosophy, the stranger makes odd allusions to Berlioz’s death and having shared a meal with the deceased Immanuel Kant. Ivan begins to suspect the man is a spy of some sort, but he provides them with his papers just as they are about to ask for them. He tells them that he is a professor of black magic and that he has come to Moscow concerning the subject. He then promises to tell them a story that would prove the existence of Jesus.

Chapter 2 

The stranger begins to describe the Roman palace in the city of Yershalaim (Jerusalem) on the day of Passover as a preacher called Yeshua Ha-Notsri is brought before the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. The procurator is nursing a terrible headache and longing for the day to end so that he can return to his dog. Yeshua has been charged with inciting violence and has consequently been sentenced to death. The council requires that Pontius confirm the sentence, and before he can question Yeshua too deeply, he has one of his guards beat him to teach him to address the procurator with appropriate respect. Pontius is impressed with Yeshua’s education and his philosophical beliefs. He is surprised when Yeshua correctly deduces his headache, his desire to be with his dog, and he also predicts the coming of a storm. Yeshua explains that the trouble with the authorities had come about due to a confusion of transcription that had been committed by Levi Matvei, who had once been a tax collector but had now decided to follow him and transcribe his sermons.

Pontius Pilate is impressed by Yeshua and talks to him in private to discuss the charge of sedition. Yeshua explains that he had spoken with a man about a future in which no kings or powers would exist. Pontius confirms the sentence of execution with a heavy heart and goes to meet the head of the Jewish religious leader, Joseph Kafia. According to the traditions of the city, the community selects one criminal to pardon on the day of Passover, and Pontius tells the leader that they should select Jeshua. However, the religious leader chooses to save the other criminal, which displeases Pontius and he promises them that his community would regret that decision. Pontius accompanies the prisoners to a platform in front of the crowd where Yeshua is sentenced to be crucified.

Chapter 3

Berlioz interrupts the man and claims that his retelling does not coincide with the biblical account of Jesus’s final days. The man claims that he had witnessed the events that he had been describing. He also claims that he will be staying at Berlioz’s house while he was in Moscow. Beriloz believes the man might be deranged, and leaves to report him to the authorities. On his way, Berlioz slips in some sunflower oil and falls in the way of an oncoming tram that decapitates him precisely in the manner that the stranger had predicted.

Chapter 4

Korovyov 

Ivan is distressed by Beriloz’s death, and he begins to believe that the stranger had somehow orchestrated the death, he returns from examining Berlioz’s death to find the stranger sitting with the levitating man that Berlioz had seen right before his death. The levitating man is called Korovyov, and he prevents Ivan from talking to the stranger who seems suddenly unable to understand Russian. He tries to grab onto them but finds that they have walked away from him, almost by magic. Ivan’s manic state begins to worsen, he wanders the city seeking the man and his strange retinue for he had been accompanied by a large cat walking on its hind legs. He believes the stranger is hiding from him, and in his manic state, Ivan ends up losing his clothes to a stranger. He puts on the rags of a homeless man and makes his way to the headquarters of the Writer’s Union. 

Chapter 5

A group of writers assemble for the meeting, and bicker while they wait for Berlioz’s arrival. They gossip about him and complain about the retreats that other less deserving writers have received. They wait until midnight and then go to the restaurant that is housed in the same building. They drink and make merry, but their celebrations are interrupted by the sad news of Berlioz’s death. Their sadness is fleeting, until the arrival of Ivan. They are alarmed by his ragged appearance and his deranged words about catching a magical stranger who had somehow wrought Berlioz’s death. He is unable to recall the stranger’s name but only remembers that it began with a W. The alarmed writers call for the police, and Ivan is dragged kicking and screaming to the nearest asylum.

Chapter 6

A poet named Riukhin comes to the asylum to explain the events that took place at the restaurant that concerned his friend and colleague, Ivan. Ivan calls Riukhin scum, belittles his writing ability, and insists that he be released. He tells them his story once again and asks to be allowed to make a phone call. He calls the police to tell them that he is being held against his will in the asylum. He then tries to break out of his cell, and the doctor is forced to sedate Ivan. Riukhin goes to the bar where he drinks excessively while thinking about his work and Ivan’s criticism.

Chapter 7

Berlioz lived in an apartment on Sadovaya Street, which had a strange reputation for disappearing inhabitants, with the Variety director, Styopa Likhodev. He wakes up from a night of heavy drinking and immediately calls Berlioz for some medicine to help him with his hangover. As he looks around his room, he finds a strange man standing in it. The stranger introduces himself as Woland and explains that Styopa had signed a contract with him involving the performance of seven magic shows at the theatre. The man offers Styopa some fine foods to help him with his hangover, but Styopa insists that he has no recollection of such events even after he is shown a contract with his signature. He calls the financial director of the theatre, Rimsky, and discovers that the contract had indeed been submitted. Styopa sees a walking cat, Behemoth, and calls for his maid in surprise. He is told that his maid has been sent away, and Woland explains that Behemoth is part of his retinue. He is also introduced to Korovyov, and Azazello, a red-haired man of small stature with a fang protruding from his mouth. Woland’s retinue berates Styopa for drinking too much, and he feels a blow strike him on the back of the head. He wakes up on a beach in Yalta, and faints from incomprehension.

Chapter 8

Ivan wakes up from his sedation and quietly allows the nursing staff to administer to him as he resolves to behave peaceably. He speaks to the head of the asylum and succinctly retells his account, and though he insists that he is sane, the doctor believes that he will be required to remain at the asylum for a brief time. 

Chapter 9

 Nikanor Ivanovich Bosoi is the chairman of the tenant’s association for Beriloz’s apartment building, and he has been harangued by multiple petitions for Berlioz’s apartment since the news of his death. He goes into the concerned apartment and is enraged to find it is already occupied by Korovyov, who explains that the apartment now inhabits his master, Woland, a foreign professor that is going to be performing a magic show at the theatre. Bosoi protests at this arrangement, but Korovyov produces a signed paper from Styopa that confirms the matter. Bosoi also speaks to the foreign tourist office to confirm Woland’s credentials. He isn’t allowed to see the magician, but Korovyov signs an agreement with the landlord in his stead after Bosoi has been reassured by a high sum of rent. He asks for a free pass to the magic show, and Korovyov laughingly gives him a big bribe. Bosoi hides the envelope in a ventilation shaft of his bathroom when he comes back home. Woland tells Korovyov to make sure the chairman never comes back to their apartment. A few minutes later, the police break into Bosoi’s apartment, and his hidden envelope is found to contain several notes of foreign currency that are unlawful to possess. The documents given to him by Korovyov have disappeared, and no one is found to be inhabiting the flat.

Analysis

The novel opens with Satan interrupting a conversation between two atheists, who believe that Jesus Christ did not exist. Woland, Satan, does not allow the men to operate under that belief but rather chooses to convince them of God’s existence to bring them disquiet and confusion. The author represents the atheists as being just as zealous as an extremely religious individuals, and this is why Berlioz is unable to go on with the conversation, but he extracts himself from the disturbing conversation only to walk into his death. On the other hand, Ivan doesn’t walk away, but he is deeply disturbed by the conversation just as much as he is affected by Berlioz’s death Ivan thinks about Satan’s account of Pontius Pilate more than he thinks about Berlioz during his time in the asylum.

The MASSOLIT, the writer’s union, is a means of representing the inefficacy of government structures within the communist regime during Stalin’s reign. The writers are supposed to be communicating the realities of human existence, but they seclude themselves in their comfortable buildings and cavort in fine restaurants completely isolated from the realities of everyday existence.