The novel "The Master and Margarita" is not only the most famous in the entire work of Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov, but also the most read. And not only in Russia, but also abroad. Why is the work so beloved by readers? Perhaps the reason is that the novel perfectly reflects the realities of Soviet reality, and also perfectly reveals the characters' characters.
Among the main characters - Pontius Pilate. It is interesting that he is a historical person (1st century AD). Pilate is the personification of power. He is proud that everyone is afraid of him, they consider him cruel. The procurator knows what war is - explicit and veiled - and is sure that only courageous people who do not know fear and doubt have the right to life . However, the image of Pontius Pilate is idealized. Yes, yes, in fact, the procurator of Judea was even more cruel, and also distinguished by excessive greed.
The history of the ruler’s origin, invented in the Middle Ages in Germany, is presented in the novel as a real fact. According to legend, Pontius Pilate is the son of Ata (king-stargazer) and Pyla (daughter of the miller). Looking once at the stars, the stargazer read from them that the child, who would be conceived by him immediately, would become a great man in the future. Then At ordered to bring the beautiful Pyla to him, and after 9 months a child was born who received his name from the names of his mother and father put together.
Contradictory personality. Pontius Pilate is both terrible and miserable. The crime committed by him against an innocent person dooms him to eternal torment. This story is also mentioned in one of the Gospel tales from Matthew (another interesting parallel: the student of Yeshua in the novel was Levi Matvey). It says that the wife of the procurator of Judea had a terrible dream in which Pilate would pay for the crucifixion of the righteous.
The novel clearly traces the idea that Pontius Pilate does not want Yeshua's death. He sees that for society this person does not pose any danger, because he is not a thief, not a murderer, not a rapist. However, the state does not want to agree with the ruler, and the high priest, of course, sees a threat in a man who preaches an unknown religion. The Roman procurator is unable to fight, even the strongest mental torment does not force him to make a decision at his discretion: he knows that this can undermine his authority in the eyes of society, his strength and power.
When the ritual of execution was complete, and nothing could be corrected, Pontius Pilate completely forgot about a quiet life. He reproaches himself for weakness, and at night he often sees a dream in which everything happens differently: nothing happened, Yeshua is alive, and they walk along the moonlit road and talk, talk ...
Surely the real Pilate did not torment himself with such doubts and regrets. However, M.A. Bulgakov seemed to believe that feelings of fear and justice could fight in the most inhuman tyrant. At the same time, the writer, as it were, shifts responsibility for such a look on the shoulders of the Master: after all, he is the author of the novel.
It is not known with what feelings the Roman ruler actually left this world, but in the book everything should end well, and in the end the fifth procurator of Judea Pontius Pilate will find peace of mind.
“The Master and Margarita” is a truly great work, which every person who considers himself cultural is obliged to read.