The Master and Margarita

1. The Master and Margarita A character guide… because I love you.

2. The characters can be split into three main groups: Contemporary Russians Satan and his posse Characters from the Master’s Novel

3. The Contemporary Russians Mikhail Alexandrovich Berlioz Berlioz • Head of Moscow literary association called Massolit • Last name shared with the French composer Hector Berlioz who wrote The Damnation of Faust

4. The Contemporary Russians Ivan Nikolaevich Ponyrev “Bezdomny” “Homeless” • Employed by Beroliz to write an anti-religious poem

5. The Contemporary Russians Stephen Bogdanovich Likhodeyev “Styopa” • Last name derived from the Russian word for “malfeasant” • Director of the Variety Theater • Berlioz’s roommate

6. The Contemporary Russians Ivan Savelievich Varenukha • “Varenukha” • The house manager at the Variety Show • From man to creature of darkness to man again!

7. The Contemporary Russians George Bengalsky • “Bengalsky” • The masterof ceremonies at the Variety Show • Loses his head for a bit and then joins the crew at the hospital

8. The Contemporary Russians GrigoryDanilovich Rimsky “Rimsky” • The financial director of the Variety Show

9. The Contemporary Russians NikanorIvanovichBosoy • House Chairman of No. 302-b, Sadovaya Street (where Beroliz lived) • Greedy, greedy… bad idea when you’re dealing with the devil.

10. The Contemporary Russians The Master • A trained historian with a mysterious past who speaks five languages • We meet him in the psych ward • We know that his life had no meaning until he met Margarita • An author who wrote a novel about Pontius Pilate meeting Jesus of Nazareth

11. The Contemporary Russians Margarita Nikolayevna “Margarita” • The Master’s lover, trapped in a loveless marriage • Serves as hostess of Satan’s Grand Ball on Walpurgis Night • Named after Faust’s Gretchen

12. Satan and his posse Professor Woland “Satan” • Claims to be a “foreign professor” • Purported purpose in Moscow? To put on a black magic show. Obviously.

13. Satan and his posse Koroviev Fagot/Fagotto, ex-choirmaster • Woland’s assistant • Capable of all sorts of magic!

14. Satan and his posse Behemoth The giant black cat • In Russian, his name can literally translate to “hippopotamus” (as well as the Biblical figure) • Has a deep love for chess, vodka, and pistols. Why not?

15. Satan and his posse Azazello Name could be a reference to Azazel, a demon or scapegoat in Hebrew text -also- in the book of Enoch, the fallen angel who teaches people to make weapons, jewelry, and the sin of wearing makeup • Has a fang jutting out of his mouth • A messenger and assassin; maybe one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse?

16. Satan and his posse Hella The Devil’s Lady Friend • “…perfect, were it not for a purple scar on her neck…” • Is she a vampire?

17. Characters from the Master’s Novel Pontius Pilate The Procurator of Judea, Hegemon • We’ll talk more about this guy in a minute…

18. Characters from the Master’s Novel Aphranius The mysterious hooded figure • Turns out he’s the head of the Roman Secret Service in Judea

19. Characters from the Master’s Novel Yeshua Ha-Nozri Translated: Jesus of Nazarene

20. Characters from the Master’s Novel Mark Rat-Killer • A Centurion • Rather large and unattractive

21. Characters from the Master’s Novel Joseph/YosephKaifa Ciaphus • Head high priest in Jerusalem

22. Characters from the Master’s Novel Judah/Yehudah of Kiriaf/Kerioth We might think of him as Judas • Paid by Kaifa to suck at life and ruin everything

23. Characters from the Master’s Novel Matthu Levi / Levi Matvei The author of the Gospel of Matthew • He’s been following Yeshua around, writing things down on parchment when we first hear of him