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The closest modern day equivalent to living in Stalinist Russia in the 30s is North Korea. At the slightest suspicion that one was somehow demonstrating disloy

The closest modern day equivalent to living in Stalinist Russia in the 30s is North Korea. At the slightest suspicion that one was somehow demonstrating disloyalty to the Soviet state one could be hauled away to be tortured and executed or sent to the Siberian Gulag to be slowly worked to death. Bulgakov's writings, if discovered, would have lead to him being executed. To people who lived in the system, their was an unacknowledged understanding that something bad was happening as people would mysteriously disappear on a regular basis. The movie "The Inner Circle" ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103838/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103838/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_p... ) and "Burnt By The Sun" ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111579/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111579/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 ) are good depictions of what life was like during those times. It makes the high anxiety and paranoia of most characters in M & M much more understandable.

pvg 9y ago
Bulgakov's writings, if discovered, would have lead to him being executed. Bulgakov and his writings were well known to the authorities.
smsm42 9y ago
There are deeper things in play there. Bulgakov had very peculiar relationship with Stalin. He hoped, against all odds and reason, that Stalin would read the book and like it and would protect him. That is what the scene when Woland talks to the Master about his novel is about. Stalin actually kind of did help Bulgakov somewhat, and enabled his works to be produced in theaters (without which Bulgakov would not have any means to support himself). It was kind of cat and mouse game which Stalin, having a sadistic streak, loved to play - one day he helped Bulgakov, another day reverted everything back. But Bulgakov sincerely hoped that Stalin would personally read the book and like it. That, of course, never happened and probably couldn't happen.

pvg 9y ago

Bulgakov's writings, if discovered, would have lead to him being executed. Bulgakov and his writings were well known to the authorities.

smsm42 9y ago

There are deeper things in play there. Bulgakov had very peculiar relationship with Stalin. He hoped, against all odds and reason, that Stalin would read the book and like it and would protect him. That is what the scene when Woland talks to the Master about his novel is about. Stalin actually kind of did help Bulgakov somewhat, and enabled his works to be produced in theaters (without which Bulgakov would not have any means to support himself). It was kind of cat and mouse game which Stalin, having a sadistic streak, loved to play - one day he helped Bulgakov, another day reverted everything back. But Bulgakov sincerely hoped that Stalin would personally read the book and like it. That, of course, never happened and probably couldn't happen.