Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" Analysis of the chapter "Pontius Pilate" from the novel by M.A.

Pontius Pilate in Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" is the character of the Master, that is, the hero of the novel in the novel, which at the end of the work converge with one common denouement. The story of the Procurator, who sent to death the wandering philosopher Yeshua Ha-Notsri, who preaches love, was written by the Master and paid for his courage in choosing a theme for the work.

Loneliness is the price of a high position in society

In the novel The Master and Margarita, the image of Pontius Pilate is one of the most controversial and tragic characters. The fifth procurator of Judea arrived in Yershalaim for service from Rome. It was his duty to judge the criminals of the city he hated.

Meeting a soul mate

The Master's novel describes one trial in which Yeshua, nicknamed Ha-Nozri, appeared, accused of inciting people to destroy the temple of the existing government. In the dialogue between the accused and the Procurator of Judea, tension reigns at first. This strange thinker calls the hegemon a kind person, and also claims that there are no evil people, but only unhappy ones. This fact angers Pilate. He was not accustomed to being perceived without fear, the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, distinguished by pride and emphasized self-esteem. He regarded such treatment as disrespect for his person.

However, over time, Pilate and Yeshua begin to sympathize with each other. But having heard unacceptable speeches, with which he agreed in the depths of his soul, the procurator flew into a rage and announced the decision on the death sentence. Career and status outweighed sympathy for the kind and fearless guy on the scales of Pilate's judicial justice. Maybe it was a manifestation of cowardice, and not great power?

Pilate's vanity was dealt a blow. After all, some rogue is spiritually richer and happier than him. He was simply afraid to recognize the simple philosophy of kindness and love that the young prophet carried. In making a decision, Pontius Pilate was guided not by his heart or even common sense, but only by unverified facts and anger due to wounded pride. He sentenced Yeshua to death on the basis of a report by a certain Judas from Kiriath. Assigning the verdict, the procurator believed that he would be able to save the Messiah. After all, on the eve of the Passover feast, the Jewish high priest has the right to acquit one of the defendants.

Repentance and futile attempts to correct the mistake

The other three criminals were suing for serious sins, so Pontius Pilate was sure that the high priest Caif would justify Yeshua. However, when the decision of the first clergyman of Yershalaim turned out to be different, because he decided to justify the murderer Barrabas, Pilate realized the terrible consequences of his mistake, but he could not do anything.

His torment intensified from the information that Judas denounced Yeshua only in order to receive money from the high priest, and also when the head of the secret guard of the procurator spoke in detail about the behavior of Ga-Notzri at the execution. “The only thing he said is that among human vices, he considers cowardice to be one of the most important,” said Aphranius.

Pontius Pilate could not find a place for himself, because he put to death the only soul close to him. He understood that he no longer wanted to be in this position and in the city where he approved so many death penalties, feeling innocent blood on his hands. Pilate wanted with all his heart to do at least something to clear his conscience, although he understood that he could not bring Yeshua back. At his indirect request, Judas was killed, and he decided to take the only follower of the wandering philosopher Levi Matthew to him.

The problem of conscience in the novel

Through the characterization of Pontius Pilate in the novel "The Master and Margarita" the solution to the problems of cowardice and conscience is realized. Each of us is just a person who can make a mistake. And even though the mistake of Pontius Pilate was irreparable, he realized what he had done and repented of it. Not higher powers, but his conscience would not let him sleep on every full moon, and when he managed to fall asleep, he saw Yeshua and dreamed of walking along the lunar path with him. He now thought quite differently than he did: “Cowardice is undoubtedly one of the most terrible vices. This is what Yeshua Ha-Nozri said. No, philosopher, I object to you: this is the most terrible vice.

To save the Roman procurator from the prison of his own conscience and to fulfill his desire to be near the Messiah, his creator, the author of the novel about Pilate, the Master, was able to. Having ascended to heaven, Woland showed the Master his hero, who had been tormented by loneliness and remorse for centuries, and allowed him to complete his work, the finale of which was the phrase: “Free”.

Artwork test

This article is an essay on the topic: "The image of Pontius Pilate in Bulgakov's novel" The Master and Margarita ".

Our first introduction to Pontius Pilate in The Master and Margarita takes place in the second chapter. There we also learn about Yeshua Ha-Nozri, a wandering philosopher who was sentenced to death as an instigator of conspiracies, but Pilate, a Roman procurator and a man of great power, must decide the fate of Ha-Nozri.

At the very beginning, Pilate treats Yeshua as an ordinary bandit, whom he has seen enough in his lifetime. Yeshua even gets lashed as a punishment for calling Pilit “a good man”, while calling the procurator can only be “Hegemon”.
However, further Pelit's attitude towards the arrested person changes greatly.
The procurator learns that Yeshua knows several languages, which greatly surprised Pilate. Further, Ha-Notsri told Pilate about the pain in his head, which had not left the procurator since the morning, and predicted that it would soon pass. Pilate was incredibly surprised, because he actually had a terrible headache, and suddenly (as Yeshua said) the pain stopped.

Ha-Notsri also told that the procurator is very lonely and there is only one creature to which he is attached - the dog of the procurator. This turned out to be true again.
It was the greatest audacity to speak in such a form as a Roman procurator, but Pilate was so impressed by the knowledge of the arrested person that he even ordered him to free his hands. It seemed to the procurator that Yeshua must have been a doctor, since he was able to quickly determine his illness, but he was not a doctor.

Here Pilate has the idea that it is necessary to save the wandering philosopher. He will conclude that Yeshua is mentally ill and does not deserve the death penalty, however
Pilate receives a second bottom on the defendant. During interrogation, Yeshua calls any power - violence against people. These words do not please the Procurator.

Pilate pronounces the death sentence on Yeshua Ha-Nozri, and this was a sentence that the Roman procurator will regret until the end of his days. A sentence passed on an innocent person only because the release of the defendant could call into question his high position, from the duties of which Pilate could not evade.
This wandering philosopher became the dearest person for him, and, realizing this, Pilate still hoped for the salvation of Yeshua, because. according to the rules, one of the four prisoners should be released at the will of the high priest, but he decided to give freedom to another prisoner, and no matter how Pilate tried to influence the decision of the high priest, nothing came of it.

The Roman procurator, endowed with enormous strength and power, showed weakness by sending to death not a criminal, but a person who was so important and dear to him.

Sections: Literature

(Slide #2)

Target: To observe the details of the literary text, at the same time analyzing their own feelings that arose as a response to the events happening to the characters.

(Slide #3)

Tasks:

• Explain the reasons for the actions of Pontius Pilate through the observation of his emotional experiences; notice all the subtleties in his behavior, speech, intonation, explain the inconsistency of his feelings.
• Analyze your own feelings that appear when reading the text.
• Make a psychological dictionary of your feelings.

Equipment: Microsoft Power Point presentation (Appendix 1), two sheets of whatman paper, felt-tip pens

During the classes

Introduction by the teacher.

So, today we are starting to analyze the 2nd chapter of the novel by M.A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita", which is based on the eternal problems of human existence: Good and Evil, Faith and Unbelief, Betrayal and Love, Power and Freedom, the problem of repentance and fair retribution.

A whole panorama of human mores unfolds before us, exposing questions as old as the world and eternal as life itself. What is a person? Is he responsible for his own affairs? Can even the harshest circumstances justify an immoral act? You know that a part of Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita", its separate chapters is the novel of its hero, the Master, turned by events into almost two thousand years of history, but having a direct connection with the events taking place in Moscow in the 30s. The plot of this novel is reminiscent of the biblical story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and gives the impression of a documentary accurate presentation of the events that really took place, since its heroes are almost historical figures. However, there is something that distinguishes the Master's novel.

The Gospel of Matthew says that, having gathered 12 disciples for the Last Supper on the eve of the Easter holiday, Jesus Christ predicted his death from the betrayal of one of them...

(Slide number 4)

Student's message about the biblical story of the crucifixion of Christ ( tells the legend of the crucifixion of Christ, supplementing the story with the following quotations from the Bible):

“Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.

The disciples were saddened by this, and they began to ask one after another:

- Isn't it me, Lord?

Then Judas, who had previously betrayed Him, also asked:

“Of course not me, Master?”

Jesus replied:

“Yes, you…”

(Gospel of Matthew, ch.26 (20–22, 25, 46–52,) ch.27 (1–5)

Teacher: There is no doubt that Yeshua Ha-Nozri is a kind of double of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Yeshua in Aramaic means Lord (salvation), and Ha-Nozri - from Nazareth. Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, lived permanently in Nazareth before beginning his activity, which is why he is often called Jesus the Nazarene. What, in your opinion, is the peculiarity of the interpretation of the gospel story?

(The writer significantly deepened the biblical plot, conveyed a whole gamut of feelings and experiences of the characters, he “humanized” them, which causes empathy and compassion for the readers. He puts them before a moral choice, and it seems that Bulgakov addresses everyone: “I could are you just as courageously, meekly as Yeshua, to accept suffering in the name of your idea, to the end retaining faith in a good beginning in a person, not allowing a single iota of feeling of anger and resentment for your fate?”)

At the second lesson of studying the novel by M.A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" you received the task: to reread the 2nd chapter of "Pontius Pilate" and answer the questions:

1. Can we, sincerely sympathizing with Yeshua, understanding the injustice of his punishment, categorically condemn Pilate for his cruelty? What is Pilate's true fault?
2. Why were circumstances superior to the procurator's desire to save the preacher? Why was Yeshua above these circumstances?
3. Did Pilate have a choice, why did he still choose evil?

Individual homework (report by 2 students presenting their slide)

1 student completed the task: to trace how the mood of Pontius Pilate changes. Make a dictionary of your feelings that arose while reading chapter 2.

2 the student analyzes the behavior of Yeshua Ha-Nozri and makes a dictionary of his own feelings.

(Slide number 5)

Presentation by 1 student:

As soon as Bulgakov introduces us to the palace of Herod the Great and introduces us to Pontius Pilate, an atmosphere of some kind of unrest immediately catches our eye. Pilate's ill state confirms this (“an attack of hemicrania has begun again, when half of the head hurts”).

So, meeting with the procurator for the first time, we see him irritated. It is felt that the inhabitants of the palace and those close to him are accustomed to the cruelty and harshness of his character. Speaking with the prisoner brought to him, he interrupts him in mid-sentence, when Yeshua turned to him: “Good man…” Pilate declares that in Yershalaim everyone whispers about him: “fierce monster”, “and this is absolutely true” In support of his words Pilate calls the centurion, the formidable Mark Ratslayer: “The criminal calls me a “good man…” Explain to him how to talk to me. But don't hurt."

(There is some kind of terrible feeling of fear and bewilderment and the question: “For what?”)

But later, it seems, Pilate himself became interested in talking with this man. After all, “the easiest way would be to drive this strange robber from the balcony, uttering only two words:“ hang him. However, the procurator does not do this. And when Yeshua explains to the procurator the reason for his suffering (“the truth is, first of all, that your head hurts ... You are not only unable to talk to me, but it’s hard for you to even look at me ...”), Pilate is simply smitten.

The procurator calms down when Yeshua continues to talk about the fact that “there are no evil people in the world”, and a formula formed in his head: “the hegemon sorted out the case of the wandering philosopher Yeshua, nicknamed Ha-Notsri, and did not find corpus delicti in him. In particular, I did not find the slightest connection between the actions of Yeshua and the riots that took place in Yershalaim recently. The wandering philosopher turned out to be mentally ill. As a result, the death sentence ... the procurator does not approve ... "

(Here the reader involuntarily rejoices for the procurator and for Yeshua, and is already waiting for a happy ending.) And suddenly it turns out that everything is not so.

Everything about him? Pilate asked the secretary.

No, unfortunately,” the secretary unexpectedly answered and handed Pilate another piece of parchment.

– What else is there? Pilate asked and frowned.

(Here I really want this second parchment to not be, it becomes scary that it will ruin everything.)

The procurator himself feels the same, who is trying with all his being to avert the danger, even condescending to giving signs to Yeshua. (Therefore, the feeling of excitement and anxiety increases) especially since Pilate has a terrible hallucination, which seems to portend trouble: “So, it seemed to him that the prisoner’s head had floated away somewhere, and another appeared instead. On this bald head sat a rare-toothed golden crown; there was a round ulcer on the forehead, corroding the skin and smeared with ointment, ... in the distance, as if, trumpets played softly and menacingly, and a nasal voice was very clearly heard, arrogantly drawing the words: "The law of lèse majesté ..." Yeshua's story about what and how he spoke to Judas of Cariath, giving Pilate a mood of hopelessness. He feels that he is losing the chance of saving the naive prisoner. (Feeling of anxiety increases)

(Slide number 6)

Presentation by 2 students:

The cruel, unjust punishment, it seems, did not even arouse indignation in the arrested person. He simply, like a child, asks the centurion in response to his formidable tone: “I understand you. Do not hit me." (This causes interest in him and respect)

(Slide number 7)

In the future, the sincerity and ease of his conversation with Pilate is simply breathtaking.

(Slide number 8)

For this reason, the directness of the answer struck Pilate with its impudence: “Don't you think that you hung her, hegemon? If so, you are very wrong." (At this point there is a fear that Yeshua might hurt himself) Pilate "shuddered and answered through his teeth, 'I can cut this hair.'

“Would you let me go, hegemon,” the prisoner suddenly asked, and his voice became anxious, “I see that they want to kill me.”

(At the moment of the verdict, the reader has an acute feeling of disagreement with what is happening: the cruelty of the procurator and his impotence are so vividly shown.)

(Slide number 9)

“Do you think, unhappy, that the Roman procurator will release a man who said what you said? I don't share your thoughts!

It is interesting that Pilate does not calm down, but arranges a meeting with the President of Sendrion Kaifa. Talking to him was the last hope for Yeshua's salvation, and Pilate made every effort to do so.

After that, he is seized by longing, growing into a terrible anger of impotence. the procurator realizes his guilt and feels terrible pangs of conscience, and after that he feels almost fury towards him for trampling on his last hope. The procurator is seized with open indignation:

“You will then remember the saved Barravan and regret it.” But the high priest is adamant:

“... You wanted to release him so that he would embarrass the people, outrage over the faith and bring the people under the Roman swords! But I, the high priest of the Jews, as long as I live, will not let the faith be mocked and will defend the people!”

(Reading this scene, one feels such indignation at the fact that there was no force capable of preventing this ridiculous and monstrous injustice.)

Heading to the platform and pronouncing the words of the sentence, Pilate does not even look in the direction of the criminals. “He didn't see anything. He didn't need it. He already knew that behind him the convoy was already leading to Bald Mountain Ha-Notsri, to whom the procurator himself had pronounced a death sentence and whom he most wanted to see alive.

(Slide number 10)

A dictionary reflecting feelings and experiences when reading a chapter

Teacher: So, we see that the figure of Pontius Pilate is indeed complex and contradictory. He wanted to save Yeshua, realizing the groundlessness of the sentence passed by the Sanhedrin. But even the omnipotent procurator, a man whose mere glance plunges one into a stupor, turned out to be powerless to save Yeshua from death. Why were circumstances beyond Pilate's will? Why was Yeshua above these circumstances? Did the procurator have a choice? And why did he still choose evil?

group task(performed on computers or on Whatman sheets)

Group1 Compile a cluster of character traits of Yeshua Ha-Nozri that appeared in chapter 2 of the novel

Group 2 Compile a cluster of Pontius Pilate's character traits that appeared in chapter 2 of the novel

Speech by representatives from groups with the defense of their work.

(Slide number 11)

Comparison: the attention of students is offered to the attention of the color spectrum of character traits of the characters, made by the teacher. Teacher's explanation:

Yeshua is the ideal of individual freedom. Its main feature is HUMANITY.

(Slide number 12)

The main goal on earth is the peaceful preaching of the kingdom of truth and justice. And therefore, no forces can force him to betray faith in goodness. (Recall the episode when he asks the executioner before his death not for himself, but for another: “Give him a drink”). He does not forever betray the accepted belief - his truth. He is internally surrounded by a halo of bright feelings: Love, Freedom, Goodness.

Pilate is always irritated, embittered, distrustful, cruel. In addition, he has to live in a city that he hates, he rules over a people that he does not like. His will cannot contradict the will of the higher authority of the clergy in the person of the Great Caesar, the high priests and the entire Sanhedrin. Therefore, Pilate turns out to be internally bound, dependent on his position.

He constantly experiences internal discord.

In Yeshua, Pilate felt what he himself lacked: understanding, sincerity, sensitivity, fortitude. In addition, this philosopher managed to guess not only his loneliness, suffering, but also removed his physical pain, awakened long-forgotten feelings. He wants to help Yeshua.

The procurator faces a choice face to face: either take a step towards the salvation of Yeshua and thus do Good; or destroy it and commit Evil.

Pilate understood perfectly well the injustice of the punishment of Yeshua and with all the strength of his soul wanted to choose Good

But on the other hand, the procurator is a powerful ruler. He cannot let go of a man who said about the authorities what he said, and what is recorded not only in the report of Judas, but also in the protocol of the secretary of the procurator. Then career and position will be ruined. He - servant of Caesar, his position and his career. Pilate chooses Evil, thereby betraying his conscience.

He was free to decide the fate of others, but he cannot, it turns out, control his own actions and deeds. And therefore Pilate is doomed to eternal spiritual torment, a guilt that for almost two thousand years he has not been able to expiate, since there is no greater vice than cowardice.

Conclusion: Yeshua leaves, and the procurator remains for millennia in the chamber of his loneliness, where he dreams of the lunar road along which he walks and talks with the prisoner Ha-Nozri, because, as he claims, he did not say something then on the fourteenth day of the spring month of Nisan. And he waits and hopes that he will be forgiven and released.

The literary drawing completely coincides with the historical drawing, even in small things and subtleties. And the name of Pilate - both as a gospel person and as Bulgakov's character - will always go hand in hand with the name of Yeshua-Jesus, as a punishment for inaction. Immortality through the ages is his curse.

By the image of Pilate, his fate, his mental anguish, Bulgakov convinces us that a person is responsible for his deeds. As a living being, he can oppose the fulfillment of his civic duty with all his strength and find justification for himself - in the thirst for life, in habits, in the natural desire for peace, in fear of suffering or of superiors, of hunger, poverty, exile, death. But as a spiritual being, possessing a moral consciousness, he is always responsible to his conscience. Here he has no allies to whom he could shift at least part of his responsibility, and no external circumstances and conditions of choice can justify him.

You come to such conclusions by analyzing the contradictory feelings experienced by Pontius Pilate. In his words, eyes, voice, a wide variety of feelings are captured: hopelessness, longing, rage, despair. And it turns out that Pilate is a suffering man, hardened by illness and misunderstanding, shackled by his power. But the main thing is that he is lonely, intelligent, deeply feeling.

There is always a choice in life, even in the most hopeless situations, a person must make some kind of decision. And it depends only on him how he will live longer: in harmony or at odds with his conscience.

(Slides #13, 14)

Summing up the lesson: Why did Bulgakov need such an artistic device – in parallel with the narration about modernity, to also lead the line of a novel written by the Master and telling about events that took place two thousand years ago? ( The novel is dedicated to eternal problems, they exist in the present just like thousands of years ago. For a long time humanity has been moving towards the truth and whether it will come to its knowledge is unknown).

Lesson grades.

Homework: Select material relating to a) the history of the Master, b) the general atmosphere of life in the 30s of the 20th century, using chapters 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 27.

Literature:

1. “M.A. Bulgakov "Master and Margarita" Moscow "Olympus" 1997
2. Russian literature of the 20th century, part 2, edited by V.P. Zhuravleva Moscow "Enlightenment" 2006.
3. Russian literature of the 20th century. Reader” Compiled by A.V. Barannikov, T.A. Kalganova Moscow "Enlightenment" 1993 p.332.
4. M.P. Zhigalova "Russian literature of the 20th century in high school" M Bulgakov and his novel "The Master and Margarita" in scientific and methodological research pp. 10-9 Minsk 2003.
5. Journal "Literature at School" No. 7, 2002, pp. 11-20.
6. When creating the presentation, Internet resources were used.

The Master and Margarita is one of Bulgakov's greatest works. The novel is not quite easy to understand, but it contains the deepest meaning that the author conveys to the reader. This novel is difficult to attribute to any particular genre. This is a novel-parable, a satirical novel with a philosophical inclination. It all starts with the appearance of one of the main characters in the novel - the devil. After that, there is a lot of discussion about the choice of a person. In this case, a person either believes in God, or not. The main idea and thought of the novel are seen when the image of Yeshua and the procurator Pontius Pilate appears before the reader.

Pontius Pilate is a procurator, he has power over people. This hero wholeheartedly shows that he hates the city of Yerlashaim. Maybe it's because of his role in this city. This man is harsh and uncompromising. His word here is law and power in his concept forms law and order. The procurator had once been a military man, he had experienced danger more than once. He understands that at the top only the one who is stronger, wiser. In order for you to be respected, you need to discard pity. Pilate is sure that if a person has power, then he can have only one enemy and no friends. The Roman Emperor is the most powerful and authoritative person for the procurator. Accordingly, he was appointed emperor in Yerlashaim, which means that he is a god here. Maybe once he was a different person, which is quite noticeable, but now he is what he is. All his main features are the influence of the power given to him.

This hero in the city has no equal people in status and not only, he simply has no one to talk to on an equal footing, all people are not interesting to him. Pontius Pilate has only one friend, and that is his faithful dog. When they met the vagabond Yeshua, the procurator felt that they were talking to him on an equal footing. It seemed to him that he could communicate with the philosopher forever. This man, preaching his doctrine, has the courage to argue and object to the words of the procurator. Moreover, everything happens in such a way that Pilate does not even immediately understand that his words are not law for a vagabond. Yeshua is of the opinion that all people in the world are good, and there are no evil people. The philosopher tells only the truth, he has no reason to lie, because telling the truth is not always easy, but always pleasant. For the procurator, Yeshua was a rather interesting person.

The fact that Ha-Notsri was not guilty, Pontius Pilate understood at once. He tries to save the tramp's life. Pilate does not want to kill the unfortunate. But he could not change the opinion of the high priest. As a result, Yeshua was sentenced to death. After that, the procurator cannot forgive himself for such a decision and reproaches himself for it all his life.

Option 2

This is one of the most important images in Bulgakov's novel, and if we consider the part of the "novel in the novel" written by the Master, then one of the two main characters.

Formally, this is a negative character. But there is no need to judge the people themselves, but only their actions, because this is how Bulgakov approaches this. Yes, Pilate sends a righteous person to a martyr's (and shameful) death. And Pontius himself understands that he is completely wrong ... Everyone knows that Pilate would prefer to send a real criminal to a well-deserved execution, but this thug has to be released. And all because the churchmen feel that Yeshua's activities, speeches, and the very existence of Yeshua are more dangerous for their system. And here are the circumstances, the influence of these mischievous old men from the church, where trade flourishes. Plus the precarious position of the Roman henchman himself. Still, he makes a decision that is wrong for the higher meaning and for his own soul.

But for this he is punished by terrible loneliness. This image is immediately drawn from the last pages of the novel, when Pilate is found sitting on a chair for thousands of years, and next to him is his faithful dog - the only friend ... He suffers, thinks, regrets what he has done, waits ... And he deserves forgiveness.

I think that this image is worthy of sympathy. Such a man, this Pilate, as I see it, is a military man. That is, he is accustomed to discipline, to the fact that there is “black and white”, right and wrong. And that everything is clear! And here evil is pretending to be good... And something else had to be done that would destroy the system. I don’t think that the hero was afraid of losing his post, his income… He would have risked everything for this sincere and kind “healer.” After all, Pilate was already so imbued with the fact that Yeshua saved him from a terrible headache. Their conversations were so interesting for Pilate, he was so struck by the captive's words. He admired his calmness and steadfastness.

But people like Pilate cannot always be led astray from "their" path, even by love. A strong feeling can frighten them, just as any physical threat will not frighten them. For the sake of love, leave your studies, quit your career ... And what will your parents and colleagues say? In my opinion, Pilate feels responsible for everything, it seems to him that he cannot break the established order, with all his strength.

In any case, Pilate, in every sense a strong man, showed weakness.

Composition Characteristics and image of Pontius Pilate

Mikhail Bulgakov is from that cohort of writers who become famous after death.

Although during his lifetime he was given quite a lot of attention by the leadership of the USSR and personally by Comrade Stalin. Comrade Stalin did not like his novel, which became the culmination of his work. He began to bathe in world fame after their death. Many critics, including theologians, put it on a par with the Gospel. And they call the novel the gospel of Satan. In our essay, we will consider the confrontation between a sense of duty and cowardice, the burden of power and personal responsibility for the paths in life that we consciously choose.

In the center of the work is a dialogue, a dispute, an ideological struggle between the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, and the son of God, Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha-Nozri). The procurator, being a smart and experienced administrator, realized even before the end of the interrogation that Yeshua was not to blame for anything. Moreover, he understands that Yeshua is speaking the truth. But Pontius Pilate does not act according to truth and conscience, but proceeding from "state necessity". He got scared. He got scared. The fear of losing power turned the brave warrior, as he was in the past, into a coward who is indifferent to everything and cynical. And indifferent not only in relation to others. Simultaneously with the verdict on Yeshua, he also pronounced a verdict on himself. Only he, the son of God, could relieve terrible headaches. Only Yeshua could remove that terrible burden of sins that Pilate carried in his soul. The procurator was well aware that Ga-Notsri's acquittal would change his life drastically. This is what Pontius Pilate feared the most. Changes in the usual course of your life. New emotions, new knowledge, new deeds and new views. Bulgakov presented Yeshua as a messiah, not realizing himself as a messiah. But no matter how Bulgakov hid the whole image of Christ, he still saw the future. And he forgave everything. Because God is Love. And he accepted mortal torments for the salvation of the entire human race, including the salvation of Pontius Pilate. Bulgakov also forgave this sin of cowardice. And he made the Master shout: “Free! Free! He is waiting for you!"

Pontius Pilate made his choice and covered himself with historical shame. Jesus Christ made his choice and trampled down death by death. Each Christian, depending on the place of birth, is endowed with different types of rights and freedoms. But chief among them is the God-given freedom of choice. And how we use this priceless gift, for the benefit of everyone or only ourselves, determines our earthly and “heavenly” paths.

Option 4

Bulgakov's famous novel "The Master and Margarita" is attractive for its acting characters. The image of the procurator of Judea is significant, for Pontius Pilate is considered a controversial hero.

His service takes place in Yershalaim. The task of the character is to do justice, to punish criminals.

For all his long years, the procurator, despite the fact that the work did not bring joy, retained such qualities that irrevocably helped in holding an honest trial. Pontius Pilate, as Mikhail Afanasyevich created him, is wise enough, moral concepts are not alien to him. Let the hero be surrounded by guards, the procurator, one way or another, is lonely at heart, there is no one nearby who can really realize the hardships of Pilate. The sovereign is capable of being frank only with a dog named Banga. Dogs really are man's best friend!

It is one thing, a certain circumstance can give a true and reliable characterization of a person. Only an act committed once can define you as a person.

Pontius Pilate, to whom the pilgrim Yeshua was brought to trial, acted cowardly.

Yeshua, with his skill to speak and think correctly, tried to explain to the prosecutor's office that he was not guilty of anything. The Stranger manages to touch the soul of Pontius Pilate, but at the last moment, when Yeshua had hope for salvation, the procurator of Judea changes his own mind. Why? It's all about the cowardice of the protagonist, because when a decision arises between maintaining status or doing justice, Pontius Pilate chooses the first, since power is more important to him. It is worth considering that Yeshua considered cowardice a terrible vice. And Bulgakov, the author of this unusual work, was not alien to the opinion of a wanderer. So, after the death of Yeshua, the procurator suffers severely, his conscience eats him every day.

As a result, Mikhail Afanasyevich makes it clear: one cowardly act in a person's life can lead to severe consequences, to terrible pangs of conscience, to emotional distress. You should not make a choice related to your own position, because power and domination are not eternal in this world, but conscience for what you have done, for not showing sympathy, for not doing justice, will torment you and constantly remind you of yourself. Therefore, it is so important not to be cowardly in difficult situations, to maintain self-control, otherwise it will be difficult to cope with the consequences, like the prosecutor's office to Pontius Pilate. The author tried to demonstrate a majestic person who, faced with a difficult choice, gives an answer in his favor. And such a hero is immediately presented in the eyes of readers as a cowardly person, conceited, incapable of compassion. However, do not forget that people should be given a second chance. And Bulgakov, as a religious person, does not turn out to be cruel. He helps the character, relieving violent torment.

Nature and man, in my opinion, are two concepts inseparable from each other. We are all part of a big world: amazing, charming, filled with life. Everyone has noticed more than once how the mood changes in accordance with changes in nature.

I. The problems of the novel by M. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita".

II. Pontius Pilate is the accuser and the victim.

1. Pontius is the personification of power.

2. Pilate as a man.

3. Human weaknesses of the procurator.

4. Pilate's choice.

III. The value of the novel "The Master and Margarita" for the modern reader.

The novel "The Master and Margarita" is the main work of M. Bulgakov, the favorite child of his imagination, his literary feat. The number of genre definitions of Bulgakov's novel is large: satirical-philosophical, fantastic, philosophical novel, mystery novel, parable novel, lyrical-satiric-philosophical novel... With the advent of the devil, one of the main philosophical themes begins to sound in the novel - the theme of human freedom and his personal responsibility for the moral choice that he makes, recognizing or denying the existence of God.

The ideological center of the novel is the "gospel" chapters, in which two images appear - the wandering philosopher Yeshua and the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate.

Pontius Pilate - the fifth procurator of Judea - a statesman, who is the personification of power. He is forced to be in Yerlashaim, which he hates because of his duties. Pilate is a cruel man, they call him a "fierce monster", and he boasts of it; he believes that the world is governed by the law of force. He was a warrior, he knows the price of danger and therefore believes that only the strong wins, one who does not know fear, doubt, pity. Pontius Pilate lives according to his own laws: he knows that the world is divided into those who rule and those who obey them, that the formula “the slave obeys the master” is unshakable, that the Roman emperor is omnipotent, and in Yerlashaim he is the emperor’s vicegerent, which means he is the master of everyone and everything. Pilate believes that the winner is always alone, he cannot have friends, but only enemies and envious people. That's what his power did. Its law dictates the traits of who can have power.

There is no equal to Pilate, just as there is no person with whom he would like to communicate. Only the dog he loves. But having met with Yeshua, Pilate realized that this is the person with whom he would like to communicate forever. Ha-Nozri is not afraid to object to the procurator and does it so skillfully that Pontius Pilate is confused for a while. Moreover, this "tramp" dares to offer: "Some new thoughts have come to my mind, and I would gladly share them with you, especially since you give the impression of an intelligent person." Ha-Notsri believes that "there are no evil people in the world", there are "unhappy" people; he is extremely frank, because "it is easy and pleasant to tell the truth." The prisoner seemed interesting to the procurator.

The procurator was immediately convinced of Yeshua's innocence. The Roman procurator has no desire to ruin the life of a wandering philosopher, he tries to persuade Yeshua to a compromise, and when this fails, to persuade the high priest Kaifa to pardon Ha-Notzri on the occasion of the Easter holiday. We see that Pontius Pilate shows to Yeshua both human complicity, and pity, and compassion. But at the same time, fear. It is the fear born of dependence on the state, the need to follow its interests, and not the truth, that ultimately determines the choice of Pontius Pilate.

Under the conditions of any totalitarian regime, be it slave-owning Rome or Stalin's dictatorship, even the strongest person can survive and succeed only guided by the immediate state benefit, and not by his own moral guidelines.

The Sanhedrin decides to execute Yeshua. The law on insulting Caesar is offended, there is a rebellion, and the rebellion must be pacified. And Pontius Pilate shouts for everyone to hear: “Criminal! Criminal! Criminal!".

Yeshua is executed. Why is Pontius Pilate suffering? Why does he have a dream that he did not send a wandering philosopher and healer to be executed, that they are walking along the moonlit path together and talking peacefully? And he, “the cruel procurator of Judea, cried for joy and laughed in his sleep…”.

Pontius Pilate for Bulgakov, in contrast to the tradition established in the history of Christianity, is not just a coward and an apostate. His image is dramatic: he is both the accuser and the victim. Departing from Yeshua, he destroys himself, his soul. That is why, driven into a corner by the need to put to death a wandering philosopher, he says to himself: “Dead!”, Then: “Dead!”. He perishes with Yeshua, perishes as a free person.

Thus, faced with a choice: a position or the salvation of the soul, fear of Caesar or the courage to commit an act, he chooses an armchair, life's blessings and devotion to what he hates. Acting on behalf of Tiberius, who personifies the state, Pontius Pilate experiences a feeling of disgust and disgust towards the emperor. The procurator understands that his power turned out to be imaginary. He is a coward, he is the faithful dog of Caesar and just a pawn in his hands.

Reading Bulgakov, we conclude for ourselves: a person is not free to dispose of his own birth and death. But he must take charge of his own life. A person, according to Bulgakov, is responsible for his own choice of life paths, leading either to truth and freedom, or to slavery, betrayal and inhumanity.