Pontius Pilate in the novel of Bulgakov and in life

The novel "The Master and Margarita" is not only the most famous in all the works of Mikhail Afanasievich Bulgakov, but also the most widely read. And not only in Russia, but also abroad. Why is the work so loved 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, consider him cruel. The procurator knows what war is - explicit and veiled - and I am sure that only brave people who do not know fear and doubt have the right to life . However, the image of Pontius Pilate is idealized. Yes, indeed, the procurator of Judea was even more cruel, and also distinguished by excessive greed.

The history of the origin of the ruler, 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 (the star-king) and Pila (the daughter of a miller). Looking at the stars one day, the astrologer read through them that the child who would be conceived by him now, in the future will become a great man. Then Am ordered to bring him the beautiful Peel, and after 9 months a child appeared who received his name from the combined names of mother and father.

Conflicting personality. Pontius Pilate is both terrible and pathetic. His committed crime against an innocent person condemns him to eternal torment. This story is also mentioned in one of the evangelical stories from Matthew (another interesting parallel: Jeshua's disciple in the novel was Levi Matvey). It says that the wife of the Procurator of Judea saw a terrible dream in which Pilate will pay for the crucifixion of the righteous.

The novel clearly traces the idea that Pontius Pilate does not want the death of Yeshua. He sees that for the society this person poses no 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 preaching an unknown religion. The Roman Procurator is not able to fight, even the strongest mental torments do not force him to take a decision at his own discretion: he knows that this can shake his authority in the eyes of society, his strength and might.

When the ritual of execution was complete, and nothing could be fixed, Pontius Pilate completely forgot about the 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 together on the moonlit road and talk, talk ...

For sure the real Pilate did not torment himself with such doubts and regrets. However, M.A. Bulgakov supposedly believed that in the most inhuman tyrant can fight feelings of fear and justice. Thus the writer as though shifts responsibility for such sight to shoulders of the Master: after all it it is the author of the Roman.

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.

"Master and Margarita" is truly a great work that every person who considers himself to be a cultural one must read.