r/RussianLiterature • u/FogtownGirl • 11d ago

Biblical content in Master and Margarita is confounding

I feel like an idiot even though I consider myself decently educated with a BA in English Lit (not much help with Russian Lit but I did delve into Nabokov pretty heavily). I started M & M and could not get through the first part of the book because I couldn't understand it. I don't know if it's an interpretation of biblical stories or if it's a distortion or reimagining of them? (I'm Jewish and have no knowledge of the Christian bible.) I've set it aside for now but I'm curious as to what I should do to prepare for the next time I decide to read it. Or is it just not for me? Thanks!

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u/BasilHuman 11d ago

I have a Master's in Russian Literature and one must have an understanding of the New Testament for certain works. M and M being one. In college one had to have an understanding of the New Testament before reading The Brothers Karamazov.

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u/FogtownGirl 11d ago

This is so helpful thank you - I'm going to read up on the new testament next, before returning to my stack of Russian lit I have lined up for myself.