Historical context

Introduction

The Master and Margarita is a satire of the Stalin period. The Soviet Union existed since 10 years when Bulgakov started to write his masterpiece. The czar period was still fresh in the memories and the battle between de Whites and the Reds had been decided not long before. The changes that Lenin had introduced were already very drastic. But Stalin's personality made the situation escalate even more. The Soviet Union became an intolerant regime that found absurd explanations for its failures.

The many members of the secret police had clear and calculated instructions to cope with dissidents and «saboteurs», until they were accused themselves... 

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