SATIRE AND THE SUBVERSION OF ANTHROPOCENTRISM IN MIKHAIL BULGAKOV’S THE MASTER AND MARGARITA

Abstract

This paper examines how Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita challenges anthropocentric assumptions through satire, supernatural elements, and biblical parallelism. Written under Soviet ideological constraints, the novel integrates historical, religious, and fantastical worlds, contrasting early Soviet Moscow with ancient Jerusalem. The study analyzes Bulgakov’s critique of materialism, censorship, and the illusion of human autonomy through characters such as Woland, Pontius Pilate, the Master, and Margarita. The biblical subplot destabilizes rationalist morality, while the intertwined narratives reinforce themes of love, artistic integrity, and metaphysical humility. The conclusion emphasizes that the novel undermines human-centered power while affirming spiritual and ethical values beyond ideological control.