The vast interpretations and multiple meanings found in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita cannot be limited or reduced to a single point or explanation. It would be ridiculous to simply classify Bulgakov's work as a simple religious, ethical, social or political treatise, since the application of only one of these points of view would hinder the reader's understanding of the depth of the novel as a whole. However, it is possible to grasp the many themes and meanings of The Master and Margarita by examining one of the central characters of the novel, this character is found in both stories of the novel and his name is Woland or, as he is also known, the devil. Woland is the most important character in the novel because he inspires the people of Moscow, whether they like it or not and whether they are aware of it or not, to rebel against the order to which they are also accustomed and to acquire a new identity. feeling of liberation. Colin Wright, in his book Mikhail Bulgakov: Life and Interpretations, writes: "And here we find the key to the whole book because, as we have seen, it is the individual nonconformists who are Bulgakov's heroes, those who rebel – whether against God or against man” (270). It is understandable that Bulgakov, after writing this work in an oppressive environment that limited what he could and could not write, creates a hero who is in fact a rebel and other characters rebel against those who stifle artistic freedom . In Vladimir Tumanov's essay, Diabolus ex Machina: Bulgakov's Modernist Devil, the author writes: "In this regard, the modernist qualities of Bulgakov's novel acquire a new dimension because Master and Margarita becomes a kind of artistic devil , fulfilling...... middle of paper ... humanity's vision of good and evil is no longer useful and transcendence of the need for retribution is the goal” (362). With Woland, Bulgakov sends the message that humanity falls into a gray zone and that we must show compassion towards our fellow human beings instead of always seeking revenge. Works Cited Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Master and Marguerite. London: Picador, 1997. Franklin, Simon. Introduction. The Master and Marguerite. By Mikhail Bulgakov. 1992. Great Britain: Everyman's Library, 1992.Proffer, Ellendea. Bulgakov the magician. After. The Master and Marguerite. By Mikhail Bulgakov. 1995. London: Picador, 1997. Tumanov, Vladimir. Diabolus ex Machina: Bulgakov's modernist devil. Flight. 35. Scando-Slavica, 1989. Wright, Colin. Mikhail Bulgakov: Life and interpretations. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1978.