Azazello Character Analysis in The Master and Margarita

Azazello is a key member of Woland’s entourage. He is described as a short, fat, and broad-shouldered man whose mouth shows a single fang. His hair is flaming red and he often wears a bowler hat. He is an extremely good shot, as he proves by shooting a playing card beneath a pillow with the gun behind his back. While demonstrating a relish for violence, he is also entrusted by Woland to fetch Margarita and convince her to join them for the ball. In the Bible, “Azazel” is a fallen angel annoyed by God’s creation of mankind. His true form is revealed at the end to be “the demon of the waterless desert, the killer-demon.”

Azazello Character Timeline in The Master and Margarita

The timeline below shows where the character Azazello appears in The Master and Margarita. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...much and abusing his position in aid of “liaisons with women.” A fourth character appears: a short, broad-shouldered man , “with a bowler hat on his head and a fang sticking out of his... (full context)

...accosted by a “cat-like fat man” and a man with red hair and a fang (Azazello). They beat him up, pointing out that he had been warned over the telephone not... (full context)

...looks at the passport, insults Poplavsky and rescinds his invitation to Berlioz’s funeral. He summons Azazello, the red-headed man with the yellow fang, and asks him to “see off” Poplavsky. Azazello... (full context)

...brought impossibly quickly by a nurse with “a man’s mouth,” dead eyes, and a “single fang”—Azazello. Later, a mustachioed doctor friend of his comes to reassure him that what happened was... (full context)

...her side, who informs her that the deceased is Berlioz, chairman of Massolit. This man (Azazello) is short, red-haired, and has a fang. Berlioz’s head was stolen from the coffin as... (full context)

Margarita, assuming there to be many writers among the mourners, asks the Azazello if “Latunsky” is one of them. He points Latunsky out, noticing Margarita’s hatred for the... (full context)

Azazello admits that he is there to speak to Margarita about some “business.” He explains that... (full context)

Margarita demands to know the redheaded man’s identity; he reluctantly explains that his name is Azazello. She implores him to tell her if the master if his alive, which Azazello confirms.... (full context)

Azazello gives Margarita a golden box containing an ointment, instructing her to cover herself with it... (full context)

...sits in the bedroom, waiting for it turn half past nine, staring at the box Azazello gave her. When the time finally comes, she rubs the “rich, yellowish cream,” which smells... (full context)

...tells Natasha to keep all of her clothes for herself. Margarita impassionedly cries out that Azazello is about to call, and that “the foreigner’s not dangerous, yes, I understand now that... (full context)

...and gets out with his briefcase. She shouts at him, calling him “boring.” Just then, Azazello calls and tells her it’s time to “take off”; “when you fly over the gate,... (full context)

...happiness.” The car soon arrives in Moscow and Margarita is dropped in a deserted cemetery. Azazello appears, wearing a black cloak. (full context)

Margarita, on her broom, and Azazello, on a rapier, fly to the apartment on Sadovaya Street. The authorities have placed men... (full context)

Margarita and Azazello go in and climb an impossibly long staircase in darkness. Koroviev meets them at the... (full context)

...a candelabrum “with sockets in the form of bird’s claws” and an “artful” chess board. Azazello is there, dressed in tailcoats. The naked Hella sits on the floor, stirring a pot... (full context)

Woland introduces Margarita to his retinue: Behemoth, Azazello, Koroviev, and Hella, who is rubbing his knee with ointment. Behemoth analyses his position on... (full context)

...plays “unbearably loud.” Margarita takes position at the top of a huge, carpeted staircase, with Azazello, Koroviev and Behemoth beside her. Margarita notices an “enormous fireplace” in the distance. (full context)

...sword, joins her as the crowd falls silent and a clock seems to strike midnight. Azazello holds a decapitated head on a platter—it’s Berlioz’s head, seemingly still living. (full context)

...“stool-pigeon and a spy.” Abaddon takes his glasses off and looks at the baron; simultaneously, Azazello shoots him. As blood spurts from the baron’s chest, Azazello fills the cup (Berlioz’s head).... (full context)

Margarita, feeling revived, asks whether Azazello shot Baron Meigel. He did, he replies, and boasts about his shooting skills. To show... (full context)

Azazello makes Aloisy Mogarych, the current occupier of the master and Margarita’s old flat, suddenly appear.... (full context)

With Nikolai gone, Varenukha appears. He requests to no longer be a vampire, which Azazello grants. Woland instructs his entourage to leave him alone with the master and Margarita. The... (full context)

...the master happiness and bids them goodbye. They leave with a suitcase containing the novel. Azazello summons the car with the rook to drive them home. (full context)

Azazello tells Margarita and the master to wait for a moment. He finds Annushka and snatches... (full context)

...on apartment no. 50 in large number. As they come up the stairs, Koroviev and Azazello calmly drink coffee and cognac, fully aware of what’s happening. (full context)

...investigators. Behemoth relishes the excitement; despite many shots being fired, miraculously no-one is hurt. Koroviev, Azazello, and Woland complain about the commotion from another room. Koroviev says: “Messire! It’s Saturday. Then... (full context)

It’s now sunset—Azazello and Woland sit on a stone terrace overlooking Moscow. Woland ask “such an interesting city,... (full context)

...to Margarita too; Woland agrees to this as well. As Matthew Levi disappears, Woland instructs Azazello to “fly to them and arrange it all.” (full context)

Just then, Azazello arrives, greeting the master and Margarita with “peace be unto you.” Margarita is delighted to... (full context)

Azazello gifts the couple a bottle of wine from Woland, which he says is the same... (full context)

As the master and Margarita lie poisoned on the floor, Azazello transports himself to Margarita’s old house. Amazingly, Margarita is there too, waiting gloomily for her... (full context)

Azazello returns to the master and Margarita’s basement flat, where he revives Margarita with a few... (full context)

The master realizes that he and Margarita are dead, calling it in “intelligent” and “timely.” Azazello says they’re not dead, and asks if it’s “necessary, in order to consider yourself alive,... (full context)

...bring his novel with them. He says there is no need—he knows it by heart. Azazello sets fire to the apartment. Three black horses await the group outside. (full context)

The master, Margarita, and Azazello soar over Moscow on horseback as the storm gets going. The master shouts to Azazello... (full context)

The master and Margarita go into the clinic while Azazello waits outside. They find Ivan’s room and go in; Ivan greets the master excitedly. The... (full context)

...swept away without a trace and a rainbow appears over Moscow. The master, Margarita, and Azazello join up with Woland, Koroviev, and Behemoth, who are also sitting on black horses. (full context)

...is that of “a slim youth […] the best jester the world has ever seen.” Azazello is “the demon of the waterless desert, the killer-demon.” Even the master has changed: his... (full context)