The Master and Margarita

by

Mikhail Bulgakov

Yeshua Ha-Nozri Character Analysis

Yeshua’s name is the Aramaic for Jesus of Nazareth. Yeshua is a vital character but actually does not appear much in the novel. Yeshua is brought before Pontius Pilate, accused of wanting to incite rebellion and bring down the temple of Yershalaim (having been set up by Judas of Kiriath). Yeshua insists that this was not his plan and that he has been misrepresented. He displays a kind of radical compassion, believing that all people are “good.” This intrigues Pilate, but the procurator doesn’t have the courage to save Yeshua from execution (though he does try to persuade Joseph Kaifa, leader of the Jews, to pardon him). Yeshua crops up again “off-stage” towards the end of the book, when he sends Matthew Levi with a message for Woland: Yeshua has read the master’s novel and orders Woland to grant him peace. This demonstrates that in the spiritual order embedded in the book, Yeshua represents the highest authority.

Yeshua Ha-Nozri Quotes in The Master and Margarita

The The Master and Margarita quotes below are all either spoken by Yeshua Ha-Nozri or refer to Yeshua Ha-Nozri. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Courage and Cowardice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

‘And now tell me, why is it that you use me words “good people” all

the time? Do you call everyone that, or what?’

‘Everyone,’ the prisoner replied. There are no evil people in the world.’

‘The first I hear of it,’ Pilate said, grinning. ‘But perhaps I know too little of life! ...

Related Characters: Pontius Pilate (speaker), Yeshua Ha-Nozri (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

Yeshua tore himself away from the sponge, and trying to make his voice sound gentle and persuasive, but not succeeding, he begged the executioner hoarsely:

‘Give him a drink.’

It was growing ever darker. The storm cloud had already poured across half the sky, aiming towards Yershalaim, boiling white clouds raced ahead of the storm cloud suffused with black moisture and fire. There was a flash and a thunderclap right over the hill. The executioner removed the sponge from the spear.

‘Praise the magnanimous hegemon!’ he whispered solemnly, and gently pricked Yeshua in the heart. He twitched and whispered:

‘Hegemon...’

Related Characters: Yeshua Ha-Nozri (speaker), Pontius Pilate
Page Number: 181
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 26 Quotes

He walked in the company of Banga, and beside him walked the wandering philosopher. They were arguing about something very complex and important, and neither of them could refute the other. They did not agree with each other in anything, and that made their argument especially interesting and endless. It went without saying that today’s execution proved to be a sheer misunderstanding: here this philosopher, who had thought up such an incredibly absurd thing as that all men are good, was walking beside him, therefore he was alive. And, of course, it would be terrible even to think that one could execute such a man. There had been no execution! No execution! That was the loveliness of this journey up the stairway of the moon.

There was as much free time as they needed, and the storm would come only towards evening, and cowardice was undoubtedly one of the most terrible vices. Thus spoke Yeshua Ha-Nozri. No, philosopher, I disagree with you: it is the most terrible vice!

Related Characters: Pontius Pilate, Yeshua Ha-Nozri, Banga
Related Symbols: The Moon/Moonlight
Page Number: 319
Explanation and Analysis:
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Yeshua Ha-Nozri Quotes in The Master and Margarita

The The Master and Margarita quotes below are all either spoken by Yeshua Ha-Nozri or refer to Yeshua Ha-Nozri. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Courage and Cowardice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

‘And now tell me, why is it that you use me words “good people” all

the time? Do you call everyone that, or what?’

‘Everyone,’ the prisoner replied. There are no evil people in the world.’

‘The first I hear of it,’ Pilate said, grinning. ‘But perhaps I know too little of life! ...

Related Characters: Pontius Pilate (speaker), Yeshua Ha-Nozri (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

Yeshua tore himself away from the sponge, and trying to make his voice sound gentle and persuasive, but not succeeding, he begged the executioner hoarsely:

‘Give him a drink.’

It was growing ever darker. The storm cloud had already poured across half the sky, aiming towards Yershalaim, boiling white clouds raced ahead of the storm cloud suffused with black moisture and fire. There was a flash and a thunderclap right over the hill. The executioner removed the sponge from the spear.

‘Praise the magnanimous hegemon!’ he whispered solemnly, and gently pricked Yeshua in the heart. He twitched and whispered:

‘Hegemon...’

Related Characters: Yeshua Ha-Nozri (speaker), Pontius Pilate
Page Number: 181
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 26 Quotes

He walked in the company of Banga, and beside him walked the wandering philosopher. They were arguing about something very complex and important, and neither of them could refute the other. They did not agree with each other in anything, and that made their argument especially interesting and endless. It went without saying that today’s execution proved to be a sheer misunderstanding: here this philosopher, who had thought up such an incredibly absurd thing as that all men are good, was walking beside him, therefore he was alive. And, of course, it would be terrible even to think that one could execute such a man. There had been no execution! No execution! That was the loveliness of this journey up the stairway of the moon.

There was as much free time as they needed, and the storm would come only towards evening, and cowardice was undoubtedly one of the most terrible vices. Thus spoke Yeshua Ha-Nozri. No, philosopher, I disagree with you: it is the most terrible vice!

Related Characters: Pontius Pilate, Yeshua Ha-Nozri, Banga
Related Symbols: The Moon/Moonlight
Page Number: 319
Explanation and Analysis: