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1st hour
English IBHL1
05-10-2013

Written Assignment

How is the novel The Master and Margarita a reaction to the Stalinist polices and secret police of the 1920s through early 1940s? Starting in mid 1920s de facto leader Joseph Stalin began a historical period in soviet Russia with his Policies and secret police and reigned leader until his death in 1953. Famous author Mikhail Bulgakov who was present during Stalin’s reign wrote a novel titled, The Master and Margarita. This novel, which criticized the soviet society finally reached the public in the year 1966 and since, have won many awards. The reader using this novel can now see examples and understand how big of an impact the different polices and secret police had on the society of the Soviet Union (now Russia) in the time of the Stalinist era and see how the novel portrays this historic time in the novel.

Cornelius 2
In 1924 Joseph Stalin put forth a set of theories of how the country can strengthen itself and in 1925 finally made them state polices. According to the authors of marxists.org, “The theory of Socialism in One Country was merely a negative reaction to the fact that the workers had succeeded in moving towards socialism in only one country.” Stalin wanted Russia to become “One” and he believed moving to socialism was the best choice. Stalin theorized that if Russia was to become “One” and become a socialist state the world would be inspired by the example this powerful country would lead if successful. Another idea of Stalin’s was [Socialism in One Country also brought in its train the idea that nothing is to be done by the Russians to jeopardize their chances for building socialism.] Stalin wanted the perfect nation; anybody who agreed abandoned the idea of revolution and revolting against the theory of socialism in one’s country. Anyone who revolted against this idea was considered by law a traitor and terrorist and was immediately reported to authorities. According to ibilio.org and hollowverse.com Joseph Stalin also had a policy for religion, everyone was atheist and nearly all of the priest, clergy men, and many their followers were sent to labor camps or assassinated by the state. According to Stalin himself [they were fooling us, there is no God… all this talk about God is sheer nonsense] He believed that religion was only damaging the efforts to making a perfect socialist/communist society, so Stalin made laws stating that it is mandatory to teach atheism in schools. Religion according to Stalin supported war efforts and could potentially threaten his cult of personality he created during his reign. To Stalin he was the supreme ruler, savior of the Soviet Union and no was greater than he was. All of his competition was subject to elimination; every man who threatened Stalin's power was tortured, assassinated, and never heard from again. No one was to worship anyone but Stalin because he was his or her god and
Cornelius 3 anyone who showed signs of faith was immediately reported to authorities. There were also policies against foreigners, many foreigners were treated badly and judged by Stalin due to the fact Stalin was paranoid and he believed foreigners would try and brain wash his people to revolt against his policies. Every loyal citizen was to report suspicious acts to the law because Stalin was supreme ruler of the Soviet Union and he had enforcers to help him make sure it stays that way.
The secret police were the enforcers of the Stalinist policies and ruled through all Stalin’s reign and all the way through the post-Stalin era. Established in 1917, this organization’s temporary formation was to keep an eye on counter revolutionary crimes of The State until leaders “Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks had consolidated their power.” This group was a temporary institution and was not created to strike fear but to keep a stable State; the secret police was to be abolished once Lenin and Bolsheviks worked things out but unfortunately