The paper explores the shifting definitions of the superfluous man through Russian history through the 19th century up until the Soviet era. The paper then examines Mikhail Bulgakov's subversion of the character trope in The Master and Margarita through his creation of Margarita, the supernatural woman. The author critiques Bulgakov's character Margarita through a feminist lens and then proceeds to examine work from Russian female writers who are historically undervalued. By comparing The Master and Margarita to the work of Teffi and Tatyana Tolstaya, the author hopes to reveal that in their use of Russian folklore and magical realism, the three authors are working towards the same goal of professing the possibility of social change and immortality through art.
","abstract_html":"<p>The paper explores the shifting definitions of the superfluous man through Russian history through the 19th century up until the Soviet era. The paper then examines Mikhail Bulgakov's subversion of the character trope in <em>The Master and Margarita</em> through his creation of Margarita, the supernatural woman. The author critiques Bulgakov's character Margarita through a feminist lens and then proceeds to examine work from Russian female writers who are historically undervalued. By comparing <em>The Master and Margarita</em> to the work of Teffi and Tatyana Tolstaya, the author hopes to reveal that in their use of Russian folklore and magical realism, the three authors are working towards the same goal of professing the possibility of social change and immortality through art.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Domanico, Jana Marie"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"M.A.","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Eric Gould, Ph.D.","Eleanor McNees","Hava Gordon"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:03:35Z","subjects":["Bulgakov","Russia","Superfluous man","Totalitarianism","Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","History","Russian Literature"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
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"],"dc:subject":["Bulgakov","Russia","Superfluous man","Totalitarianism","Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","History","Russian Literature"],"dc:title":["Margarita as Supernatural Woman: Bulgakov's Subversion of the Superfluous Man in The Master and Margarita"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.A."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:03:35Z"}