10 Antiheroes in Literature That We Love to Hate
“What would your good do if evil didn’t exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?”
Woland; The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
It doesn’t get much more antihero than Woland, in Bulgakov’s masterpiece. Why not? Well, because Woland is Satan himself. Woland is responsible for the deaths and unexplained disappearances of many characters in the novel, and seems thoroughly unperturbed by the chaos he creates. But in spite of (and perhaps because of) this, he is one of the most compelling characters I have ever come across. And that’s not only because he gets to travel around with Behemoth, the large, black, vodka-swilling, pickle-eating murderous cat. It’s also because Woland really knows how to throw a party (if I ever get married again, I WILL have a Master and Margarita-themed Satan’s Ball kind of bash). Beyond that, Woland is the perfect literary reminder that the unpredictability of evil is almost banal—it can happen at anytime, and to anyone. Evil doesn’t discriminate. So, best to enjoy the good, and feel the sun, knowing that none of it would be worth as much without the shadows lurking in the corners. And if Satan invites you to a party? Go. Definitely go.