The epigraph of 'The Master and Margarita' opens with a quotation from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play Faust. The traditional tale of Faust, also known as Dr. Faustus, selling his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power, is retold in the play Faust. The concept of a Faustian agreement or bargain, in which a character exchanges something of metaphysical significance (such as their soul) for material wealth or power, is rooted in the tale of Faust. The Faustian pact's conventional meaning is challenged in 'The Master and Margarita.' The Devil appears in 'The Master and Margarita' and strikes deals with the characters. Goethe's "Faust" is a metaphor for the bargain Woland makes with the characters he encounters. One, in which, they sell their soul for material gain.