10-12 (Black Poodle)

A theory about the devils powers:

• In chapters 7-9, I posted about the devil's seeming ability to recreate the past, distort the present, and influence the future. Now I wonder if the devil can also create objects as well--which seems to give the devil the power traditionally only reserved to God--the power of creation. However, I did notice that despite being able to create objects and also make them disappear as in the case of Nikanor's contracts/letters, the devil could not make the Yalta telegrams disappear from Varenukha's briefcase. So my theory is that, the devil can distort what people perceive as reality, and create illusions (just like in hypnosis), but cannot actually create/make disappear physical objects. This would follow a communist theme in a way--because the government is trying to alter the way people think and create an illusions of the positive effects of communism, but cannot actually create anything substantial. To follow this theory then, the devil's power is diminished, because he/they do not really have the power to create--only the power to manipulate. Again, we also see that they cannot create the future in the fact that they could not prevent Varenukha from going to the telegraph office without physically doing so.

References to communism:

• First off, all the characters that have a slight inkling of what's going on are being eliminated, just as the secret police would eliminate opposition to the government. When Varenukha tries to report the devil by sending the telegrams to telegraph office, he is "killed?" by Behemoth and Koroviev. Homeless, who has been struggling to convey the danger of the devil in Moscow, has been driven mad, accused of schizo (a common diagnosis of arrested people) and getting drugged. Not only does he seem to get "brainwashed" in the insane asylum to the point where he no longer feels opposition, at the end of chapter eleven, Bulgakov hints that he is disposed of to by whoever entered through the window.
• When Homeless struggles to write the events he's been trying to convey, he keeps editing his wording to avoid having his words used against him, as proof that he is mad. Eventually, he edits so much, that Homeless gets carried away with fictional writing, losing his original purpose. Perhaps Bulgakov criticizes his contemporary writers who choose to write with the censure. Although Bulgakov chooses to fight the censure and continue writing what he believes is right, many of his contemporaries have acquiesced and produce fiction that no longer contains genuine meaning.
• When Woland entices all the women to come on stage to pick out their shoes and purses, a man says to his wife, " 'I do not permit you, " to which she responds, " 'Despot and philistine!' " (143).Perhaps Bulgakov references the anti-materialistic communist perspective. Where no one should be allowed to own elaborate things, and everyone should dress the same, look the same, etc.

References to the Bible/devil themes:

• "The tom caught the ribbon and sent it back--a hissing satiny snake" (137). Garden of Eden imagery--original sin induced by enticing of the snake.
• "Varenukha did everything that is usaully done in moments of great stress. He ran from corner to corner, lifted his arms twice like a man crucified..." (121). Why this analogy?

Other themes and references:

• There were "halves" throughout these two chapters. Explicit phrases included "half-absurd," "half-crazed," "half-dead," "almost insane." There were also other references including the description of two of the devilish characters as they attack Ivan: "one eye clouded by a cataract, a fang projecting from his mouth" (127). Also, one devil attacks with the right hand and the other with the left hand. In chapter eleven, Ivan splits in two. (The website says this was a misconception of the symptoms of schizophrenia, which was a common diagnoses of people arrested by the secret police.)
• The show that Woland puts on is reminiscent of the first showing of the "Rite of Spring" which unsettled the audience so much that it created a riot.
• Apparently the red-haired woman that gives Varenukha the kiss is a vampire? I thought immediately of J.K Rowling's dementor. The kiss completely sucks out Varenukha's soul, as in the expression "sold his soul to the devil." Again, a very Faustian reference.

-Black Poodle