10-12 (Spanish Boot)

Who are these mysterious characters that just keep appearing? When Varenukha is delivering the money and the telegrams, some unknown character calls him, warning him not to show the telegrams to anyone. In the end of that chapter, a naked woman kisses Varenukha, which makes him faint. She reminded me of the girl that Ivan saw in the shower in Chapter 4. I feel like Bulgakov wouldn't insert a scene, however small, that doesn't relate to the story. So far, every detail has connected back to the main plot and contributed something. In the end of Chapter 11, when Ivan is talking to himself, someone else interferes: ""A fool!" the answer came distinctly in a basso which did not belong to either Ivan". Right afterwards, “the grating over the window noiselessly slid aside and a mysterious figure appeared on the balcony. It avoided the moonlight and wagged a warning finger at Ivan." I will have to read on to find out the identities of these people.

Homeless seems to become crazier every minute. When he writes the letter to the militia, he emphasizes the rather unbelievable aspects of the story rather than the more believable part. He thinks telling them about Pontius Pilate would make the story convincing, and even "[tries] to make a drawing of Pontius Pilate and then of the cat on its hind legs." Like what we discussed in class, Ivan represents the “intelligencia” of the time period, who, unlike Bulgakov, could not express what they thought inside their heads. "The more he labored the more confused and incomprehensible the poet's statement became." By the point where he talks to his alter ego, I was convinced that he actually is crazy. Here, the reflection of communist Russia appears once again. The doctor injects some medicine into Ivan, which dissipated his sorrow, and caused him to "lay quietly, looking at the rainbow flung across the sky." He starts to think hospital is not so bad and takes his thoughts off Woland. It resembles brainwashing and forcing false thoughts into people that were often done in the Soviet Union.

We witness what the Devil trio is capable of in the next chapter. The Middlebury site suggested that instead of the Devils performing their show, they made the audience perform their show. I definitely agree with this. Koroviev, by offering them money and clothes, reveal the true, greedy nature of humans. When money fell from the ceiling, "hundreds of hands went up...The whole theater was swept with joy, then with amazement." They even tell Koroviev to chop Bengalsky's head off. While the audience was in chaos, captured by their innate depravity, Woland simply sits in his armchair and enjoys the scene. So far, everything seems to be going smoothly for the Devil. He successfully tempts many people into sinning, and we are yet to see a figure of goodness (maybe except for Jesus).
-Spanish Boot