In class discussion, we talked about how the lord or the devil related to each other, what their means are and what their ends are. In Chapter 16, Bulgakov seems to address this question with the idea that we played around with yesterday: both the Lord and the devil are working together. For example, Nikanor Ivanovich exclaims, " 'The Lord is punishing me or my foul sins " (180). Interestingly, Nikanor encountered the devil but automatically associates him with the lord. Then again, as Nikanor reflects the punishment he suffered from the devil, he begins to pray. In other words, the devil induced him to pray to the Lord. In both instances, the ends between the Lord and the devil have mixed.
Also, the naked red-haired woman really does seem to be a vampire. She is referred to as a dead woman, and also runs away when dawn is approaching.
Now, I wonder, how Rimsky is the only one to escape punishment from the devil. So based on my theory yesterday, the devil can only punish people who sin. Indeed, Rimsky did not sin in the time period that we know about him. Also, in the beginning of the book, we had a discussion about how the sun could represent God. Indeed, what saves Rimsky is the rising of the sun. Perhaps he is protected by God?
On the question of the hero, I'm not sure what to think. Although both him and Ivan both seem crazy yet still talk with substance. Do the references to roses in the hero's story relate to Pontius Pilate's hatred of the smell of roses?
-Black Poodle
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