13-17 (Powdered Whiskers)

COULD THIS GET ANY BETTER? I definitely had a laugh-out-loud moment at how well this is written.

So! Where to start? Let's start with the hero. Who is this man who calls himself "the master"? I'm thinking Jesus. Which would follow given that he's locked up shunned for being a madman (things don't change). Also he uses the expression "In heaven's name!" This really seals the deal for me. This is the first character that uses this phrase rather than "the devil knows," or "in hell's name". He also brings up Faust, which is amusing as it's almost like Bulgakov is making sure his readers have caught that reference...Also the Master (I'm going to capitalise it like God) seems to know a lot more than everyone else about the situation and about Satan (he calls him Satan rather than Woland like everyone else, which suggests a more intimate knowledge of him). The common theme of madness rears its ugly head once more; when the Master tries to get his book published, it is rejected and critised as part of this bogus "pilatism". This leads him to insanity. In defining insanity, we have a problem with whether it is the individual who is insane, or all of our perceptions of him that are insane.

We also see repercussions for the ladies who played along with the clothes shop in the dark magic show. When they are out on the street, their clothes disappear and they are forced to go around in panties until they can hide themselves. This is another example of how it seems the dark magic is working for "good" ends. The idea being that they are being punished for their greed and desires for riches.

On to Rimsky: Rimsky gets a telephone call telling him not call anyone about his situation or there will be terrible consequences for him. So, he doesn't. This is the first time we've seen someone actually using their rational brain in these types of situations, and it's clear that Rimsky is one of the more intelligent characters in the book. Then Varenukha returns, and it is clear that he is possessed by the devil because he's hiding half his face, he apparently has no shadow, and he acts completely differently to normal. Remsky works all this out remarkably quickly, but does not react impulsively. Instead he tries to work out what he should do. This is the sort of behaviour that essentially saves his life.

Then there's the naked woman. She appears at the window, and really breaks from this beautiful form that we have heard of so far. She's in fact described as DEAD. She can extend her arm although it's all green and dead and disgusting...It makes you wonder about the difference between the pretty naked girl and the apparently dead naked girl. They're one and the same, but it's seems she's some type of living dead.

Finally, the chapter on Nikanor is short but intense. His reaction to the trio is far less calculated or rational than anyone so far. He runs around praying and crossing himself (in atheist Russia), to the point where even the reader starts to believe that he has been affected so much that he has been driven insane.
-Powdered Whiskers