18-21 (Black Poodle)

These three chapters were incredibly weird through and through. I don't know what to make of it as it's own piece...why Margarita is turned into a witch almost immediately after she is introduced. But this section of the story does first into some of the overarching themes of the novel. First of all, we see very clearly now how the sun and moon signify good versus evil. In daylight, when Azazello comes to greet Margarita, she is still very rational and constantly questioning Azazello's motives and information. Thus, Azazello struggles to convince her to carry out some of his orders, which seems to be a first. However, by nighttime, bathing in the rays of moonlight, Margarita no longer questions orders, transforms into a witch, and wreaks havoc. This section of the novel also seems to fit the theme of good and evil working together. Perhaps "working together" isn't the best way to describe it, but it seems good and evil cannot be isolated from one another. For example, Azazello can still come out in the day, and people whisper secrets of the previous night's evil occurrences in the shadows of the daylight. Also, despite Margarita's wild frenzy at night, she still stops to soothe a little boy who is afraid in bed--Margarita seemingly retains that motherly instinct within her. Furthermore, the moon itself seems to encompass both ideas of good and evil. It is a symbol of romance and a symbol of evil. As Margarita acts under the moon, her actions reflect both these symbolic meanings: she is initially driven to evil because of her strong love for the Master.

I was also trying to figure out why Bulgakov constantly includes naked women throughout the story. That in itself has become a theme. I thought perhaps, that this nakedness connects to the Garden of Eden. In the beginning, when God created man, Adam and Eve were both naked too. Ironically though, Adam and Eve were naked because of their innocence, but now women are appearing naked left and right because of their greed/sin. Mankind has come full circle.

Lastly, I was confused about the Pontius Pilate story. So it seems, the Master has written the story that everyone seems to be referencing. What does this mean? Is this why he is the Master? Because the orginal truth was actually created by him? Or is his story just a very accurate recounting of the original event? (Again, the time ten o'clock keeps reappearing...)
-Black Poodle