2-3 (Powdered Whiskers)

I really shouldn't be laughing, but I can't help finding this pretty funny...the Devil’s nonchalant character is just hilarious.

On Chapter 2 & 3: I am perpetually stunned by Bulgakov's writing. He switches from an absurd scene in a park in Russia to "The Gospel of Mikhail" literally seamlessly. He portrays Jesus as the accepting, compassionate and trusting man that we take him to be, but his take on Pontius Pilote is very different. Pontius Pilote has traditionally allowed the crowd to decide the fate of Jesus, whereas in the Devil's version of the story, Pontius Pilote is suffering with head problems (similar to the devil), and acts somewhat irrationally. But most of all, Pontius Pilote is weak, and even though he recognises that Jesus should be let free, he supports the decision to let the murderer free instead. Pontius does this because he feels unable to stand up to the high priest of the city (that he apparently hates). Also, Jesus is hanged rather than crucified. Essentially, this recantation of the conviction and execution of Jesus is far less grand and impressive than the Bible's story. When Mikhail and Ivan say that they have never heard the story told in such a way before, the Devil's response is: "You of all people should know that nothing in the gospels has ever really happened..." There's a very short passage on Pg. 39 that I think holds great insight into the chapter. Later, the Devil declares that he was present during all of this, and perhaps this passage is explained by that: "While the secretary was assembling the conference, the Procurator spoke to a certain man in a room shaded against the sun with dark hangings. The man's face was half-concealed by his hood, although the sun's rays could not possibly disturb him in this room. This meeting was very brief. The Procurator quietly spoke a few words to the man, after which the latter left". It's very interesting that the man's face is HALF covered (as the Devil's face has two sides). This feature is probably literally to demonstrate the fact that the Devil is two-faced, although whether that expression is also used in Russian, I don't know. Anyway, it seems entirely possible that the devil was masterminding the whole operation of Jesus' death. The Devil also gets very angry when Ivan admits that he doesn't believe in the devil either. At that point the Devil decides to use what he calls "the seventh proof" to prove to Ivan his power. He declares his intentions in such a carefree way, that it becomes humorous. "Keep in mind that there is a seventh proof for this, and the most convincing of all! And it is just about to be presented to you!" And then Berlioz is killed (as his proof). I mean, he may be evil, but he's definitely witty.
-Powdered Whiskers