2-3

Yet again, I noticed more references to the idea of a “bear suit” through the character of the Procurator. Like Ivan Ilych and many of the other characters we have discovered, Pilate seems to be taking actions which are completely contrary to what he actually desires. In other words, he plays into society’s “show”. He torments and screams at Yeshua time and time again, but only because he feels he must. For instance, when interrogating Yeshua he screams out “Criminal! Criminal! Criminal!” so loud that it can “be heard in the garden” (page 31). But directly following his very public outburst against Yeshua he scorns the “Hateful city” that will kill Yeshua. At another point he even tries to “send the prisoner a message with his eyes” and attempts to exile Yeshua to his own home so that (presumably) he can be close to him (page 29)...(read more)
-Cracked Wristwatch


In the second chapter of The Master and the Margarita, the foreigner recounts the story of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, Bulgakov continues to comment on the duality of human nature: the procurator has a migraine that affects half of his head. He wishes to preserve the brilliant madness of Yeshua but is forced to act counter to his instinct because of Yeshua’s crimes. This duality is expressed once again when the procurator speaks privately to a man who’s face is half-shrouded by a hood. One can only presume that this man, who’s presence is not explained, is the devil who, in chapter 3, explains that he knows this to be true because he was there. In what capacity, he does not explain. Berlioz and Homeless give no credence to this wild tale, instead concluding that he is mentally incapable. However, he provides evidence that he is the devil, spouting facts about Berlioz’s life and begging the pair to accept that the devil exists. The tense passage concludes with the decapitation of Berlioz, thus fulfilling the foreigner’s prophecy.
-Runaway Knight


The main source of my confusion in this section of The Master and Margarita was the variety of appearances made by a “swallow”. It was my impression that the first appearance of the swallow, in which it “disappeared behind the capital of the column [and] . . . decided to build a nest there” (27), was symbolic of a supernatural inception of the idea that Yeshua should be released without his suggested “death sentence” (28). However, the swallow made a further appearance on page 32 (for no reason that was apparent to me) and was replaced with another bird, “a sparrow” (46). What is the significance, if there is one, of these birds and the switch between the two? ...(read more)
-Primus Stove


These two chapters solidify the idea that the stranger might be the devil because there are several parallels and antiparallels between him and Yeshua (Jesus). For example, both have no wife and always travel alone. Both have superhuman capabilities: the stranger seems to know everything about a person and has a very sharp sense of hearing, and Yeshua has a heightened sense of compassion, able to understand a person's emotions based on their body language. ...(read more)
-Black Poodle


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..(read more)
-Powdered Whiskers

Are all these counters supposed to be secret? The one between Yeshua and Pontius Pilate is very in the dark. No one else is around, except the scribe who, at one point, Pontius Pilate tells to stop writing, meaning there is/will be no record of this conversation. I wish Pontius Pilate would’ve taken more authority, to get his head straight and listen to this man. What was the point of meeting with him and getting his side of the story, if he was simply going to ignore the meeting and let the people, the disorderly, unknowing of the whole story people to choose who would be saved, and who would be condemned. Even the encounter with the High Priest was very undercover, no one was around and the exchange in general pretty sinister. Pontius then acts surprised when the people don’t choose to save Yeshua, and simply washes of his hands of the blame.
-Apricot Soda

I believe the devil is the foreigner and Ha-Nozri is Jesus. From my understanding of execution of Jesus, his story unfolds in chapter 2 from the eyes of the devil. I consider the foreigner to be the devil now because I cannot imagine him capable of eavesdropping on the conversation between the High Priest Kaiyapha and Pontius Pilate without having some supernatural power. And after having been introduced to the ways of Ha-Nozri, who appears to be such a “good man,” I cannot see how the foreigner cannot be evil...(read more)
-Golden Horseshoe



Chapter 2 of this novel was a bit long and dull. Without the mysterious devil-like character or any supernatural occurrences, it was a bit hard to follow. The whole chapter is a replica of a scene from the Bible, where Pontius Pilate decides whether to execute Jesus. There are parallel connections between Yershalayim and Jerusalem, Yeshua and Jesus, Matthu Levi and Matthew the tax collector, Yehudah and Judas, parchment and the Bible. It is interesting how Yeshua is portrayed as a cowardly character who denies his actions in the beginning. "Terror flashed in his eyes" when he made a mistake in front of Pontius, and he says people "have no learning of any kind and have confused all that I said," trying to avoid any responsibility. It is interesting how Pontius seems to oppose condemning Jesus, but is forced into doing so by the public opinion. As far as I know, he relinquished the decision to the citizens in the Bible, ... (read more)
-Spanish Boot