24-25 (Spanish Boot)

Chapter 24 contains two important themes to observe: the duality of Margarita and the limitations of the devil's powers. During the seminar, we pointed out that Margarita turned fully into a witch, and it seemed like Koroviev had complete control over the submissive Margarita during the ball. In the next chapter, we still witness her evil side, making her seem like a member of the devil gang, but we also see a bit of the uncontaminated, naive Margarita. To begin with, she addresses Woland as "Messire," just as Koroviev, Azazello and the tom do, which hints that she has completely melted into the group. Then, when the tom offers her some mysterious transparent liquid, she has no suspicions. When Woland says to her, "drink it without fear", she "immediately picked up the glass" and "drank obediently." Then, she "greedily began to eat caviar". The word "greedily" suggests she is not the honest girl she used to be. (Gluttony and greed are among the major sins stated by God, I think) One point, she "prayerfully stretched both hands to Woland," as if she was worshiping him. Also, I wonder what the drink that Woland offers to Margarita and Master is. It "[revives]" Margarita and extinguishes the grievances and the pains of the Master. Could it be some special drug? Back to the topic... Even though Margarita seems to have changed, she shows unchanged love to the Master. As her only wish, she "[wants her] beloved, the Master, to be returned to [her] at once this very second."

This chapter also gives a lot of hints to the limits of the devils' powers. On one hand, they seem omnipotent. Koroviev demonstrates a trick where he simply knows where Margarita scratched on the seven of spades card. Then, they summon the Master from the insane asylum and give them back their basement house, just the way it was. On the other hand, they cannot carry out Margarita's original wish, which was to help Frieda. They say their "possibilities are quite extensive," but then says "what sense is there in doing what is properly the task of another...department. ... And hence, I shall not do it." Woland does not explicitly say he can't do it, but the readers can sense that there is a limit to what he can do. There is a boundary to his "department".