26-27

I could be completely wrong with this assertion, but I thought that in chapter 26 Pilate came to symbolize the Devil (meaning that Yeshua would be God). This assertion, though, is entirely based on the idea that God and the Devil are both part of one greater power working towards good (meaning that the Devil uses evil for the broader purposes of good). It is quite clear that Pilate was not happy executing Yeshua. In fact, Pilate seems to hate the city because he was forced to execute Yeshua, and Pilate seems to genuinely admire Yeshua...(read more)
-Cracked Wristwatch

It has been unclear throughout the novel whether Margarita loves the Master, or simply his manuscript; in this reading we receive some elucidation. At Azzazello’s arrival, despite having just been reunited with the Master, Margarita exclaims upon Azzzello’s arrival that, because of it, she has “never been so glad in her life”; despite her initial lack of affection, it becomes clear that she was not her true self. When Azazello kills her, he notes that she lost “the cruelty and wildness of her features”, which “brightened and softened”; it was only the “witch’s cast” which made her behave abnormally.
-Runaway Knight

Chapter 26 was a little confusing--Procurator's secret guard Aphranius has arranged to assassinate Yehuda by setting a trap with Yehuda's love interest Niza. Aphranius and Niza plan to redirect Yehuda to the olive tree garden, where he is ambushed, robbed, and slain. Again, this is an alteration of the bible, which claims that Yehuda hangs himself on an olive tree in grief. What I got confused over, however, was when Aphranius told Pontius that he " 'did not succeed in protecting Yehudah' " from getting killed (336). ...(read more)
-Black Poodle

So we have many characters to think about in 26; Niza, Aphranius and Yehudah are the most important/interesting.
The Procurator has a premonition, which he shares with Aphranius, that Yehudah will be killed the night of the festivities in Yershalayim. Pilate claims that the other followers of Yeshua will kill Yehudah for betraying him (as he did earlier in the tale), and return the money to the high priest. We learn that as Yehudah is walking through town, he meets his mistress, Niza, who lures him out to the olive groves and ultimately to his death. Niza seems to have a lot of power...(read more)
-Powdered Whiskers

Perhaps I'm a little confused as to where the morals of this story are going. We just witnessed the devil's capacity to do good, to reward selflessness, forgive and give second chances. However, the killing of Yehudah throws me off a little bit. I finally got the hint that Pontius Pilate actually ordered the murder of Yehudah in the guise of trying to save him from being killed. The killing was supposed to compensate for Pontius Pilate's guilt of letting Yeshua be executed, which may have selfish inclinations. Matthu Levi, too, feels that he must avenge Yeshua and kill Yehudah. Also, Matthu Levi ends up commending Pontius for killing Yehudah, for after Pontius Pilate says he killed Yehudah, "Levi thought a while and then relented" (343). Before knowing that Pontius Pilate killed Yehudah, Matthu is very unaccepting of Pontius...(read more)
-Apricot Soda

Why couldn’t the Procurator to bring himself indoors? While he is waiting for Aphranius to return, with news on Yehudah’s murder, the Procurator “refuse[s] to go within. He had ordered his bead made on the balcony, where he had dined, and where he had conducted the interrogation in the morning” (333). And the moon seems to be plaguing Pilate; as it rises higher and higher in the sky his anxiety grows. But if it bothers him, why doesn’t he go inside and escape the torture? And who is the philosopher he dreams of once he finally does escape to the dream world (334)? And most importantly, what reason does the Procurator have for plotting Yehudah’s murder? There is this whole conspiracy that is slowly revealed to the reader; first one thinks Aphranius is betraying Pilate, but then one learns that Yehudah’s lover is involved and eventually Pilate. Did the order come from Rome or did Pilate make the decision for his own personal reasons? Also, was Woland present in this chapter as well?...(read more)
-Golden Horseshoe

Chapter 26 made me think about the true identity of Aphranius from Secret Service and Banga, the dog. Simply put, Aphranius seems like the Devil. Couple weeks ago when we were discussing Chapter 2, I suggested that "a certain man in a room shaded against the sun with dark hangings" was the devil, because his face was "half-concealed by his hood," which adds to the notion of asymmetry, and he was not affected by the rays of the sun. That certain man, which turned out to be Aphranius, shows devilish characteristics once again. When he reports to Pilate of Yehudah's death, he says "I do not have to see a corpse to know that a man was killed." Of course, if he was the devil, he would know about every murder and sin where ever he is. Plus, this reminded me of Woland's globe that showed all the wars going on in the world. Furthermore, Pilate admits that he is "dealing with a man who never makes mistakes," referring to Aphranius....(read more)
-Spanish Boot