- Koroviev and Behemoth sign in as Panayev and Skabichevsky. The former is a second-rate writer and the latter is a second-rate critic. According to the Middlebury website, Bulagkov intends to poke fun at Soviet Russia for identifying its writers by cards and not by their true talent. Indeed, the scene where Koroviev juxtaposes Dosteovsky to the current writer's situation, Bulgakov is making indirect comparisons to the Russia before Soviet time.
- "Woland stared at the endless multitude of palaces, huge buildings, and small hovels doomed to the wrecker's hammer" (367). Again, the image of a hammer as on the Soviet flag. Perhaps a reference to the detrimental effects of communism.
- "The storm Woland spoke of was already gathering on the horizon. A black cloud rose in the west and cut off half of the sun. Then it covered the entire sun" (370). Maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but the cloud covering the west seems to symbolize communism cutting off any type of western influence from getting Russia. This could also have religious symbolism, if the sun is still meant to symbolize good/God.
- The poison and Azazello, the poisoner, are both red, which should refer to communism. But at the same time the poison brings the Master and Margarita eternal peace.
- As Iris once mentioned in class, in Soviet Russia, many writers would memorize their works just in case their manuscripts were destroyed by the government. Similarly the Master assures Margarita that he has it memorized.
Bible references:
- Why does Archibald Archibaldovich come out of the burning building so calmly, carrying two logs of sturgeon. Sturgeon is huge fish--does the fish symbolize Jesus/Christianity? Is he trying to catch Behemoth by setting this out as bait? Bulgakov never finished this line of thought.
- In the end of Chapter 28, Archibald Archibaldovich claims that his "phenomenal instinct" tells him his guests will not stay long. Soon after several police officers come into the restaurant to try and arrest Koroviev and Behemoth. This scene parallels Pontius Pilate's scene, when Pontius gives orders to Aphranius by saying "I have been informed..." Did Archibald call the police?
Jesus and the devil, good and evil
- The lines between Yeshua and the devils job gets very blurred in the last few chapters. Yeshua has sent Matthu Levi to give eternal peace to the Master and Margarita. So Yeshua is essentially ordering the death of the Master--sounds more characteristic of the devil. Also, the devil says, " 'Everything will turn out right. That's what the world is built o.' " (386). That could mean one of two things: even the devil knows he has limited power in how much havoc he can wreak, or the devil and Jesus do indeed share the same goal. Woland perfectly embodies to concept when he says: " 'What would your good be doing if there were no evil, and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it?...Would you denude the earth of all the trees and all the living beings in order to satisfy your fantasy of rejoicing in the naked light?' " (368).
- Who has greater power? Yeshua or Woland? Woland says, "Nothing is difficult for me." Yet he obeys Yeshua's orders. But then the devil also kills the Master, who has a lot of evidence for being a Jesus-like figure (as follows).
- Is the Master Jesus himself? Or similar to Jesus? The fourth addition to the Holy Trinity. When he dies, his head is bleeding, just like the crown of thorns image. And later, he calls Homeless his disciple. The book that he's been writing seems to be the truth of what happened. And when he stopped writing, Pontius Pilate could not continue his story, and has been sitting in eternity waiting for peace to his heart. The Master is the only one who can give it to him. So it seems the Master might even be creating the truth? Lastly, Woland says Pilate has been waiting to talk to the Master all along, but Pontius has been waiting for "Ha-Nozri" the entire time. So are they the same person?
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