28-32

I really liked Koroviev’s and Behemoth’s discussions of writers and fame in chapter 28. We have talked quite a bit about Woland’s statement that “manuscripts don’t burn,” but I hadn’t seen too much more discussion of the idea until this chapter. Behemoth claims that “Dostoevksy is immortal,” and since Dostoevsky died in 1881, I took this to mean that he was immortal because of his works (or manuscripts) (page 362). In other words, the truth writers capture with their words gives them immortality...(read more)
-Cracked Wristwatch

This series of chapters marks the end of The Master and Margarita. I would first like to remark that it seemed as if Woland and his cohorts became less intimidating and, even, more comical over the course of the novel. Woland went from laughing at lung cancer to aiding the Master and Margarita and granting them eternal peace. In the comical vein, Koroviev and Behemoth appear to Woland reeking “of smoke, Behemoth’s face was sooty and his cap was singed” – not at all an imposing image. ...(read more)
-Primus Stove


Soviet references: 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 wesbite, 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 juxtposes Dosteovsky to the current writer's situation, Bulgakov is making indirect comparisons to the Russia before Soviet time. ...(read more)
-Black Poodle


I think the satire in 28 is about the fact that you can get into anywhere and do pretty much anything in the Russian government as long as you know someone in a high position. The buccaneer sees the value of letting them in as opposed to angering them.
Also, there is a great deal of form changing going on in these last few chapters: In 28, it seems that perhaps Behemoth has adopted a human form, because he removes his hat for Sofya to show her his head, and the narrator describes him as having thick hair there, almost like that of a cat, which would be redundant language if he were still in cat form.
What an earth is with the sturgeon? I looked it up, and it's some type of giant fish...(read more)
-Powdered Whiskers

I just have to say HAHA I love the way chapter 29 opened with the title being about Master and Margarita, so we think that the two on the beautiful building are the Master and Margarita, and then it turns out to be Woland and Azazello. I laughed really loudly. Other than that I'm curious to figure out what Woland's sword is or what it means and its shadow which lengthens. It's at his hip like Pontius Pilate's sword/dagger which is on his belt at his hip. When Woland does talk about shadows, he seems to say that it is impossible to live without shadows (darkness, for Woland is the "ruler of the shadows"). It sounded like a ying yang proverb, where we need to have darkness in this world to have life at all. Without shadows means without trees and other living beings who make shadows. It goes with the idea that good and evil, God and the devil need each other to come alive, or have a purpose. "What would your good be doing if there were no evil?" Woland claims (368)...(read more)
-Apricot Soda

The first few pages of this reading did not surprise me for whatever reason. I found it totally normal of Koroviev and Behemoth to walk into the restaurant and set it on fire after the authorities came to arrest them. I didn’t come out of this haze until the last few pages. It all took on a Narnia-like feel. I almost felt as if Woland was Aslan, which is odd because Aslan is supposed to represent Christ, not the Devil. And Woland speaks of Ha-Nozri’s request for the Master and Margarita as if he is someone else entirely (387). So I don’t think Woland is Christ. But we have yet to make an acquaintance with God! I find it fascinating that Woland must, or at least wants to, obey Yeshua’s command. I want to know from where the power stems, but I am beginning to wonder if Bulgakov will ever reveal that to his readers...(read more)
-Golden Horseshoe

We have finally read the entire novel except for the epilogue, but so many questions remain unanswered. In Chapter 28, Bulgakov plays around with the absurd idea of official papers. When they are asked for identification, Koroviev says, "in order to convince yourself that Dostoevsky is a writer, must you ask to see his identification card? ... A writer must be judged by what he writes, not by any cards." Ironically however, Koroviev and Behemoth each say they are Panayev and Skabichevsky. According to the Middlebury site, those names refer to Ivan I. Panaev and Alexander M. Skabichevsky, whom Bulgakov consider foolish critics who could not see the deeper meaning in literary works, but simply judged them by superficial means...(read more)
-Spanish Boot