{"id":971,"date":"2010-06-19T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2010-06-19T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=971"},"modified":"2014-07-17T13:15:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T13:15:38","slug":"reading-master-and-margarita-chapter-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/reading-master-and-margarita-chapter-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading: Master and Margarita – Chapter 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Weekend is a great time for catching up on our big summer reading project – Mikhail Bulgakov\u2019s Master and Margarita. Guess what, we are on Chapter 3 already! But before we dive into the review, let\u2019s do the Readers\u2019 Mail (look at me, I sound like a real National Public Radio show host!).<\/p>\n

So, based on the comments left on the last M&M post:<\/p>\n

Martti<\/strong> – how are you getting along? Are you reading M&M in 3 languages? What are the other two (other than Russian)?<\/p>\n

Rob<\/strong> – thanks for bringing up the question of whether Bulgakov himself was \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [a religious person]. I assumed that he was, but never looked into it. Now, here\u2019s something I found on one of the Russian forums<\/a> regarding Bulgakov\u2019s relationship with faith. He was from a religious family and his grandfather was a \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044f\u0449\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [member of a clergy]. It seems like Bulgakov wasn\u2019t religious in his youth, but became so in later years.<\/p>\n

Valerie<\/strong> – \u201cglamourtrash restaurant\u201d – awesome!\u00a0 \u00ab\u0410 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u043d\u0430 \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439?\u00bb<\/strong> [How would it be translated into Russian?]<\/p>\n

Richard<\/strong> – I\u2019ve never met an M&M collector before! I love lacquer boxes and have a very small collection (I keep giving them away as gifts \u2018cause my friends love them so much). Maybe you can take a few pictures of the tops of the boxes and send our way? (yes, it\u2019s not M&M related, but I just can\u2019t resist)<\/p>\n

Richard (again)<\/strong> – I tried making it to the Bulgakov\u2019s flat last time I was in Moscow, but it was closed that day. If anyone been there, please share your experience and pictures!<\/p>\n

Sean<\/strong> – you\u2019re right, we did skip over the opening quote. But I\u2019m going to make it up to you. Read on\u2026<\/p>\n

Jan<\/strong> – thank you for a link to a great panoramic shot<\/a> of the Patriarch\u2019s Ponds.<\/p>\n

Svetlana<\/strong> – great photo! Have you been to any of the Bulgakov\u2019s tours? I\u2019d love to go next time I\u2019m in Moscow!<\/p>\n

(Don\u2019t see your name in this mail call? This means you commented after this post had been written.)<\/em><\/p>\n

And now, to Chapter 3 we go. In this chapter our old acquaintances, Berlioz and Bezdomniy, are talking to the \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0446\u0438\u0430\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0433\u0438\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [black magic specialist] Woland, with disastrous consequences.<\/p>\n

But wait a second, who is this mysterious Woland or Voland? Doesn\u2019t just the description of him send shivers down your spine?<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u2026\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0443 \u0431\u044b\u043b… \u0432\u044b\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e. \u0427\u0442\u043e \u043a\u0430\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0437\u0443\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432, \u0442\u043e \u0441 \u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u044b<\/span> \u0443 \u043d\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0438, \u0430 \u0441 \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0439 – \u0437\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u0435… \u043f\u043e\u0434 \u043c\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043d\u0435\u0441 \u0442\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u044b<\/span> \u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044f… \u0420\u043e\u0442 \u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439-\u0442\u043e \u043a\u0440\u0438\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0439… \u0411\u0440\u044e\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0442… \u041f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437 – \u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439, \u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 – \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443<\/span>-\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0435\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439. \u0411\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0438 \u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435, \u043d\u043e \u043e\u0434\u043d\u0430<\/span> \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u0435 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0439.\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\u2026was simply tall. As for his teeth, the left ones had platinum crowns, the right – gold\u2026 he carried a walking stick with a black knob shaped like a poodle\u2019s head\u2026 Slightly crooked mouth\u2026 Dark brown hair. Right eye black, left – for some reason, green. Black eyebrows, but one was higher than the other.]<\/p>\n

Is this the devil himself strolling around Moscow just before Easter holiday? All this talk of black magic, astrology, black poodle, and the infamous \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u044a\u044f<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u0430 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0442?\u00bb<\/strong> [and the devil doesn\u2019t exist either?].<\/p>\n

Plus there\u2019s the name itself – \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [Woland or Voland]. Does it remind you of any other fictional black magic specialist? C\u2019mon, I know we\u2019ve got some Harry Potter fans here. Yes, that would be Lord Voldemort (incidentally, translated in Russian books as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u043e\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434-<\/strong>\u0434\u0435-<\/strong>\u041c\u043e\u0440\u0442<\/strong>\u00bb).<\/p>\n

Original \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u00bb, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u043d\u0434\u00bb, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0424\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> (there are countless versions of the name\u2019s spelling) was one of the Norse demi-gods or heroes. The myth of Weland (or Wayland) mentions Weland beheading his enemies and making goblets out of their skulls (something to keep in mind as we continue reading).<\/p>\n

Now, here\u2019s the \u201cSix Degrees\u201d game:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The name Woland<\/strong> or Weland or Wayland is linked to an old Germanic word meaning \u201ccanning craftsman\u201d.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Do you know how \u201ccanning craftsman\u201d<\/strong> translates into Russian? \u00ab\u041b\u0443\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439<\/strong> \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440\u00bb.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041b\u0443\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [a cunning one] is, by the way, one of the euphemisms for \u201cdevil\u201d as in \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0435\u0445 <\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u043b\u0443\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0442\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [it was the Cunning One who pushed me to mischief].<\/li>\n
  4. The quote above<\/strong> is from a fable by \u00ab<\/strong>\u0418\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d <\/strong>\u0410\u043d\u0434\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u0438\u0447 <\/strong>\u041a\u0440\u044b\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [Ivan Andreevich Krilov]<\/li>\n
  5. There is a large statue of Krilov <\/strong>at Patriarch\u2019s Ponds<\/strong> (see the picture above).<\/li>\n
  6. Patriarch\u2019s Ponds<\/strong> is, of course, the place where Woland<\/strong> makes his first appearance in the novel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once pagan believes became replaced by Christianity, Weland became closely associated with the devil. Yes, that\u2019s him in Goethe\u2019s Faust<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    This is a good time to get back to the first page of the Part One to re-read (or read for the first time) the opening quote from Goethe:<\/p>\n

    \u00ab<\/strong>\u042f – <\/strong>\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044b, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0437\u043b\u0430 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0431\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0433\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [I am part of the power which forever wills evil and forever works good] says Mephistopheles.<\/p>\n

    But let\u2019s not put the cart before the horse or spoil it for those who are reading M&M for the first time. Let\u2019s not talk about what \u201cgood\u201d comes out of \u201cevil intent\u201d\u2026 not yet anyway.<\/p>\n

    Instead, there\u2019s a much more pressing issue to explore – was Woland based, at least in part, on a real person? Many believe that \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0437\u00bb<\/strong> [prototype] of Woland was Stalin himself. What do you think?<\/p>\n

    And now, let\u2019s talk about the Seventh Proof itself. For many of us the best proof of anything is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e, <\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [not the word, but the deed] a.k.a. experiential proof. That\u2019s exactly the type of proof that was \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044a\u044f<\/span>\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [presented] to Berlioz.<\/p>\n

    \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [by the way], there are several synonyms for the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044a\u044f\u0432\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to present], including \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to show, to present] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to present]. But don\u2019t you think \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044a\u044f\u0432\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> has a bit of alliteration with \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u044a\u044f<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [devil] in it and is particularly suitable for the occasion?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

    Weekend is a great time for catching up on our big summer reading project – Mikhail Bulgakov\u2019s Master and Margarita. Guess what, we are on Chapter 3 already! But before we dive into the review, let\u2019s do the Readers\u2019 Mail (look at me, I sound like a real National Public Radio show host!). So…<\/p>\n

    Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1018,9273,9247,1248,1250,9271,9179,1838,9274,1681,1696],"class_list":["post-971","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-bulgakov","tag-doing-things-together","tag-master-and-margarita","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-literature","tag-russian-reading-summer-of-2010","tag-9179","tag-1838","tag-9274","tag-1681","tag-1696"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t