Reading Master & Margarita - 22

Chapter 22

            By Candlelight            

The chapter is titled as ‘By Candlelight’, as Margarita’s entry into the world of adventures takes place in candlelight.

The car which brings Margarita to Moscow was driven by a bird-driver. The bird-driver brings Margarita back to Moscow and after dropping her near a deserted cemetery in the Dorogomilovo area, unscrewed a wheel from the car, sat on it and flew away.

A black raincoat appears from behind a grave, appears Azazello and both of them sit on Margarita’s brush and zoom away, not noticed by anyone. In just a few seconds they landed at Sadovaya Street near building No 302 and proceed towards flat No 50! So, flat No 50 is going to play an extremely important role in the narration that follows.

On their way, they come across three identical persons who were keeping watch on the flat. Please note that these men had no identity of their own, they were doing the work mechanically…they had to be similar to each other!

 

Azazello opens the door with his key.

It was the darkness and the size of the place that surprised Margarita. She realized that she was in an absolutely enormous hall, with a colonnade besides, dark and on first impression endless. While she was wondering how an ordinary apartment in Moscow can accommodate all this, she saw a person approaching them. He was carrying a candle in his hand. This was Koroviev. He explains to Margarita how easy it is for those who have some knowledge about the fifth dimension to convert a small place into a big one. He gave her the example of a Moscow dare devil, who went on erecting partitions and increasing the number of rooms in his apartments and exchanging them for more than one apartment at a time, but somehow the authorities came to know of it and his adventures had to stop.

Koroviev explains to Margarita why she was invited here:

'… to business, to business, Margarita Nikolaevna. You're quite an intelligent woman, and of course have already guessed who our host is.'

Margarita's heart thumped and she nodded.

Well, and so, ma'am,' Koroviev said, 'and so, we're enemies of any sort of reticence and mysteriousness. Messire gives one ball annually. It is called the spring ball of the full moon, or the ball of the hundred kings.

Such a crowd! ...' here Koroviev held his cheek as if he had a toothache.

'However, I hope you'll be convinced of it yourself. Now, Messire is a bachelor, as you yourself, of course, understand. Yet a hostess is needed,' Koroviev spread his arms, 'without a hostess, you must agree ...'

Margarita listened to Koroviev, trying not to miss a single word; she felt cold under her heart, the hope of happiness made her head spin.

'The tradition has been established,' Koroviev said further, 'that the hostess of the ball must without fail be named Margarita, first, and second, she must be a native of the place. And we, you will kindly note, are travelling and at the present moment are in Moscow. We found one hundred and twenty-one Margaritas in Moscow, and, would you believe it,' here Koroviev slapped himself on the thigh with despair, 'not one of them was suitable! And, at last, by a happy fate ...'

Koroviev grinned expressively, inclining his body, and again Margarita's heart went cold.

'In short!' Koroviev cried out 'Quite shortly: you won't refuse to take this responsibility upon yourself?'

'I won't refuse!' Margarita replied firmly.

Margarita is then taken to Woland…he is convinced that Margarita is an intelligent and decent person.

Bulgakov mentions about the pain in Woland’s knee. It was since he was thrown out of paradise.

Bulgakov makes fun of the news reader girls on the radio, who don’t have clear pronunciation.

Margarita is attracted towards the globe which was near Woland’s cot and which was clearly depicting the events taking place in the world. She is shown Abadona.

Margarita likes Woland’s team: Azazello, Koroviev, cat Begemoth and beautiful Hella.

They are now getting ready for the ball which was scheduled to start at midnight.

We shall be with Margarita!