Woland’s Black Poodle Walking Stick
Woland’s walking stick is embellished with the ornate figure of a black poodle. This is one of many gestures by Bulgakov to Goethe’s Faust, in which the devil appears to the titular character…
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The Moon/Moonlight
Moonlight is a complex symbol that takes on different meanings throughout the novel. It often depicts moments of transition. For example, the last thing Berlioz perceives when he is run over by a tram is…
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Briefcases
Many of the minor characters in the Moscow narrative, who usually represent cowardice or selfishness, are depicted with briefcases. This is Bulgakov’s nod to the overbearing bureaucracy of the Soviet Union and the fine line…
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Horses
Equestrian imagery crops up intermittently throughout the book and, like moonlight, horses do not represent one thing at all times. Margarita is given a golden horseshoe by Woland in reward for her services at…
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