Commentary 343

Woland's bass emerges in odd contexts (sometimes without his name being mentioned), and Yeshua's hoarseness is underscored.

CHAPTER 5

Griboyedov—the name of the building housing the writers' organization is clearly meant to evoke Herzen House, which in the 1920s and 1930s was the location for many literary organizations. It had a nice restaurant, which prompted satire from the poet Mayakovsky in the poem named " Herzen House." Alexander Herzen was a famous literary and political figure of the previous century, as was Alexander Griboye-dov, but Bulgakov had other reasons for choosing the latter. Griboyedov's great play Woe from Wit (1822-24), was a favorite reference point for Bulgakov, himself a playwright. In this chapter Ivan is again caught in a literary situation parody, this time as a pathetic version of the brilliant Chatsky in Griboyedov's play who is considered insane because he speaks the truth.

The other important aspect of this chapter is its wonderfully accurate portrayal of what it meant to be a coddled Soviet writer, and the kind of jealousy provoked by the various privileges the Writers' Union could confer.

Perelygino—read Peredelkino, even now the prestigious location outside of Moscow for the intellectual elite. The Klyazma is the river nearby.

Amvrosy—the Russian version of Ambrose, a very unusual and somewhat humorous name, as are most of the others in this chapter—Hieronymus Poprikhin not only has a peculiar first name for Russian, his last name contains the root meaning " fidget."

twelve writers—another parody situation: twelve writers are arguing over who will get a place at the writers' summer resort, as opposed to the Last Supper, when the discussion is of who will be prominent in the kingdom yet to come.

Hallelujah—Bulgakov uses this song several times in this novel, usually as the theme of the inferno arrives. The specific reference is to Vincent Youmans' song Hallelujah! which was published in Russia in 1928. This is another example of traditional religious motifs turning up in parodie form. Alleluia means something quite different in its traditional context—praise to the Lord.

Glukharyov began dancing—this little paragraph owes a great deal to Gogol (as do many other touches in the novel). The list of names and descriptions combine to give the reader the impression that hundreds of people are dancing. Most of the names have funny associations: Glukharyov (wood-grouse), Dragunsky (Dragoon), Cher-dachki (attics), Pavianov (baboon), Bogokhulsky (blasphemer), Sladky (sweet), Spichkin (matches), Buzdyak (rowdy).