The Visit of Poplavsky

Berlioz's uncle Max Poplavsky comes to Moscow to claim his nephew's apartment, only to be driven away by the supernatural tenants.

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The Telegram

The Strange Message The Read Maximilian Andreevich Poplavsky, an economist in Kiev, receives a telegram: "Have just been run over by tramcar at Patriarch's Ponds funeral Friday three pm come. Berlioz." He is puzzled by the wording. The Interpretation He decides that the telegram is garbled, and that Berlioz is dead. He sees an opportunity to claim the Moscow apartment. He travels to Moscow immediately. The Greed Poplavsky is motivated by greed. He wants to exchange his Kiev apartment for a Moscow one. He is a practical man, but his greed makes him vulnerable.

The Confrontation

The Apartment Encounter The Meeting Poplavsky arrives at the apartment on Sadovaya. He is met by Koroviev and Behemoth, who mock him and tell him that Berlioz is dead and the apartment is occupied. The Threats Koroviev and Behemoth use supernatural threats to scare Poplavsky. They tell him that the apartment is cursed and that he should leave immediately. The Flight Poplavsky, terrified, abandons his claim and flees. He realizes that the forces in the apartment are beyond his control. He returns to Kiev, humiliated.

Two days after Berlioz's death

The next day