The reason he puts on the black magic show is to take the opportunity to observe people and their behavior. He positions himself in front of the audience so as to be the audience of an audience. After Bengalsky's head is torn off, Satan makes a comment on the nature of people and money in comparison to people and morality: "'Well, now,' the latter [Satan] replied pensively, 'they're people like any other people... They love money, but that has always been so...Mankind loves money, whatever it's made of-leather, paper, bronze, gold. Well, they're light-minded... well, what of it... mercy sometimes knocks at their hearts... ordinary people... In general, reminiscent of the former ones... only the housing problem has corrupted them...'" (126)