Bulgarians

Eighteenth century Europe can be described as being in a transitory state of philosophy and politics. The Enlightenment was meant to give the individual the tools to better understand the world around them through spiritualty, philosophy, science or a combination there of. However the discourse and teachings of this archetypical narrative were far from monolithic in nature. The quest for knowledge resulted in the mass creation of theoretical explanations for issues such as morality, class…

Candide’s first trial comes after he is kicked out of his childhood home for having a romance with the Baron’s daughter, Cunegonde. He wanders around “weeping” and “raising his eyes to heaven,” eventually he is taken in by Bulgarian soldiers. The soldiers take him out for dinner and because of their generosity, Candide believes Pangloss’ theory that “all is for the best” (Voltaire 3). Although the soldiers’ kindness does show the benevolence of people, the notion that he is…

As writer-director Tarsem Singh (these days, just "Tarsem") explains it, he first had the idea for The Fall 14 years ago, but was unable to secure funding for a dark, miserablist fantasy shot in more than a dozen countries, based on a Bulgarian drama (1981's Yo Ho Ho), and largely written by the improvisational choices of a 5-year-old girl. And no wonder. The Fall ranks up there with the collected directorial works of Crispin Glover as an impossible-to-sell act of creative love and insane…

George Bernard Shaw is certainly one of the major playwrights in the history of English literature. Shaw’s Arms and the Man, is one of the most popular plays in English literature. Arms and the Man is a thought-provoking, anti-romantic and anti-war play. “Arms and the Man is a fitting entry-point into Shaw’s career, which goes on to encompass many more plays investigating the nature of relationships between men and women.”1 The play satirizes the social issues of the day by highlighting and…

await travelers are both comforting and engaging. Common delicacies revolve around the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Revel in the authentic flavors of Gella, with produce that is locally grown and game meats and fish that are harvested by the Bulgarian people. Dishes like Patatnik and Klin are satisfying and reminiscent of olden days. Hot stone cooking methods are still used throughout the land, even in the more sophisticated eateries. While staying at Villa Gella, each succulent dish is…

to rape, or continuous prostitution/servitude to meet the sexual demands of male soldiers. On page 5 it discusses a scene of girls who perished, “their daughters, disemboweled and breathing their last after having satisfied the natural wants of Bulgarian heroes.” Voltaire’s attitude is illuminated in this passage as it reveals how war brings unnecessary pain, suffering, and death. He believes young, innocent, and pure women should not have to experience the cruelty and savagery of soldiers at…

question him if he “has great affection for the King of Bulgarians”, and when Candide replies that he doesn't know of the King, the two soldiers call Candid to “drink to the king’shealth” (Voltaire, 1759). As Candide goes to them and drinks to a king he has never known “with all his heart”, he shows absence of individuality for himself. The soldiers then take Candide to join their army and he does intentionally, satisfied to be an involved in Bulgarian army. As Candide is opened to many horrors…

Shadow,” which is beyond the grasp of the mortal world. This spiraling negativity is in stark contrast the tonal shift in Voltaire’s piece, where the shift is too sarcastic understatements to objective hyperboles. In describing the war between the Bulgarians and Abarians, Voltaire uses diction like “laid flat”, “swept away”, and “sufficient reason for the death”, to describe the death of “thirty thousand souls” in the war. This type of understatement is strewn across the book to bring light to…

As an ironic story that focuses on many problems dealing with philosophy and theology, Voltaire’s “Candide” stands to clarify and possibly teach a lesson to the people that would hold too much faith in these philosophies. Many catastrophic events happen to the lead character, Candide, as well as just about every other character in the story, in order to focus on the problems that lie in detaching yourself from responsibility of their own actions leaving it to God, to fate, or to nature when the…

During that trip, I learned a lot about the Bulgarian culture, about myself and was again fascinated by foreign countries. When I finished school, I actually wanted to become an engineer. However, I did not want to go to university right away. Instead, I did a voluntary year in a workshop facility for…