The Dubliners written by James Joyce is an Irish book which illustrates the nation’s society through a group of stories which all take place in Dublin. The author uses different characters in his stories that on first sight are not related, however, looked more thoroughly and precisely, the internal theme connection is seen. Joyce accurately uses the theme of paralysis in all his stories in a different manner. This way all the separate parts of The Dubliners create a bigger picture which is hidden behind the lines by the author. Using this theme of paralysis, Joyce truly reveals the problems which exist in the society and how destructive they can be, both physically and mentally, for any person no matter his social status, morality, or age.
Joyce uses separate stories in which he represents in a different way the theme of paralysis. This way there are numerous angles to this problem in the Irish society. Thus it is easier for the reader to portray to himself the situation and truly understand how the characters feel. The expression of the author also is easy to be understood and the stories are written in simple English. He commonly uses description and imagery, thus creating more interest in the reader. As a whole, the book itself represents a big theme scattered in each of the single stories. After finishing the book, the reader can finally see and perceive the real image of the society with its problems and values.”Ii had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight” (The Dubliners 175). This quote represents the last story and its final scene. It can be interpreted as a new beginning, or as the end of something. Using the image of the snow, the author represents purification, however, in reality this is only a cover up for the society which continues to suffer with its “paralysis”.
The theme of paralysis emerges in every story in the book. Each newly introduced character is affected by it. Such examples are the boy in “Araby”, the girl which cannot escape from her life in “Eveline”, the young lady which cannot decide for herself in “The Boarding House”. These are only a small part of all the examples; however, the importance here is the theme itself. James Joyce reveals to the reader not only a single aspect of the society or a certain part of it, but includes in his short stories people of all kinds. This makes the motive extraordinary, a problem that is worth attention and affects everyone. The following quotes:”O, Bob! Bob! What am I to do? What am I to do at all?” (The Dubliners 60) and “When she addressed the first words to me I was so confused that I did not know what to answer. She asked me was I going to Araby. I forget whether I answered yes or no” (The Dubliners 31) support the idea of paralysis in the text. As they are analyzed, it can be observed very clearly the common problem of both the boy and the girl in the stories. They fortify Joyce’s thesis about the problem that exists in his society and reveal the message of the author, the cry for change behind the lines of the book.
James Joyce’s The Dubliners is a good example for a book which is aimed towards a certain problem in the society. The theme of paralysis is embedded in each of the whole group of stories and thus illustrated through a number of viewpoints. This way the author creates a very interesting novel that reflects a society affected both mentally and physically by a serious “disease” called paralysis.
Sunday 13 December 2009
Monday 7 December 2009
Book Review
Book review on “Bulgarian crime bosses: Georgi Iliev”
This is a biographical book about the great Bulgarian crime boss Georgi Iliev. It is written in third person and is created from the point of an observer which collected many different stories. Thus there are many different viewpoints from which the book is created and this makes it exciting and interesting for the reader. Also the language of the book is simple and easy to understand. As a whole the action in the book is based on the sequence of events all occupying and connected to Georgi Iliev. In the beginning there is an introduction with his childhood and early years in the mob society. The real story and meaning of the novel is to show his interrelationship and part of the Bulgarian crime business. The story continues with the mafia that he created and all the illegal transactions and deals which he sealed, the newly formed factories and companies made for laundering the money. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, insurance agencies, road companies, restaurants, shops, are some of the many areas that the mob boss had established himself. He built an entire empire within the state and had an extremely high position in the community. He even had control over some of the politicians and had connections in the police departments. Thus, his power in Bulgaria became unlimited. However, as every crime boss, he had a lot of enemies and eventually he was killed by an assassin. The whole book is filled with details and is based on the information taken by a numeral interviews from a huge variety of people, either in the crime world, or not. The book follows a certain pattern of events which occur in different places not only throughout Bulgaria, but around the world. The characters are not fiction and their personalities and deeds aren't imaginary, but real.This is one of the most intriguing aspects about the book, that everything happening in it is true and is supported by factology and evidences.The book Is very interesting and people should read it not only because it tells the story of the greatest crime boss in Bulgaria, but because it reveals how corruption and money can built an entire empire in the state having no limits in their power.
This is a biographical book about the great Bulgarian crime boss Georgi Iliev. It is written in third person and is created from the point of an observer which collected many different stories. Thus there are many different viewpoints from which the book is created and this makes it exciting and interesting for the reader. Also the language of the book is simple and easy to understand. As a whole the action in the book is based on the sequence of events all occupying and connected to Georgi Iliev. In the beginning there is an introduction with his childhood and early years in the mob society. The real story and meaning of the novel is to show his interrelationship and part of the Bulgarian crime business. The story continues with the mafia that he created and all the illegal transactions and deals which he sealed, the newly formed factories and companies made for laundering the money. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, insurance agencies, road companies, restaurants, shops, are some of the many areas that the mob boss had established himself. He built an entire empire within the state and had an extremely high position in the community. He even had control over some of the politicians and had connections in the police departments. Thus, his power in Bulgaria became unlimited. However, as every crime boss, he had a lot of enemies and eventually he was killed by an assassin. The whole book is filled with details and is based on the information taken by a numeral interviews from a huge variety of people, either in the crime world, or not. The book follows a certain pattern of events which occur in different places not only throughout Bulgaria, but around the world. The characters are not fiction and their personalities and deeds aren't imaginary, but real.This is one of the most intriguing aspects about the book, that everything happening in it is true and is supported by factology and evidences.The book Is very interesting and people should read it not only because it tells the story of the greatest crime boss in Bulgaria, but because it reveals how corruption and money can built an entire empire in the state having no limits in their power.
Monday 30 November 2009
Heaven is down on earth
To walk on the beach, to run on a magical road in the forest, to pass through a field filled with flowers... To walk on a street vivified by laughter, to live in a world full of delight… Then, you do not need the Garden of Eden. Heaven is down on earth – right here, right now. I believe in true happiness; I believe in real love as well. I believe in faith – man’s most incredible gift from God. I believe that heaven is here – on Earth, but to live in Heaven, we need to realize that it does exist. If man learns how to see the beautiful in the ugly, to embrace happiness in moments of unbearable grief, to feel the fiery love hidden behind hate and bitter anger, then he will understand what is like to be in Heaven. He will be blessed. According to a Thailand philosophy hate, anger and fear are familiar to the weak. Whoever is feeling them does not know happiness, his spirit will be miserable forever. I truly believe that for such people there is no heaven. If you do not see the good for yourself, if you do not appreciate beauty on your own, there is no one that can show them to you; as well as no one to teach you how to hope or love. Namely love and hope are our ticket to heaven; in other words, hope stops us on the way to unhappiness and love points us in the right direction to heaven. The beautiful feeling that you feel when you are in love, the feeling that makes your stomach feel strange, is familiar to many: the feeling that you can fly, that the one you are in love with is perfect, that the world is perfect… And if you do not feel you are in heaven then there is nobody that can help you. The dimensions of love are not limited to falling in love. Loving your parents and friends also makes you happy because you know that even if something terrible happens, you have somebody to count on; you know that everything will be just fine.
To be in heaven means to be happy. Different people experience happiness in different ways. For some maybe happiness is weighted in the amount of food and beer, for others – reading a good book or appreciating art and nature. But EVERY single person on this world, wearing a skirt from hay dancing around a fire or an astronaut costume, needs love and hope that tomorrow the world will be just a little bit wiser , just a little bit more beautiful. For me, heaven is not a space with margins where man has all he desires. Heaven is not somewhere in the future- after death, after catharsis, or after the Judjement Day. Heaven is right here and right now but in order to enjoy it you need to realize that first.
To be in heaven means to be happy. Different people experience happiness in different ways. For some maybe happiness is weighted in the amount of food and beer, for others – reading a good book or appreciating art and nature. But EVERY single person on this world, wearing a skirt from hay dancing around a fire or an astronaut costume, needs love and hope that tomorrow the world will be just a little bit wiser , just a little bit more beautiful. For me, heaven is not a space with margins where man has all he desires. Heaven is not somewhere in the future- after death, after catharsis, or after the Judjement Day. Heaven is right here and right now but in order to enjoy it you need to realize that first.
Analysis
The weapon called Jealousy
IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
OTHELLO
Ha!
IAGO
Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger,
But, oh, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts— suspects, yet soundly loves!
OTHELLO
Oh, misery!
IAGO
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough,
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
(Othello, Act 3, Sc 3, lines 192-207)
Jealousy has always been considered a destructive and in the same time deadly feeling. In “Othello” by Shakespeare it is embedded in the whole play and it serves maybe the most important role in the development of the action, such that in the end it turns to be annihilative as well. The passage above, a dialogue between Othello and Iago, has a very significant meaning and position in the novel as a whole. Its importance is that it introduces for the first time the theme of jealousy in the book clearly, which in the previous pages has been shadowed by the author with the purpose to increase the tension in the action and also to keep the reader in suspicion for the future happenings.
The passage analyzed has a great value for the story not only because it represents the theme of jealousy, but also because in it we can see the interrelationship between Iago and Othello and the strong manipulative behavior of the antagonist. The villain manages to hide his true goals and as seen is able to turn the noble and respected Moor into a marionette in his hands. His game is lit and supported by the internal feeling of jealousy that he has created in the husband of Desdemona towards her actions. Without any sweat and harshness, Iago creates a series of lies, all well connected, creating a web from which even the bravest and strongest men cannot escape. He does not feel respect or possesses any moral values. Thus he is free in his action and has no limits in the destruction he may cause not only for his master, but all the people around him. The quote:”You cannot, if my heart were in your hand”(line 192) support the idea that his cruelty and manipulative behavior has not only turned out to be stronger than expected, but also have been able to fool anyone he chooses. In this rather soliloquy of Iago we can see and understand clearly his goals and desires. By playing with the mind of his master and his only weakness-Desdemona, he is creating a conspiracy which end probably would be devastating. However, the writer very well describes the methods of Iago and even implies on them so they can stand out from the text. Phrases such as” Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend from Jealousy!”(lines 205-206) only reinforce the villain’s supremacy over the mental judgment of the people around him. Also the exclamation mark stands for a more dramatic meaning and emphasis of the words themselves. The acting of the antagonist can also be seen through this episode of the action. As a whole, Iago’s nature is illustrated very carefully and in details in this excerpt from the novel through his own words and actions and the theme of jealousy.
Jealousy as a theme on which Shakespeare depends and it serve a great importance not only for developing a certain situation or a motive, but to create a whole story. Its significance is very big, not only because by it an entire community is fooled and thrown into a conspiracy, but because it causes blindness and damage to the people who fell under his state. In this passage the theme is even named directly which lead to though that for the first time it is represented officially to the reader. Also it is called a “green-eyed monster” which only strengthens its meaning and consequences. From another point of view the theme of jealousy is not represented only in Iago’s behavior, but we can also see it in Othello words and expressions. It is shown how even only a though in the mind can affect someone so much and drive him to anything. In this particular moment the reader becomes a witness of the poisoning of Othello’s brain, thus turning him later on into one of the many marionettes. In the passage the author puts the bases of the newly developed way of communication between the different characters- through jealousy. Entered once, it cannot be removed by simple force of the will or though, it carves the person from the inside and drives him to his own psychological limits. As shown in the last few lines of the passage, the personage of Othello, one faced in person the jealousy factor itself, begins to change and later on develop in greater dimensions. It is clear that since the most noble and respected Moor has fallen into the hands of his own servant, there is merely no one who can resist the villain’s influence. Thus Shakespeare very well have chosen his weapon of choice, which in this case turns out to be a powerful feeling, capable of radical results. This is shown and supported by the passage not only because the theme itself is introduced in it, but because it serves a basis, the beginning of a new phase in the relationships between the characters
IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
OTHELLO
Ha!
IAGO
Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger,
But, oh, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts— suspects, yet soundly loves!
OTHELLO
Oh, misery!
IAGO
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough,
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
(Othello, Act 3, Sc 3, lines 192-207)
Jealousy has always been considered a destructive and in the same time deadly feeling. In “Othello” by Shakespeare it is embedded in the whole play and it serves maybe the most important role in the development of the action, such that in the end it turns to be annihilative as well. The passage above, a dialogue between Othello and Iago, has a very significant meaning and position in the novel as a whole. Its importance is that it introduces for the first time the theme of jealousy in the book clearly, which in the previous pages has been shadowed by the author with the purpose to increase the tension in the action and also to keep the reader in suspicion for the future happenings.
The passage analyzed has a great value for the story not only because it represents the theme of jealousy, but also because in it we can see the interrelationship between Iago and Othello and the strong manipulative behavior of the antagonist. The villain manages to hide his true goals and as seen is able to turn the noble and respected Moor into a marionette in his hands. His game is lit and supported by the internal feeling of jealousy that he has created in the husband of Desdemona towards her actions. Without any sweat and harshness, Iago creates a series of lies, all well connected, creating a web from which even the bravest and strongest men cannot escape. He does not feel respect or possesses any moral values. Thus he is free in his action and has no limits in the destruction he may cause not only for his master, but all the people around him. The quote:”You cannot, if my heart were in your hand”(line 192) support the idea that his cruelty and manipulative behavior has not only turned out to be stronger than expected, but also have been able to fool anyone he chooses. In this rather soliloquy of Iago we can see and understand clearly his goals and desires. By playing with the mind of his master and his only weakness-Desdemona, he is creating a conspiracy which end probably would be devastating. However, the writer very well describes the methods of Iago and even implies on them so they can stand out from the text. Phrases such as” Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend from Jealousy!”(lines 205-206) only reinforce the villain’s supremacy over the mental judgment of the people around him. Also the exclamation mark stands for a more dramatic meaning and emphasis of the words themselves. The acting of the antagonist can also be seen through this episode of the action. As a whole, Iago’s nature is illustrated very carefully and in details in this excerpt from the novel through his own words and actions and the theme of jealousy.
Jealousy as a theme on which Shakespeare depends and it serve a great importance not only for developing a certain situation or a motive, but to create a whole story. Its significance is very big, not only because by it an entire community is fooled and thrown into a conspiracy, but because it causes blindness and damage to the people who fell under his state. In this passage the theme is even named directly which lead to though that for the first time it is represented officially to the reader. Also it is called a “green-eyed monster” which only strengthens its meaning and consequences. From another point of view the theme of jealousy is not represented only in Iago’s behavior, but we can also see it in Othello words and expressions. It is shown how even only a though in the mind can affect someone so much and drive him to anything. In this particular moment the reader becomes a witness of the poisoning of Othello’s brain, thus turning him later on into one of the many marionettes. In the passage the author puts the bases of the newly developed way of communication between the different characters- through jealousy. Entered once, it cannot be removed by simple force of the will or though, it carves the person from the inside and drives him to his own psychological limits. As shown in the last few lines of the passage, the personage of Othello, one faced in person the jealousy factor itself, begins to change and later on develop in greater dimensions. It is clear that since the most noble and respected Moor has fallen into the hands of his own servant, there is merely no one who can resist the villain’s influence. Thus Shakespeare very well have chosen his weapon of choice, which in this case turns out to be a powerful feeling, capable of radical results. This is shown and supported by the passage not only because the theme itself is introduced in it, but because it serves a basis, the beginning of a new phase in the relationships between the characters
Sunday 1 November 2009
Boom.SHakAzOOm
Drug Ballad
This is for all that think dope is an answer,
I can say it is the life’s cancer…
I don’t know how a person can live like this,
Can’t he swallow his problems and clench his fists,
Can’t he live a normal life without an addiction
Or beggin’ his doctor for the next medical prescription?
Taking money from his dear friend
Only to buy the next doze over and over again,
Going insane, into a mental paralysis,
Hiding from the world his blood sample analysis.
Cocaine, heroin, weed, amphethymine,
Are only few of the players in this forsaken game,
This game which turn to be your own life…
You think they are your friend,
Better think again,
They will make you only suffer and strife.
Then eventually will come the point, from which you could never return,
Turning into a monster, living as you burn.
From now on it can never be the same as before,
Cause’ the person you were doesn’t exist anymore( x2)
Look at this drug addict, see his confusion?
Cannot distinct between reality and illusion,
Tearing his own soul into countless bits,
Roaming for money his home streets
For the white parasite to reach his nose
And make him feel joy from head to toes.
But the white powder does not fulfill any dream
It destroys and turns you into a cup of cream,
Into a big pile of blood and bone
Obeying the White Lord’s commands like a mindless drone.
Every size, every shape, every color, every taste,
Every boy, every girl, every person, every race.
In this realm of mortality,
Every needle turns into an escape from the reality,
Any pill is a new boom in the mind of every young goon,
These coke shots are lethal and ballistic
And everything that follows is far away from optimistic…
From now on it can never be the same as before,
Cause’ the person you were doesn’t exist anymore( x2)
It is truly the devil in disguise,
That drags you down to hell, but covers your eyes,
Making you feel like you are going to paradise
This is for all that think dope is an answer,
I can say it is the life’s cancer…
I don’t know how a person can live like this,
Can’t he swallow his problems and clench his fists,
Can’t he live a normal life without an addiction
Or beggin’ his doctor for the next medical prescription?
Taking money from his dear friend
Only to buy the next doze over and over again,
Going insane, into a mental paralysis,
Hiding from the world his blood sample analysis.
Cocaine, heroin, weed, amphethymine,
Are only few of the players in this forsaken game,
This game which turn to be your own life…
You think they are your friend,
Better think again,
They will make you only suffer and strife.
Then eventually will come the point, from which you could never return,
Turning into a monster, living as you burn.
From now on it can never be the same as before,
Cause’ the person you were doesn’t exist anymore( x2)
Look at this drug addict, see his confusion?
Cannot distinct between reality and illusion,
Tearing his own soul into countless bits,
Roaming for money his home streets
For the white parasite to reach his nose
And make him feel joy from head to toes.
But the white powder does not fulfill any dream
It destroys and turns you into a cup of cream,
Into a big pile of blood and bone
Obeying the White Lord’s commands like a mindless drone.
Every size, every shape, every color, every taste,
Every boy, every girl, every person, every race.
In this realm of mortality,
Every needle turns into an escape from the reality,
Any pill is a new boom in the mind of every young goon,
These coke shots are lethal and ballistic
And everything that follows is far away from optimistic…
From now on it can never be the same as before,
Cause’ the person you were doesn’t exist anymore( x2)
It is truly the devil in disguise,
That drags you down to hell, but covers your eyes,
Making you feel like you are going to paradise
Tuesday 20 October 2009
The Confessional
The image of my surroundings slowly fades away as I finally close my eyes and forever forsake my sight. The warm air pleasantly engulfs me and light is inevitably gone, troubling my weary eyelids no more. I can feel my skin, face, and muscles no longer as the bond between my brain and body is taken off the edge. Memories, doubts, inner conflicts- these struggle to leave my mind, emptying me… giving me eternal peace. It is not so easy for them, however, to depart as fast as I would wish, so in the last minutes of forsaken consciousness, somewhat unwillingly I recall everything that led to my curse… my damnation.
It seems like a second ago in my memory… yet I know it happened eternities ago. In my head, a black-and-white silent movie stars playing again and agonizingly reminds me of everything with striking clarity. The memory that had been suppressed is free to torture me again. Eileen and I are the main actors. We are characters in a movie - lifeless, animated, soulless, distant… I see myself sidelong.
From this spectator’s point of view, it is not hard to see how blissful and idyllic my life is… was. Eileen and I are walking out of the restaurant. Young, exultant, in love - that’s what we were. We are walking down the empty, starlit street, holding hands. I can literally sense the sweet storm that is raging inside my own heart. My character of yore does not know what will follow, but I do. Somehow, I am fixed into one point of view, as if some invisible camera man in my head is forcefully directing my sight. I try to defy the set perspective by looking upwards… unsuccessfully. Still, I recognize what is hovering up there, watching me… watching us both. Although I know perfectly well what will happen next as I have watched this movie thousands of times, I still have some absurd hope that this time there will be a different turn of events. In vain. Abruptly, I grab her and kiss her passionately in the middle of the street. The spectator hears the air being pulverized by the creature that is plummeting towards us. Everything happens with the speed of light. Her screams painfully pierce my ears as I am cast on the ground by the vampire. I try to scream, to get up, protect the woman I love… but I am helpless, bound and subjugated by some sinister spell. The monster’s image is blurred; all I can see is his demonic silhouette… Still, I can see how he sinks his teeth in Eileen’s exposed, snow-white neck. I can see as he carries her away in the star-studded sky and my scream follows him in the firmament where stars shine no more…
The human mind is merciless, cruel and definitely not self-protective. In fact, it tends to torture itself, to explore every dark corner of its infinity and to bask in self-abasement and suffering. However, sometimes the weight of reality is too heavy even for it to handle. Then the consciousness simply blocks and repels, denies everything that causes pain. Some call it madness… I don’t know. All I recall after Eileen being taken away are separate, illegible images of a filthy existence. My mind has been merciful, leaving only an insidious trace, allusion to untold and unspeakable misery and suffering.
The first clear memory I have after that night is of a stranger’s scarred face staring down at me with the grey morning sky behind him. He found me lying in a back street, beaten by some thugs, starved, weak, and overall near-death. His image is painfully clear: the startling half-burnt face with a great scar across the other, healthy cheek; the mingled and disheveled white hair; and above all, his anxious and examining, yet soothing and calming grey eyes.
The stranger’s name I found was Ailos, and he carried me away from that accursed street, half-dead. I lay a burden on his arms, yet his strength was so great he seemed to not notice my weight at all. Ailos murmured inaudibly, as if to himself: “We are going to my place, lad… hold on.” The “place” was a garret in one of those old city buildings that one thinks no life could possibly exist. Nevertheless, his apartment was definitely the lair of a living and dangerous man. Through the veil in front of my bleeding eyes I could discern strange and incredible machines and technology as well as various blades and swords hanging on the walls. The realization that my savior was some kind of hit man or headhunter proved too much for my weakened mind and body and I fainted, a feather on his arms.
For many weeks I was at the brink of death as I was shaken by fever and I had lost much blood. Ailos took care of me, bandaged my wounds, and mended my violently shattered bones. In the rare times that I was conscious, Ailos sat beside me and told me much about himself. At first my mind, accustomed to the world I had known before, refused to accept his tale; however, it was too obvious to refute. As I discovered, he was neither a hitman nor a headhunter… no. He was a vampire slayer.
It seems like a second ago in my memory… yet I know it happened eternities ago. In my head, a black-and-white silent movie stars playing again and agonizingly reminds me of everything with striking clarity. The memory that had been suppressed is free to torture me again. Eileen and I are the main actors. We are characters in a movie - lifeless, animated, soulless, distant… I see myself sidelong.
From this spectator’s point of view, it is not hard to see how blissful and idyllic my life is… was. Eileen and I are walking out of the restaurant. Young, exultant, in love - that’s what we were. We are walking down the empty, starlit street, holding hands. I can literally sense the sweet storm that is raging inside my own heart. My character of yore does not know what will follow, but I do. Somehow, I am fixed into one point of view, as if some invisible camera man in my head is forcefully directing my sight. I try to defy the set perspective by looking upwards… unsuccessfully. Still, I recognize what is hovering up there, watching me… watching us both. Although I know perfectly well what will happen next as I have watched this movie thousands of times, I still have some absurd hope that this time there will be a different turn of events. In vain. Abruptly, I grab her and kiss her passionately in the middle of the street. The spectator hears the air being pulverized by the creature that is plummeting towards us. Everything happens with the speed of light. Her screams painfully pierce my ears as I am cast on the ground by the vampire. I try to scream, to get up, protect the woman I love… but I am helpless, bound and subjugated by some sinister spell. The monster’s image is blurred; all I can see is his demonic silhouette… Still, I can see how he sinks his teeth in Eileen’s exposed, snow-white neck. I can see as he carries her away in the star-studded sky and my scream follows him in the firmament where stars shine no more…
The human mind is merciless, cruel and definitely not self-protective. In fact, it tends to torture itself, to explore every dark corner of its infinity and to bask in self-abasement and suffering. However, sometimes the weight of reality is too heavy even for it to handle. Then the consciousness simply blocks and repels, denies everything that causes pain. Some call it madness… I don’t know. All I recall after Eileen being taken away are separate, illegible images of a filthy existence. My mind has been merciful, leaving only an insidious trace, allusion to untold and unspeakable misery and suffering.
The first clear memory I have after that night is of a stranger’s scarred face staring down at me with the grey morning sky behind him. He found me lying in a back street, beaten by some thugs, starved, weak, and overall near-death. His image is painfully clear: the startling half-burnt face with a great scar across the other, healthy cheek; the mingled and disheveled white hair; and above all, his anxious and examining, yet soothing and calming grey eyes.
The stranger’s name I found was Ailos, and he carried me away from that accursed street, half-dead. I lay a burden on his arms, yet his strength was so great he seemed to not notice my weight at all. Ailos murmured inaudibly, as if to himself: “We are going to my place, lad… hold on.” The “place” was a garret in one of those old city buildings that one thinks no life could possibly exist. Nevertheless, his apartment was definitely the lair of a living and dangerous man. Through the veil in front of my bleeding eyes I could discern strange and incredible machines and technology as well as various blades and swords hanging on the walls. The realization that my savior was some kind of hit man or headhunter proved too much for my weakened mind and body and I fainted, a feather on his arms.
For many weeks I was at the brink of death as I was shaken by fever and I had lost much blood. Ailos took care of me, bandaged my wounds, and mended my violently shattered bones. In the rare times that I was conscious, Ailos sat beside me and told me much about himself. At first my mind, accustomed to the world I had known before, refused to accept his tale; however, it was too obvious to refute. As I discovered, he was neither a hitman nor a headhunter… no. He was a vampire slayer.
Sunday 18 October 2009
One Passion, One Game
Usually, since their kids are little, parents want them to be involved in some kind of activity like football, tennis, art, dancing; something that will develop their physics, character, creativity. In my case it was exactly the opposite. I had one interest and that was volleyball unlike my all other friends boys who played football primarily. Unfortunately, my father also thought the same way and wasn’t very fond of me playing volleyball, so I listened to him and enrolled in a course for karate.
It wasn’t that long, when my “turn” came. In ninth grade I started to play volleyball as an outside activity in the college. Step by step I got really into all of the practices, our coach, the whole team, and the emotional intensity that all of the games brought to me. However, “the volleyball event” that changed me pretty much happened that year on the ACS Open. We seemed to have a very strong and united team. I played in the so called varsity team, whit the bigger boys. With all of the previous trains I got much attached and I felt really happy to play with them. On the tournament, as a team, we won game after game. We were playing with great passion and expectations to win even the first place. We got to the semi-final and after a tiring match we lost. During the game the tension exceeded all limits and it said its word-we started to fight between each other. We began to make stupid mistakes and blame each other for them. On the opposite, the other team was working as a well-greased machine and was making many successful attacks, which we could not resist. After the game, there were many tears and disappointment, but still we had to play the last match for the third place.
One hour went by and we had to face another school in a volleyball battle. We didn’t talk to each other much, we looked very disappointed and stressed, but still each one of us has kept last forces to play. The game was one of the most dramatic ones and I gave everything for the win. Slowly, we became the united team from the beginning of the tournament. We played 5 sets and with the rest of my forces I made the last two points. The joy was unforgettable, the happiness from the success also. The whole team managed to get up after it has felt. From the bottom, we managed to reach the victory again.
This tournament will stay a remarkable event in my life. Even know when I think of it tears fill up my eyes. I learned two greatly important lessons that stay for a lifetime.
They are people to which you really got used during a period of time. Each one of them is an individual with a unique character, but when it comes to work in group you should really try to fit with their personalities. As in this case, we were one team who should perfectly coincide with each other in order to win. And everything was perfect when we were united and played with a common will for victory. We supported each other, encouraged ourselves, helped to each other. The failure came when we separated and started to fight. The first lesson from that day was that if you want a group to work and success you should stop think about yourself and your personal issues. You should think about the people around you and try not to argue or create conflicts, or as the Old Bulgarian proverb says – “United Company can lift a mountain”.
Not on a second place was the fact that we actually fail to win ACS Open. We tried and we failed. But when we fell, we stood up on our feet one more time to take our last chance and win. When I thought about this moment later, I realized that the real failure is in stop trying to achieve what you really want. And if the volleyball match was only a game, we are actually given only one life and if we want to come out winners from it, we should give everything we can and all of our passion. People should not give up when they meet an obstacle; they should even become more determined to achieve their goal.
When people really love something, they would do anything to succeed in it. They would learn to play in a team; they would lose and then stand up to win again. But if you da really love the game, you would play it with passion and succeed
It wasn’t that long, when my “turn” came. In ninth grade I started to play volleyball as an outside activity in the college. Step by step I got really into all of the practices, our coach, the whole team, and the emotional intensity that all of the games brought to me. However, “the volleyball event” that changed me pretty much happened that year on the ACS Open. We seemed to have a very strong and united team. I played in the so called varsity team, whit the bigger boys. With all of the previous trains I got much attached and I felt really happy to play with them. On the tournament, as a team, we won game after game. We were playing with great passion and expectations to win even the first place. We got to the semi-final and after a tiring match we lost. During the game the tension exceeded all limits and it said its word-we started to fight between each other. We began to make stupid mistakes and blame each other for them. On the opposite, the other team was working as a well-greased machine and was making many successful attacks, which we could not resist. After the game, there were many tears and disappointment, but still we had to play the last match for the third place.
One hour went by and we had to face another school in a volleyball battle. We didn’t talk to each other much, we looked very disappointed and stressed, but still each one of us has kept last forces to play. The game was one of the most dramatic ones and I gave everything for the win. Slowly, we became the united team from the beginning of the tournament. We played 5 sets and with the rest of my forces I made the last two points. The joy was unforgettable, the happiness from the success also. The whole team managed to get up after it has felt. From the bottom, we managed to reach the victory again.
This tournament will stay a remarkable event in my life. Even know when I think of it tears fill up my eyes. I learned two greatly important lessons that stay for a lifetime.
They are people to which you really got used during a period of time. Each one of them is an individual with a unique character, but when it comes to work in group you should really try to fit with their personalities. As in this case, we were one team who should perfectly coincide with each other in order to win. And everything was perfect when we were united and played with a common will for victory. We supported each other, encouraged ourselves, helped to each other. The failure came when we separated and started to fight. The first lesson from that day was that if you want a group to work and success you should stop think about yourself and your personal issues. You should think about the people around you and try not to argue or create conflicts, or as the Old Bulgarian proverb says – “United Company can lift a mountain”.
Not on a second place was the fact that we actually fail to win ACS Open. We tried and we failed. But when we fell, we stood up on our feet one more time to take our last chance and win. When I thought about this moment later, I realized that the real failure is in stop trying to achieve what you really want. And if the volleyball match was only a game, we are actually given only one life and if we want to come out winners from it, we should give everything we can and all of our passion. People should not give up when they meet an obstacle; they should even become more determined to achieve their goal.
When people really love something, they would do anything to succeed in it. They would learn to play in a team; they would lose and then stand up to win again. But if you da really love the game, you would play it with passion and succeed
Excerpt from “Frankenstein”
"I sat one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should leave my labour for the night or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three years before, I was engaged in the same manner and had created a fiend whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my heart and filled it forever with the bitterest remorse. I was now about to form another being of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant; she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her mate and delight, for its own sake, in murder and wretchedness. He had sworn to quit the neighbourhood of man and hide himself in deserts, but she had not; and she, who in all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, might refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation. They might even hate each other; the creature who already lived loathed his own deformity, and might he not conceive a greater abhorrence for it when it came before his eyes in the female form? She also might turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man; she might quit him, and he be again alone, exasperated by the fresh provocation of being deserted by one of his own species. Even if they were to leave Europe and inhabit the deserts of the new world, yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the daemon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror. Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations? I had before been moved by the sophisms of the being I had created; I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats; but now, for the first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race.
I trembled and my heart failed within me, when, on looking up, I saw by the light of the moon the daemon at the casement. A ghastly grin wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me, where I sat fulfilling the task which he had allotted to me. Yes, he had followed me in my travels; he had loitered in forests, hid himself in caves, or taken refuge in wide and desert heaths; and he now came to mark my progress and claim the fulfilment of my promise.
As I looked on him, his countenance expressed the utmost extent of malice and treachery. I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness, and with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew.
I left the room, and locking the door, made a solemn vow in my own heart never to resume my labours; and then, with trembling steps, I sought my own apartment. I was alone; none were near me to dissipate the gloom and relieve me from the sickening oppression of the most terrible reveries.
Several hours passed, and I remained near my window gazing on the sea; it was almost motionless, for the winds were hushed, and all nature reposed under the eye of the quiet moon. A few fishing vessels alone specked the water, and now and then the gentle breeze wafted the sound of voices as the fishermen called to one another. I felt the silence, although I was hardly conscious of its extreme profundity, until my ear was suddenly arrested by the paddling of oars near the shore, and a person landed close to my house.
In a few minutes after, I heard the creaking of my door, as if some one endeavoured to open it softly. I trembled from head to foot; I felt a presentiment of who it was and wished to rouse one of the peasants who dwelt in a cottage not far from mine; but I was overcome by the sensation of helplessness"
I trembled and my heart failed within me, when, on looking up, I saw by the light of the moon the daemon at the casement. A ghastly grin wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me, where I sat fulfilling the task which he had allotted to me. Yes, he had followed me in my travels; he had loitered in forests, hid himself in caves, or taken refuge in wide and desert heaths; and he now came to mark my progress and claim the fulfilment of my promise.
As I looked on him, his countenance expressed the utmost extent of malice and treachery. I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness, and with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew.
I left the room, and locking the door, made a solemn vow in my own heart never to resume my labours; and then, with trembling steps, I sought my own apartment. I was alone; none were near me to dissipate the gloom and relieve me from the sickening oppression of the most terrible reveries.
Several hours passed, and I remained near my window gazing on the sea; it was almost motionless, for the winds were hushed, and all nature reposed under the eye of the quiet moon. A few fishing vessels alone specked the water, and now and then the gentle breeze wafted the sound of voices as the fishermen called to one another. I felt the silence, although I was hardly conscious of its extreme profundity, until my ear was suddenly arrested by the paddling of oars near the shore, and a person landed close to my house.
In a few minutes after, I heard the creaking of my door, as if some one endeavoured to open it softly. I trembled from head to foot; I felt a presentiment of who it was and wished to rouse one of the peasants who dwelt in a cottage not far from mine; but I was overcome by the sensation of helplessness"
When Solitude Meets Fear and Terror- and analytical essay based on Passage from Mary Shelley’s Novel Frankenstein
The excerpt from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is significant for its excellent combination of dark themes, frightful mood, and strong influence on the reader. In the provided passage, the reader explores the internal struggles of the narrator, who is full of confusion and has to face the demonic creations of his own laboratory work. The themes of solitude, fear, and terror are masterfully presented by using setting, diction, and first person narrator as key literary features.
From the very first line of the passage, the author presents the motionless environment through the words of the narrator. The role of the setting is fundamental, for it can be directly related to the inner state of the protagonist. In the beginning of the excerpt, it is stated that: “the sun had set, and the moon was just rising.” The narrator further says that he “had not sufficient light for [his] employment,” which leads him to a “pause of consideration.” All of these elements of the setting depict a dark, motionless picture, which is full of confusion, and possibly, delusion. Additionally, the transition stage between the sunset and the moonrise implies that a change is coming; thus, this may be interpreted as foreshadowing of an event that is about to occur. Later on in the passage, after the meeting with the fiend, the protagonist enters his apartment and spends several hours gazing on the sea from his window. The sea is “motionless,” the winds are “hushed,” and the moon is “quiet.” Once again, setting is used to develop a static picture, which can be related to the theme of solitude. Nonetheless, the strong effect of the setting would not be reached if the author used mediocre words; the word choice of Mary Shelley makes the descriptions colorful and mystic.
Indeed, diction is a key literary feature, which enriches the vividness of the passage. Considering the fact that Frankenstein is a Gothic horror novel, the majority of descriptions are eerie and mystic. Words such as “remorse,” “ghastly grin,” and “malice” are used in order to make the reader’s blood freeze in his veins. In addition to this strong effect, diction contributes to the development of important themes. For instance, the fear, which the protagonist undergoes, may be felt through the words that he uses to describe his emotional state. An example of that is: “I trembled, and my heart failed within me.” Furthermore, the scientist fears not only from creating another monster; the extent of his fright is greater because he senses that society might decide to have revenge: “I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest […] at the price perhaps of the existence of the whole human race.” In the last paragraph of the excerpt, the protagonist experiences fear once again; this time it is due to a non-expected visitor; as fear arises, the narrator “trembles from head to foot” and is overcome by a “sensation of helplessness.” Through these personal words by the protagonists, the reader clearly understands his situation and also experiences fear.
The role of the first person narrator is important not only because he leads the reader through the world of the novel, but because he provides a personal experience in a sincere way. The protagonist describes his actions retrospectively, in the past tense, and narrates the story in a sequential way. The feelings inside him are presented directly, and the enormous terror is easily felt. Words such as “I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats,” and “trembling with passion, [I] tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged” show the extremity of the narrator’s terror. In his descriptions of the creature he has created, the protagonist emphasizes the demonic side of the fiend; thus, he influences the reader by presenting from his own perspective. A final major feature of the first person narrator is that the reader feels the fear and terror as if he is experiencing it; the use of the “I-form” makes this effect strong.
The excerpt from Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a thrilling and effective piece of prose; what makes it strong and vivid is the powerful use of literary features. The author employs setting, diction, and the first person narrator as fundamental factors which make the text descriptive, emotional, and attention-grabbing.
From the very first line of the passage, the author presents the motionless environment through the words of the narrator. The role of the setting is fundamental, for it can be directly related to the inner state of the protagonist. In the beginning of the excerpt, it is stated that: “the sun had set, and the moon was just rising.” The narrator further says that he “had not sufficient light for [his] employment,” which leads him to a “pause of consideration.” All of these elements of the setting depict a dark, motionless picture, which is full of confusion, and possibly, delusion. Additionally, the transition stage between the sunset and the moonrise implies that a change is coming; thus, this may be interpreted as foreshadowing of an event that is about to occur. Later on in the passage, after the meeting with the fiend, the protagonist enters his apartment and spends several hours gazing on the sea from his window. The sea is “motionless,” the winds are “hushed,” and the moon is “quiet.” Once again, setting is used to develop a static picture, which can be related to the theme of solitude. Nonetheless, the strong effect of the setting would not be reached if the author used mediocre words; the word choice of Mary Shelley makes the descriptions colorful and mystic.
Indeed, diction is a key literary feature, which enriches the vividness of the passage. Considering the fact that Frankenstein is a Gothic horror novel, the majority of descriptions are eerie and mystic. Words such as “remorse,” “ghastly grin,” and “malice” are used in order to make the reader’s blood freeze in his veins. In addition to this strong effect, diction contributes to the development of important themes. For instance, the fear, which the protagonist undergoes, may be felt through the words that he uses to describe his emotional state. An example of that is: “I trembled, and my heart failed within me.” Furthermore, the scientist fears not only from creating another monster; the extent of his fright is greater because he senses that society might decide to have revenge: “I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest […] at the price perhaps of the existence of the whole human race.” In the last paragraph of the excerpt, the protagonist experiences fear once again; this time it is due to a non-expected visitor; as fear arises, the narrator “trembles from head to foot” and is overcome by a “sensation of helplessness.” Through these personal words by the protagonists, the reader clearly understands his situation and also experiences fear.
The role of the first person narrator is important not only because he leads the reader through the world of the novel, but because he provides a personal experience in a sincere way. The protagonist describes his actions retrospectively, in the past tense, and narrates the story in a sequential way. The feelings inside him are presented directly, and the enormous terror is easily felt. Words such as “I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats,” and “trembling with passion, [I] tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged” show the extremity of the narrator’s terror. In his descriptions of the creature he has created, the protagonist emphasizes the demonic side of the fiend; thus, he influences the reader by presenting from his own perspective. A final major feature of the first person narrator is that the reader feels the fear and terror as if he is experiencing it; the use of the “I-form” makes this effect strong.
The excerpt from Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a thrilling and effective piece of prose; what makes it strong and vivid is the powerful use of literary features. The author employs setting, diction, and the first person narrator as fundamental factors which make the text descriptive, emotional, and attention-grabbing.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
My Friends
http://prilep1962.hit.bg/photogallery/Bai-Ivan.jpg
This is one of my favourite friends and he is called Indje Voivodov. He is from Lovechm which is a small industrial town located in the central part of the nothern part of Bulgaria. He is around 24 years old and is currently working fo DITZ, also known as TITAN, which is one of the most powerful and influencial organizations in Bulgaria which is working for the country's economical and environmental development. Even tough he is only 24, he had managed to rise in the firm's hierarchy and become a chief "bokluchar" in the region of Lovech. Indje has a very interesting and amusing personality. He is very tall, smart, dark-skinned, honorable and trustworthy. His favourite hobby is to work with cables, electrical wiring, instruments,steel, and all sorts of such stuff. One of his best abilities is his sence for trading and deals whicha have helped him throughout his entire life.Now he is still living in Lovech and we do not see each other very often, however he is still plays a major part in my life.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoLmGFLxmjSEvHPR7uioxWXQlqL9yiY2QPF01tO6ev7TNINI_JN3BuFf0Wbu2NC0NxiWv5-5fog9WBZVObUY5biUDrHOzj5KrURklQjn1FZ8OGMXPGCDmHS7wNYx3xqxgoeUokFvP_QAI/s1600-h/PetyrPetrov-naj-dobra-myjka-rolq.jpg
This is one of my best friends called Peter Kolarov. He is sixteen, however he is not one my smartest friends.He comes from a small industrial town in the eastern part of Bulgaria called Karnobat. Peter is eighteen and drives a green wagon. He is a true friend- trustworthy, honest, cute, funny, adorable, a person you can depend on. We've known each other since we were little children, we met in the kindergarden and since then we have been always together. We've been through a lot of interesting situation, some of them happy, other rather unpleasant. He studies now in my school. His favourite hobbies are fighting, retro-chalga,seliania, eating, hiking, football and his faourite dog- Lucky. His dream is to become an officer in the first reguar Bulgarian army, thus since he was little his father trained him in various marshal arts, weaponry, machinery, etc. His father is currently a 'mutra', a chief of MVR which makes him a boss of half of the police force in Sofia.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
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