Quite clearly, Europe had come apart and millions had died not because of the shifting of great historical forces or the accidents of fate or destiny, the several bullets of Sarajevo, colonial competition, or anything else. It was because Orfeo had slipped from his seat in the office of the attorney Giuliani and been carried upon the flood, like a corked bottle full of shit, until he had lodged upon a platform at the Ministry of War, where his feverish hand and only half-innocent imagination had been directing the machinery of nations in homage to the exalted one and the holy blessed sap.
In "A Soldier of the Great War," Mark Helprin suggests that the chaos and destruction across Europe were not solely the result of grand historical movements or chance events, such as the assassination in Sarajevo or the scramble for colonies. Instead, the narrative attributes the catastrophic outcome to the missteps of an individual, Orfeo, who inadvertently found himself in a position of power. This personal blunder set off a chain reaction that led to immense suffering and loss.
This perspective highlights how individual actions and seemingly trivial incidents can have monumental consequences on a larger scale. The imagery of Orfeo as a corked bottle floating along the tumultuous tide emphasizes the randomness and unpredictability of history, suggesting that it is often the unforeseen mistakes and fate of ordinary people that steer the course of nations into turmoil.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
