IndexIntroductionDiscussionWorks CitedIntroductionEvery culture has certain historical events that alter the way it functions and appears. For much of the world, the world wars represented this historical influence. Many countries had not experienced such sudden population loss, and for many families, this meant the sudden loss of not one, but many loved ones. Likewise, Middle Eastern countries have been plagued by religious wars for centuries; with each emerging religion, or even different interpretations of religions, the people of this region are forced to assimilate and conform to the laws imposed on them by an ever-changing government. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayCulture-altering events do not always come in the form of wars, as drastically demonstrated by the change brought about by the Enlightenment. Although the Enlightenment period had its violent moments, the change came largely in the ideas and ideals held by European citizens and a tumultuous and thriving America. The reform seen here was philosophical and political. Through the eyes of the characters in Candide, Six Characters in Search of an Author and A Thousand Splendid Suns we can interpret the effects of these events on their authors. Many of the effects experienced by the authors of these works show how they, personally, felt the cultural and historical changes that were happening before their eyes.DiscussionIn 1759 Candide was born. The height of the Enlightenment was now upon us, and its effects extended from Europe to the westernmost reaches of the Americas. For François-Marie Arouet, enlightenment did nothing but encourage his “bold, witty and rebellious” personality (Simon 97). The influence of this revolutionary period can be found in many aspects of Candide. The first of these is the idea that “everything is for the best”. The concept of God as watchmaker was spreading in Christianity, and from this religious alteration, the idea that God prepared “this best of all possible worlds” for his creations and those creations are now left to their own devices. Throughout the story, the plot is steeped in conflict, slavery, and some of the worst conditions imaginable; however, because they live in the best conditions God allows, they are grateful that they are not worse off. Meeting people who are worse off than them prevents them from sacrilegiously questioning God more than they do. The Enlightenment also led to the belief that education was a right and something to be shared, appreciated and achieved regardless of the costs. Voltaire cared so much about this belief that he smuggled his literature to be published in countries with freedom of the press. He believed that education should be comprehensive and uncensored. Similarly, in Candide, we see characters being formally educated (education with the censorship of the institution where it is taught); this formal teaching is modified throughout Candide's life through experience and verification of the philosophical ideals he was taught. Even Pangloss, who introduced the idea of ​​the "best of all possible worlds", modified his belief in this concept once it was driven out by the censors of the Baron's castle. This evolution of what is taught and what is learned shows Voltaire's belief that education is taught formally and learned by living a full life. The difference in Candide's education, both formal and informal, is determined by a change in social class. The class system during the Enlightenment was a constant component, awhich Arouet opposed. This opposition to change seen during a cultural revolution shows that not all citizens within a culture necessarily embrace cultural metamorphosis. In some respects, this gives the culture a more dynamic aspect and adds the effect of subcultures to the population context. Voltaire makes fun of the class system by sending his characters through them all. From chapter to chapter, Candide and Cunegonde move from wealth to poverty, from conflict to the worsening of the conflict. The disorders seen in the Enlightenment, including revolutions, political cooperatives, and executions, are evident in every situation experienced by Candide's characters. The story begins with a coop, is full of near-executions, and includes some actual executions. Arouet undoubtedly saw this tumultuous activity in his daily life and integrated his fear into his works. From eighteenth-century France, the influence of historical events moves to Italy in the early twentieth century. Luigi Pirandello, during this time, is in the midst of bombs, gunfire, and unimaginable death that are inevitable in the Italian theater of World War I. The Great War took millions from Italy and threatened the loss of many more as the Italians fought. to prevent the Austro-Hungarians from decimating their country. This amount of loss changes the culture of a country, and even a continent, leaving behind a dark and broken vision of man. World War I emerged as most wars do: one group of people attempted to impose their way of thinking on another. Candide's actions are no different from those of the characters in Six Characters in Search of an Author. The father and stepdaughter in particular impose their views on the producer and actors on what the show should be to the point that they begin to react. The father uncontrollably screams “Oh, no!” while the stepdaughter "bursts out laughing" at the acting which they find intolerable. This theme of intolerance can be found in the theater of this play and in the European theater of war, particularly in the antagonistic role played by Austria. As the producer orders them to “shut up,” Italy's retaliatory attitude is introduced into the show. Pirandello was undoubtedly affected by the loss of so many soldiers across the continent and in his home country. These men, unrelated to the initial clash between Russia and Austria that sparked this deadly war, are considered innocent in Pirandello's eyes. For this reason the most innocent characters in the play, the boy and the girl, "don't really exist". Like the ghosts of soldiers lost by their families, the children cling to their mother and their memory “helps keep her grief alive.” To add to this pain, many of Italy's attempts to defend its borders were futile in the face of the powerful army held by the Central Powers. This futility is reflected in the battle the characters face to have their story told correctly and even told at all. The theme of war continues into the late 20th century in Afghanistan, where religious wars and oppression have become daily life for most families. Much of the loss seen in Six Characters in Search of an Author is also experienced by Mariam, a bright-eyed young Afghan girl, who lives in an environment where there seems to be "one invader after another" (Hosseini 78). Her story, together with that of her family and the people closest to her, is told in A Thousand Splendidi Soli. Constant warfare and changes in political power create a dynamic environment in which women's rights are dictated by the government and enforced by their husbands. According to Rasheed, it is “one.