When talking about Botev's love affair, we must stop thinking of him as a genius. The cliché "genius poet and revolutionary" in this case is very misleading, even insisting how true it is. It is true that Botev lives in times in which genius has been proven scientifically. Thanks to Nietzsche, the existence of the superhuman has been confirmed, it is only for humans to search for him around him, where he lives, what he does, what he eats and how much he sleeps. And when they find him, they recognize him as a genius (superhuman).
The Western Enlightenment, which in Bulgaria we call "Renaissance", brings a spirit of atheism and secularism. Religion goes into the background of people's lives, perceived to be of little importance, and why not downright stupid. One of the tenets of the Great French Revolution (1789), after "Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood," which is fast becoming fundamental to republican ethics, is "Holiness" (Laicism). This means the principle of dividing society into two parts: civil society on the one hand, and church society on the other. The church is forced in the future not to interfere in state affairs, but to have only a representative function. Civil society governs as it sees fit.
Botev was a typical man of his time - with a civic consciousness, an atheist and a Republican, a fan of the Paris Commune (1871), humanism and progress. He hates religion, enters into a civil marriage with his dear Veneta, not a church marriage, because he does not want "a priest to read his head." A child is on his time. Calmly, with his youth of twenty years and his undoubted poetic talent, he fits the social ideal of genius - his descendants call him "Botev, the genius poet", "Botev - genius of the era", etc. Very aptly and in the spirit of the times. However,… We forget this detail that a genius should be a superman. So something that is, a lot or a little, but with a quantity in more than an ordinary person (in this case - more than an ordinary Bulgarian). Botev must be the supreme man, the egoist, whose goal is to rule over those below him with his talent. Because the superman, through his talent, strives for power. And this aspiration makes him incapable of true love, just as every egoist who has realized himself as "super" others is incapable of love.
Then let it be stated categorically: This does not apply to Botev! Botev is not superhuman, he did not want to exercise power, he is not a genius, nor did he ever want to be!
He is a young man with diverse political views, difficult to identify and controversial to this day. At the same time he is an internationalist (accepting the state borders as superfluous), but also an unparalleled patriot who loves the Motherland. As he says to his beloved Veneta: "Then I loved you home the most." BUT LOVE. Not a genius. Geniuses do not like others because they love themselves.
It would be unfair to call the young idealist Botev a genius. Then we will betray him in the fanatical devotion to some purpose or interest other than love.
And Botev is completely devoted to love. And to Veneta, and to the Motherland. Like any young idealist, he was capable of love, but not of envy. He gives himself completely to his love for Veneta. For him, this woman will be part of the ideal of his life, not something separate that will divert him in another direction, as some researchers point out. M. Dimitrov writes about her: “She was one of those whole natures in whom the moral need for a higher meaningful life was the dominant aspect of their character. between women. " This woman was the love of Hristo Botev's life. He loved her and she loved him.
Portrait - Georgi Vrabchev
Botev's biographer, Zakhari Stoyanov, she writes: "She was in love with our man, just going crazy for him." "And it was not at all difficult for a woman to fall in love with Christ." And Veneta speaks of the powerful strength of Hristo Botev, of his broad shoulders - standing at the door, filling it all. "His hair and beard were dark brown, even red, beard and mustache - bruises, eyes - dark brown, big, deep, look fascinating, nose a little hunched, voice - throaty, image alluring." (S. Iliev).
"I must tell you, Hristo was a model of beauty in the full sense of the word. Height classic, eyes large and black as a raven, eyebrows like leeches, forehead protruding and wide, which adorned the curly head like a wreath, Roman nose, beard and mustache black, curly hair, face and arms white and delicate, chest and shoulders wide. Don't look at him… ”(Z. Stoyanov).
B. Penev talking about Botev's "spontaneous and primary will" makes him an interesting portrait characteristic. "Look at his portrait and you will immediately feel it in his commanding and proud gaze: he is stern, sullen, almost harsh. Something strong and masculine, powerful and spontaneous overwhelms us with his domineering image - one more second, and this focused and strong feeling will grow into some unheard of feat. When you look at him, you clearly feel that this is an extraordinary person - with energetic, broad and decisive gestures. How strongly and faithfully he expresses himself for his hand, calling it masculine - "a man's hand to soften…" It must be noted something still not very popular. We owe our idea of Botev to the biography of Zahari Stoyanov, mostly. And this biography does not adhere too much to the truth about Botev, which, let's face it, Stoyanov has nowhere to learn.
While there is another biography, more recently known and less well known, of Evgeny Volkov for Botev. Volkov describes Botev as a much more reserved person than Z. Stoyanov presents. Botev is not so exuberant, he doesn't have the craziness and the cravings. In Volkov, Botev is depicted as the typical person of the word. Seen in what he writes, living for him, it is not this bohemian of the type of Lord Byron, what, consciously or not, Z. Stoyanov presents to us. Botev was actually a much more calm, quiet and gentle person than we think. He was a loving husband and idealist.
Botev accepts and loves Veneta as she is - a woman with a child who has left her legal husband. In those days, this hindered feelings much more than it does today. Defending your love in this situation is incomparably more difficult. But the young idealist Botev believes in love, believes that with his beloved Veneta, "we will be the most blessed in this world." The work of this loving man and a passionate patriot should forever serve as an example of posterity.
"My dear Veneto, Dimitre and Ivanka!
Forgive me for not telling you where I'm going. The love I have for you makes me do this. I knew you would cry and your tears are very dear to me!
Venus, you are my wife and you must listen to me and believe in everything. I ask my friends not to leave you and they have to support you. God will keep me, and by reviving us, WE WILL BE THE HAPPIEST OF THIS WORLD! IF YOU DIE, YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LOVE HAS BEEN LOVED BY YOU, SO LOOK FOR Ivanka And Remember The Loving Christ! "
(Farewell letter from Hristo Botev to Veneta from 17 May 1876, Radetsky ship).
