For the past week or so we have been reading Candide, by Voltaire, which is a book that is short in length, but brings forth a long list of philosophical arguments. It is a novel that makes us consider, among other things, whether or not life is even worth living. It also is a perfect example of Menippean satire, and attempts to indirectly target optimism and epicurean philosophy using techniques like caricature, with Candide, and irony, such as when the only time Candide can actually marry Cunegonde is when she is an ugly witch, and through these techniques he aims to change the readers’ view on sources of evil and philosophy. So there you have it, I made a genius statement, now let’s move past that “obstacle” move to deeper better things.
First I would like to analyze how Candide is a perfect example of Menippean satire. The novel is most certainly chaotic, and seems to criticize everything, all elements of Menippean satire. To begin with, the narrative pace is ridiculously fast. In the first five chapters, Candide is forced to leave his hometown, is attacked and tortured by Bulgars, escapes the Bulgars having been whipped 2000 times, and sets sail to Portugal, where a historic earthquake kills thousands and his mentor, Dr. Pangloss, is hanged. The pace moves so quickly that it seems like Candide’s entire life is full of chaos and disorder, which indeed it is. Also, the novel criticizes a whole lot of things in society, as opposed to other forms of satire, where only one thing is targeted. Voltaire attacks philosophy, religion, government, optimism, and love, just to name a few. Essentially, the novel is a perfect example of Menippean satire because of its crazy, helter-skelter style of demeaning the main elements of everyday life.
Reading Candide also made me wonder what view on philosophy Voltaire himself held. In the novel, he criticizes Epicurean, Manichean, and Monotheistic philosophy. Personally I think that Voltaire has an eclectic and mixed viewpoint on the world. He clearly despises the ideas brought forth in the Epicurean way of thought, since most of Candide is spent attacking those beliefs. He also criticizes complete pessimism, in the character of Martin, who is very unhappy with his life even though he seems to have more of a grasp on the concept of the source of evil. I think that Voltaire is fairly Monotheistic, but he certainly is willing to attack organized religion. He seems to believe that when we worry about philosophy, unfortunate things happen to us. Of course, he does right a book on philosophy, so that wouldn’t seem to be very logical. I think though that he wanted us to see how silly it is to worry about the sources of evil, to accept that evil is in our lives, and move on. At the end, when Candide is happiest forgetting about philosophy and working in the garden I think reinforces this theory.
Overall, the novel Candide is a biting criticism of the world Voltaire lived in. It is chaotic, ironic, and very deeply philosophical.
3 comments:
Senia Lee
Didn't the novel begin because of an earthquake and many philosophers believed that it was okay that it happened because it was for some purpose? Yes, Voltaire does critize the many philosophers, but does he use that to eliminate the others to make his better? Or does he not have one at all and made a combination at the end with Candide stating "We must cultivate our garden" or is Voltaire using Candide to get his perspective of life? I remember talking in class about never getting the right idea of life because everyone does not think the same. We used the example of the people of Elderado and how they all believed in the same thing which made their society the perfect place. Althought this might not be the correct message, I think that Voltaire wants to show that there are more than one beliefs in the world and that's what makes life go round.
I think it was great that you put in the critisizing of philosophy into your post. One other thing that I would like to point out on how Candide uses somewhat a philosophy about rich people in the novel. In Candide we meet six kings whom all have fallen of their title as king in their own country. This can stand for once a person becomes a high person in society they will eventually have their downfall. Thus we can come to the philosophy that every ruler will have his downfall.
Another way Voltaire shows this philosophy is with the main character Candide himself with his accomplice Cacombo. How they show it is by in the city of Eldorado Candide and Cacombo pack all these "riches" with them and headed off to buy lady Cunegonde back. This point is the pinochle of his power. As he goes on his journey though manipulating situations happen to Candide in which he is swindled out of his money.
So, we can also say that Voltaire also uses the philosophy of riches leading to people's demise.
Brandon, you made some very good points in your comment. I guess I never realized that there were so many kings in the novel who had become nothing. Another example of that is when Candide leaves Elderado with all of his new riches and then they get stolen. He was rich and then very quickly became nothing. Another thing that I noticed is Candide himself was not very bright. He lost his riches because HE was just agreeing to the prices the captain asked him of. Brian, I also liked your idea that Voltaire himself probably had mixed views on philosophy because he seemed to disagree with everything.
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