For Friday: Voltaire, Candide, Chs. 1-12 (pp.1-29)
REMEMBER:
these questions are meant as a kind of guide to help you ease into the book and
find ideas you might otherwise miss or ignore.
Ideally, by answering two of the questions, you will be forced to
consider not only what you read but why Voltaire
wrote it. Don’t worry about being right
or wrong; the important thing is simply to attempt an answer based on the ideas
in the book. Even a “wrong” answer can
help our class discussion on Friday.
Answer
TWO of the following (you can either post your responses as a comment below OR bring it to class):
1. Describe Dr. Pangloss’s philosophy as it appears throughout
these chapters, notably in the beginning of the book and during the earthquake
in Lisbon. Is Pangloss the voice of “reason” in the work (Voltaire’s voice, in
other words), or is he an object of satire?
Use a specific passage in the book for support.
2. The
name “Candide” means “candid, honest, or open,” suggesting that Candide is an
innocent soul who believes the best of people.
How does Voltaire test Candide’s faith throughout these opening
chapters? Do you feel he agrees with
Candide that mankind is essentially good, despite a few “bad apples,” or does
he think Candide is an idiot for holding such beliefs?
3. How
does Voltaire criticize the Church in the passages about the Lisbon earthquake
(which was a real event)? Do you think
Voltaire is an atheist (as he was accused of being in his lifetime), or is he
more critical of how religion is used by those in power? Discuss a specific passage in support of your
reading.
4. At
the end of the Old Woman’s Tale, she explains, “A hundred times I was upon the
point of killing myself; but still I loved life. This ridiculous foible is perhaps one of our
most fatal characteristics” (Dover
Cera Miller
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
-Dr. Pangloss’s philosophy was that “there was no effect without a cause” and that their world was the “best of all possible worlds”. I think this is a roundabout way of saying “it was meant to happen”. As with James the Anabaptist, when he fell overboard, Candide wanted to go after him, so save him, and Dr. Pangloss stopped him because that was the best thing that could happen in the world. I believe Dr. Pangloss is an object of satire because of this. This man could look at a box of burning kittens and think it was the best thing that could happen. It makes it so easy for him to not have to take action or do anything he doesn’t want to do. With the earthquake, he just brushed it off saying “if there is a volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere”. Well no duh dummy. And because he just has to talk about how everything is for the best while people are dying, he comes off as oblivious, like many nobles.
Question 4
-I think what she loves about life is that it always provides hope for a better day. She was never in one place for too long, and some were better than others and when they were bad, she would remember her past, and hoped that maybe someday it would be better. Also, she tells Cunegonde that after she vowed to follow Cunegonde’s fate and has been “more affected with your misfortunes than with my own” which is in short means “someone always has it worse than you do”. I do not believe that Voltaire was satirizing the Old Woman. While her story is outrageous, it fits with the way rest of the story goes, and she is quite serious and makes sense and isn’t flippant like many of the characters that are satirized.
Yes, great responses: any tragedy would be justified by Pangloss, since "it had to happen." To be fair, he even applies this to himself, thinking that somehow it all works out. But if this philosophy prevents you from being compassionate or asking questions, what kind of philosophy is it? Isn't this just an escape mechanism? I look forward to seeing your ideas on the rest of the book.
DeleteMarcos (Laura) Juarez
ReplyDelete1.) Dr. Pangloss I believe had a philosophy if it was meant to happen it would and that they lived if the world as best as it could be at that said time. When it comes to the earthquake he kind of just brushed it off by saying "If there is a volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere." I think that he brushed it off because he believes that neither he nor anyone can control when there will be an earthquake. There will be no one that can change that but when Candide sees the sailor being thrown overboard he can't see how that can be the best thing to happen to him. I think that he believes that if he did try to save him the sailor might have had chance at life again. Dr.Pangloss though believes that is the best thing to happen to the sailor because I think Pangloss is trying to say would you rather see him go now rather that have a possible tragic life.
4.) I think the little old lady loves life is that there is no guarantee for tomorrow but it gives hope that tomorrow will be a better day. I believe that she thinks that just because it was a bad day today that what does that mean that tomorrow will be just as bad. When Cunegonde goes to say how bad her life has been and that the old lady has no clue what it is like to have a bad life the old lady says "you do not know my birth; and were I to show you my backside, you would not talk in that manner, but would suspend your judgment." She is trying to say just because you think you have it bad there is always going to be someone out there that might have a worse back ground than yourself. I don't think that Voltaire is trying to satirizing the old lady, her story helps make the rest of the story flow and fits in pretty dang good considering all others have a tragic background such as hers.
Great responses...the Old Woman represents the voice of experience and true reason, not the fake philosophy of Pangloss. She has seen things first hand, and despite it all, she still finds a reason to live. Yet she isn't blind to other people's pain and is willing to help those in need, even though she realizes that it may not help them in the long run.
DeleteSrijita Ghosh
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1. - Voltaire definitely used the character of Dr. Pangloss as an object of satire to bring out a harsh reality of that period. According to Dr. Pangloss's philosophy - things cannot be any different from what they presently are, because, since the things have been created for some purpose, it must necessarily have been created for the best purpose! He says that for example the nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles. But this assumption is absolutely ridiculous because the nose isn't formed for spectacles, but instead the spectacles are formed according to the shape of the nose since the nose is situated right below our eyes and we see with our eyes! Thus, critically thinking about this basic example gives us an idea of how unrealistic Pangloss's theory really is. More proof of how Voltaire used Plangoss as an object of satire can be seen in chapter 5 where James is drowning in the sea and Candide intends to rescue him but Plangoss prevents him from doing so by saying that the roadstead of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned there. Then again in relation to the volcano Plangoss does not give any importance to the grave situation, and only says that - " All this is for the very best end, for if there is a volcano at Lisbon it could be in no other spot; and it is impossible but things should be as they are, for everything is for the best.”
Question 2- I do not think that Voltaire thinks of Candide as an idiot for believing that manking is essentially good despite a few bad men. If it was so, then he would not have introduced a handful of characters (Miss Cunegund,Dr. Plangoss, James the Anabaptist,the old woman, and many other trivial characters in course of the story) in the story who were good and kind people. Had he thought so, he would have potrayed all the charecters as bad and evil, but since he did not do so, thus I choose to believe that he agrees with Candide on his philosophy of the world consisting of good people. Voltaire keeps testing Candide's faith by putting him into a difficult situation followed by some sort of remedy by the help of a 'good' person. For example in chapter 6 when Candide had been whipped a hundred times and was all bloody and hurt, an old woman comes to his rescue and showers him with kindness. She gives him food to eat, a place to sleep in and medicine for his wounds. Eventually we see that she also makes the lovers meet once again by bringing back Miss Cunegun.
Excellent responses--very thoughtful insights! Pangloss sounds right, and it might offer us comfort, but with a little critical thought we see the cracks in this ideology. At some point, you have to lie to yourself to believe it, which Pangloss does. Candide struggles with this, since he wants to do the right thing...but when innocent people die and then even the Church punishes them for it, it's hard to say "yes, everything is for the best!" The question in this work will be, can Candide preserve his "candid" nature, or will he be corrupted by tragedy, pain, and lies?
Delete1. I believe that Pangloss and his philosophy is a way Voltaire uses satire. Candide’s tutor, Pangloss teaches that their world “is the best of all possible worlds”. This being said is satire because everything Pangloss encounters completely contradicts this belief. For example in chapter 5 the natural disaster of the earthquake and in chapter 4 when he suffers from a disease. This is just another way Voltaire proves that this philosophy is out of touch with the real world and complete non-sense. Pangloss is a tutor of “metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigoloy” (stressed to us early on in chapter 1) and this to me sounds as if Voltaire is using more satire and poking fun at whatever Pangloss specializes in. There is no doubt that Voltaire is critiquing Pangloss’s philosophy.
ReplyDelete4. The old woman has gone through many trials and tribulations, however she tells Candide and Cunegonde that she still loves life. Even though her life is horrible, and she has wanted to die many times, for some reason she chooses life instead. The old woman claims that even though people may hate their lives, they still cling to them and continue to “carry burdens that we constantly want to cast off…” I think the reason she chooses life is because she comes from a religious background. Being the daughter of the Pope, she may view suicide as a sin. Instead of taking her own life, which is a sin and those who do it will burn in hell, she chooses to embrace the life she is given, truly shaping her overall personality and character. Personally I don’t think Voltaire is using satirical strategies when talking about the old woman. The old woman simply tells her treacherous stories, not so people can have pity on her but she tells them only to make a point and pass time on the long ship ride ship ride.
Sammie Smith
Great responses...Pangloss is a great vehicle for satire because he's a teacher/philosopher. He should ask tough questions and provide complex answers. Instead, he offers a simplistic world view that (I think) he knows is a lie. Candide is the good student who wants to learn and do the right thing, so he's duped right from the beginning. He's going to need other teachers to find his way in life (it he survives that long!).
DeleteAmira Jacobson
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2
I believe Candide starts to question his faith when he is expelled from his home by the baron for kissing Cunegonde and later being conscripted to the Bulgar army by men who were seemingly kind and generous. He suffers abuse and hardship in military life and is considered a deserter when he is captured one morning, and whipped to the point where his skin is flayed of his body. All of this for taking a simple morning walk. After many hours of pain and agony, Candide is shown mercy by the Bulgar king and is pardoned of all "treason". His wounds heal just in time for him to serve in the next war between the Bulgar and the Abares. The war results in unbelievable carnage, and Candide deserts at the first opportunity. Later, he meets a Protestant orator who asks him whether he supports "the good cause" and he responds saying "there is no effect without a cause.” The orator thinks the Pope is an antichrist and asks Candide about him and he reply’s he doesn't know and explains that is hungry and must eat. The orator curses Candide and the orator’s wife dumps human waste over Candide’s head. After-this, a kind Anabaptist, Jacques, takes Candide into his home and gives Candide a job in his rug factory. Jacques’s kindness revives Candide’s faith in Pangloss’s theory that everything is for the best in this world. Although Candide's faith is restored, I believe, Voltaire thinks he is naive to think that he can see "the best in people" because it is just human nature for "the best of people," to fall prey to folly and cruelty.
Question 4
The old women's tail is quite awful. I don't see how anyone can still have hope of something better after seeing their mother brutally murdered, watching their true love die, being kidnapped, and being sold again and again, while being raped repeatedly. I would say she is broken inside which is why she tells Cunegonde that "more affected with your misfortunes than with my own." No, I don't think Voltaire is trying to satirize her story because yes, this is a very serious matter and is not meant to be taken lightly.
Great, detailed responses! Candide, as you suggest, isn't wrong, he's just tragic--like all of us. Most of us want to believe the best of the world, so we're easily taken advantage of (as he is by the soldiers). He clings to a false belief given him by Pangloss, who he mistakenly assumes is a great wise man. Yet Pangloss is worse because I think he knows he's fooling himself, whereas Candide really believes in these lies.
DeleteAshley Rinner
ReplyDelete2. He makes him go through the worst things. He thinks he loses his love to an awful tragedy, that he was (unwillingly) a part of, he gets beaten up several times, and also was enslaved by the Bulgarians. I think he kind of tries to make the best of the situation. Voltaire throws in some things like where he refuses to choose a punishment, but ends up having to, to kind of show his resistance to bad things. I don’t think he agrees with Candide because he keeps having bad things happen to him, trying to change his mind.
4. I think she may still have hope. She made it out of several bad situations that could have gone much worse. Although she lost family, but she made it out and learned new skills. She ended up being okay, and I think it made her stronger. She could see things wouldn’t always be as bad as they had been. I think she knew how to make the best of bad situations. Voltaire seems to agree towards the end. When she talks about being on the boat and how basically everyone has bad things happen, and if anyone says they haven’t she gives them permission to throw her overboard. He doesn’t make fun of that, he leaves it alone. The fact is life is hard for everyone.
Yes, Candide's optimism is quite different from the Old Woman's. She knows things are bad, but she still wants to live, hoping against hope that something will be worth living. Candide, on the other hand, keeps lying to himself that everything is laid out in the best possible way, and that every tragedy is balanced by something wonderful on the other side. Yet in Lisbon he finally asks, "if this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others like?"
DeleteChaz Sanders
ReplyDelete1) I think he uses Pangloss as a form of satire. I think that the way he does this is ingenious, because at first his philosophy seems credible, but then it turns ludicrous. I think that this is best illustrated when he says that the Bay of Lisbon was created so that the Anabaptist would drown in it. He starts out essentially saying that everything happens for a reason and this is credible because that is what many people believe to be true. However, Voltaire satirizes him by using his ideology in an apathetic way. Pangloss eventually becomes lazy, and pretty much says "it is what it is, we can't change it." He does this so that he doesn't have to actually think about why things happen or try to change his circumstances.
4) I think that by using the Old Woman's situation and story, Voltaire is showing us human nature. I think what she loves most about life is exactly that which has tormented her, its unpredictability. Variety is the spice of life, and despite what we are going through, most people always have hope for a change for the better. Voltaire shows us that we are essentially masochists in that we love the pain and variety of life.
Great point--we initially assume he is credible and wise, but every time he speaks, we have to do a double-take. What did he say? Really? In a way, he's the liar who believes his own lies...unfortunately, he expects us to believe them, too! As with the Old Lady, we enjoy life because for all the pain, there is the hope of pleasure/relief. And maybe we only know the sweetness because of the sour?
DeleteQuestion 1
ReplyDeleteThe philosophy of Dr. Pangloss was simply that whatever is meant to happen will happen. in his own words "there was no effect without a cause". using the earthquake as an example he says "if there is a volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere" meaning that the earthquake happened for a reason, and it only happened here.Voltaire definitely uses Pangloss as satire, the first hint he gave to this was when he poked fun at Pangloss' Specialty which is "metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigoly" which sounds insane in and of itself.
Question 2
Voltaire makes Candide go through many different situations, from losing the love of his life, to getting beat to within an inch of his life, to going to fight a war, yet candide never changes his faith. i don't believe that Voltaire has the same beliefs as Candide simply because he makes him go through one bad thing after another.
Yes, the names in this book are supposed to be a clue: even Pangloss means "all language," suggestion that he's a combination of everything people say which ultimately translates to nothing. He wants to translate all experience into one easy-to-remember philosophy, but in the end, life is too complicated for that. And in a sense, believing in easy things makes life hard for someone else!
Delete2. I think that Candide is honestly a good person. He is not foolish, but sees the good in people. He may be a bit naive because he took everything the " great philosopher" Pangloss said and took it to heart. But overall, throughout all of his misfortunes, he has suffered for a short while, then was rescued by someone for no reason, other than people just doing the right thing and helping others. It is obvious that he can see the good in the world because of his own experiences, and not just because of the teachings of Pangloss. You see him struggle with killing both men that Cunegonde had considered her lovers, but for good reason. Not only to defend both of their lives, but because it is obvious that unlike her, he is not confused whatsoever about his feelings toward her. He has longed for her this entire time, even after finding out she was dead, then especially when learning that she was actually alive.
ReplyDelete4. The old woman is basically just trying to let Cunegonde that someone always has it worse, and that there is always hope to be found, and though she has been in extremely low places, she has not chosen to take her own life even through all of her hardships. As of now it seems as though she is almost living vicariously through Cunegonde, because she doesn't have much left to live for except for helping others. She obviously wants to see this romance between Cunegonde and Candide work out, or she wouldn't have put her ownself through all of the trouble of reuniting them, but would have turned Cunegonde in. She is also at this point, the most knowledgeable and is just trying to keep the good people in the story alive.
Great responses: Candide is good and innocent and assumes others are, too. The tragedy of this comic novel is that a good person becomes "bad" by simply living in the world. By page 29, Candide has already committed two murders and has inadvertently caused the death of the Anabaptist. The question is, can you be an optimist in such a world? Can you remain innocent and "good"?
DeleteMadelyn Lehr
ReplyDelete1. Voltaire, I believe, uses Dr. Pangloss as a form of satire in this story. His philosophy throughout the story pretty much states that whatever happens is meant to be and that it is happening for the best of reasons. When bad things keep happening to you, would you think they are all for the best? More than likely not, and you would begin to question your beliefs. I think Voltaire uses him as satire to show the blind faith some people have or use it as shield to not deal with things that they believe to be too hard to deal with, or the fact that they are too scared to know the truth.
4. Even though the woman has gone through so many misfortunes throughout her life, she may still see the possibility of her life turning around. I think that maybe her Christian faith from her childhood has kept her thinking that things can and will get better. I do no believe Voltaire is using the woman as another device of satire because she does have a pessimistic outlook on life for the most part, unlike the other characters, and if he were I think she would have the opposite mindset. As human beings I believe no matter our state of reasoning, whether it be optimism or pessimism, we still have the human trait of pushing through life even when it gets bad.
Ben hoffman
DeleteQuestion 1
Dr. Pang loss would definitely be considered an object of satire in this book. His philosophy of "what happen is meant to happen" or whatever happens is the best thing that could have happened in that situation. This basically gives him an out, or an excuse to sit back and let things happen and take no action to prevent or fix a situation. For example when James the anabaptist goes over the side of the ship and candid has the impulse to save him, Dr. Pangloss steps in and stops him with reasons that make zero sense. I believe simply because he didn't want to help
question 4
I think she believes in a better tommorow, no matter what she has been through she always had hope for a better day. I don't think she is being used as an object of satire simply because what she was saying was sincere and had truth behind, much unlike some of the other characters .
Great responses...Pangloss' philosophy does allow him to shirk responsibility and not help anyone, even himself. If everything has to fit inside a theory, then at some point you have to lie or shade the truth. Pangloss seems to do this more and more as the novel goes on.
DeleteMadelyn: great responses here, since Voltaire is trying to make us all question our faith in things we assume our normal or common sense. Pangloss has defined the world in a way that is very convenient for him, so he no longer has to worry about it. But sometimes, the explanation is worse than the question! Satirizing him makes us question our own answers for the complexities and paradoxes of life.
DeleteTavarie Hamilton
ReplyDelete1.Pangloss feels that whatever is, is good. For instance, the anabaptist whom helps others yet then is said he is destined pretty much to die in the harbor. Therefore his good deed was shoved and undone. But this was seen as well it's done for the best. Pangloss has views that are very set yet backwards. Just as views that are very set but yet backwards. Just as getting his disease he sees this as well look I'm dying but we got things that are important and brought it back to our world, so it's a discover... So there's balance.
2. Wouldn't we all, and don't we all question our faith from time to time. But I feel he starts to question this when he is expelled from his home. He suffers abuse and hardships, why though? He took a morning stroll ? While candied is pardoned by bulgar, he can still see the best in people and his faith is more restored.
Good responses, but try to do it before class so you have something to go on. I think it's great to get the benefit of the class discussion--which is why we have it--but don't just rely on that. See what you can come up with even before hand, since your ideas might shape the course of our conversation (and help someone else!).
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
ReplyDelete-Dr. Pangloss’s philosophy was that “there was no effect without a cause” and that their world was the “best of all possible worlds”. A fancy way of saying “it was meant to happen”. As with James the Anabaptist, when he fell overboard, Candide wanted to go after him to save him and Dr. Pangloss stopped him because that was the best thing that could happen in the world. I believe Dr. Pangloss is clearly an element of the story that is satirical. This man could have just about anything in the world happen to him and he would assume that it was meant to be. This makes it easy for him to assume no responsibility for anything that happens to him or around him. With the earthquake, he just brushed it off saying “if there is a volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere”. Well yeah, but being sympathetic to their pain and suffering any normal person would do. This instance kind of places him to being similar to the nobles, who could care less what happens around them as long as they are okay.
Question 2
-I think that Voltaire is satirizing Candide. Anyone that has been through the things he has been through would have to start believing that not everyone is nice and happy and wants the best for everyone. But not Candide. He has almost a child-like quality to him. He is very trusting and assumes the best of everyone despite being mistreated like with the Bulgarian army for instance. They beat him and allowed him no freedom. Something like that is bound to change a person. I think that Voltaire thinks he is stupid for believing in people in this fashion.
Remember that these questions are due on the day we discuss them, not days later. They're designed to get you into the discussions so you have something to say in class and you get more out of the reading. Try to keep on track with the next readings.
DeleteQ.1
ReplyDeleteVoltaire definitely used Dr. Pangloss as an object of satire.
Referring Plangoss - things cannot change, I mean with this this are what we first think, because, the things have been created for some purpose, not necessary the purpose that we think as an example that we talked at class. We said that for example the nose is formed for spectacles, but we were spectacles for the nose. So they thought wrong the first thing that we have is nose not spectacles.
With this example we can realize how unrealistic Pangloss’s theory was. So with that we notice that Voltaire used Plangoss as an object of satire.
Q.4
I think she is a positive person and innocent at the same time, she tries to look forward, without caring about what she has been. I don't think she is being used as an object or a radical thing. Because what she was saying was honest and had truth behind, much unlike some of the other characters, that they were different.
ALBERTO LAPIEDRA
Remember that these questions are due on the day we discuss them, not days later. They're designed to get you into the discussions so you have something to say in class and you get more out of the reading. Try to keep on track with the next readings.
DeleteDarryn York
ReplyDelete1. Voltiare tested Candide's faith in many different ways, he lost his woman, went through a war and nearly lost his life in another situation. Me personally, I think it's a little off, but I don't think Candide was an idiot at all for having faith. He was smart and crafty enough to make it through many different situations that the average person wouldn't have come close to. For that reason alone I don't believe that Voltaire thinks he's an idiot, they just have different beliefs.
2. The old woman tale was interesting. I think Volitaire was question our faith in the since of showing a tragic situation for us is a norm for someone else, yet we complain about small things. Despite being raped, and all other tragic events that happened to her. The message I received from this passage was "it can always be worse" and I believe that's what the old woman was trying to get across.
Remember that these comments are due the day we discuss them, and not days afterward. Keep reading, but I can only give you credit for questions turned in on time. The questions are meant to get you ready for our class discussions, and to help you read more actively. You'll get more out of the class if you do them on time.
Delete