it is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. french author, humanist, rationalist,...
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It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)
Voltaire
Candide
Voltaire: pen name for François-Marie ArouetBorn into a middle class French family
November 21, 1694Father strict authoritarian—lawyerKnew Cardinal Richelieu and Duke of Sully
At 10 sent to a Jesuit school to study lawLeft school at 16-intent on spending his life as
a writerSpent time as a diplomat at The HagueWrote poetry, banished from Paris,
imprisoned for a poem critical of Louis XV
Author Background
Wrote for over 60 years of time; filling over 70 large volumes
Defender of freedom“I do not agree with a word you say, but I
will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Defended the rights of men to write and say what they wished
Was intolerant in his criticism of his enemies, however
Believed in rule by reason—not a democrat; wanted rule by an enlightened despot
His Writings
Allowed freedom of speech and other basic freedoms
Did what needed to be donePopular with the massesFrederick the Great of Prussia
Example of this type of rulerVoltaire desired freedom for the enlightened,
not for the rest of humanityHad little interest in the common man
Enlightened Despot
Voltaire major intellectual influenceWriting influenced an entire generation of
French RevolutionariesDuring later part of his life carried on a long
correspondence with RousseauDiffered on many pointsHis influence is seen in much of Rousseau’s work
Saw himself as a critic—many see him as more destructive than constructive
Saw rampant irrationality—called for specific reforms over grandiose schemes—more realistic
French Enlightenment
Voltaire sought religious freedom as well as other basic rights
Unlike Rousseau who wanted to end all religion; Voltaire realized that “common men” were not ready for such changes
Instead he called for freedom—but only for those who knew how to handle in—not for all
Believed in education; agreed with Locke’s idea of the tabula rasaFaulty education was major problemBetter education would solve most of the
difficulties facing us
Ideals of the Philosophes
Gottfried Wilhelm von
Leibniz
His philosophy of
optimism serves
as the inspiration
for the novel.
Also, Leibniz was
a mathematician
most known as
the co-founder of
calculus with
Newton.
Highly critical of Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism
Candide is full of political and philosophical satire of the many controversies during the 1750s
Readers will see the idea that we “live in the best of all possible worlds,” and apparent folly, misery and strife are actually harbingers of a greater good we cannot perceive, is hogwash.
Voltaire’s satire contrasts ironically tragedy and comedy by using actual events which occurred during this time period.
Voltaire’s criticism
Alexander PopeVoltaire’s criticism wasn’t
directly aimed at Pope.Pope also had an optimistic
principle that “all is right.”Leibniz’s states “this is the
best of all possible worlds.”Some critics feel Voltaire
spared Pope out of respect.A later work by Voltaire,
Poème, could be a response to Pope’s work.
Voltaire was also commenting on cultural relativism Michel de Montaigne’s On CannibalsEssay that argued that European culture was
no closer to God or morally “right”Shakespeare also used this concept in his
play The Tempest Voltaire shows other cultures in comparison
to European society as his main character Candide has a series of misadventures
Other influences on novel
OptimismHuman condition: what is the best way to approach
life?Candide is brought up on the philosophy of optimismWill ultimately reject this at the end of novel
Free WillDistinction between man and animalsSocieties need to form around concept of working
together for a common goodEvil
Is evil inherent to humans or a matter of perspective?Debate between Candide the optimist and Martin the
pessimist reflects this.
Major themes of novel
Political and Religious OppressionReligious leaders who commit acts of immorality and
depravityMistreatment of citizens, slaves, women by members
of authorityPowerful institutions which only harm citizens
instead of protecting themPower of Lust
Exploitation of women and workers due to lust for money.
Acts of war and cruelty in the new world due to lust for money.
Lust for power and position in society lead characters to ignore common sense and basic kindness.
More themes
CandideName derived from the Latin word, candidus,
means whiteWhite symbolizes innocenceAlso means candid—he looks at the world and tells
us exactly what he seesPangloss
Absent throughout most of the book, but influence is seen through Candide.
Word comes from Greek pan and glossa means all languages—another way of saying “windbag”
Character modeled after Leibniz, Pope, and other optimistic thinkers of the period
Candide and Pangloss
MartinCandide’s companion through bookOpposite of Candide, thinks all is for the worstIn the end, Candide will reject both Pangloss &
MartinCacambo
Candide’s guide in the new worldName resembles cacao Name implies a half-breed origin, he is a wily
American half-breedFoil for the Baron-perfect lineage, but morally
impureCacambo’s character is pure
Candide’s Companions
Name chosen for sound and its meaningAlliterative effect of Candide, Cunègonde, Cacambo
Name of many medieval queensRepresents chivalric love and hard-headed realismSeveral views/perspectives of Cunègonde
Candide sees her as pure and virtuousWe see a beautiful, shrewd wenchAt end she will be an ugly dishwasher for Prince of
Transylvania—arms red and rough from hard workOne of the few dynamic characters
Innocent young girl in beginningWise woman of the world at endAt first she is coy with Candide, at end demands he
marry her
Cunègonde
Old WomanClassic type in French litServes 1st as Cunègonde maid; Cunègonde will
become her double by end of bookAbigail serves this way for CacamboVoltaire uses her voice to add his reflections
PacquetteServing-girl turned prostituteName means “daisy”Her misfortunes parallel her mistress
Cunègonde
Characters
PococuranteName means “caring little”Jaded man of the world which Candide would
have become if he had no difficultiesMartin believes there is pleasure in not being
pleasedPococurante shows us that even the best is for
the worstBrother Giroflée
Name means “wallflower”Symbolizes stupidity of primogeniture and the
nature of vocations in the church
More
Name of Barony chosen for soundRepresents the pomposity and pettiness of
small baronies in that part of EuropeVain, blustering tyrant probably just like his
fatherSon is warrior-saint of the Jesuits
Kills with abandon, no vocation, enjoys life in Paraguay
Candide discovers him & pays for his freedomDown on his luck, homosexualGalley slave yet refuses to allow Candide to
marry his sister, Cunègonde who is of noble birth
Represents the narrow-minded views of European nobility which will lead to destruction of the class
Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh
Written as an allegory of the human conditionCharacters are not meant to be identified
with but to stand for a particular ideal or characteristic
Each character acts as a symbol to further the satire
Pangloss symbolizes folly of blind optimism and excessive speculation.
Lisbon earthquake of 1755 represents devastating natural events for which no rational explanation can be found.
Symbols in novel
An important symbol in novelEviction from the castle garden could be seen
as eviction of man from Garden of EdenEl Dorado could represent a false Garden of
EdenAt end of novel Candide and Cunègonde find
pleasure in working their own land/garden.Many critics see the garden however as
Voltaire’s support for Diderot’s Encyclopedia Could be considered a garden of knowledge
Gardens
http://librivox.org/candide-by-voltaire/http://www.paperstarter.com/candide.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwMlWy
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