Candide Voltaire
In Voltaire's "Candide" the issue of humans being confused creatures is seen through the main character, Candide. Like Candide many wander searching for ultimate happiness which they sometimes mistake for wealth, beauty, or power. In some cases, people become so obsessed with such desires that they lose consciousness of morals. Often resulting in them stealing, lying, or even killing to obtain such needs. In Candide's case it was Cunegonde which he thought could fill the void of happiness; although he later learned that happiness comes from oneself. Money is the common desire among most people. Simply because it allows one to live an easier life, a life which one is guaranteed shelter, food, and better health. The quote "the good Pangloss had often proved to me that the goods of the earth are common to all men , that each has an equal right to them p34" illustrates Candide's reaction to having Cunegonde's pistoles and diamonds stolen and how money for survival will cause a desperate person to steal. The line "My lady you have seventy - two quarterings and not a penny; it depends on you alone to be the wife of the
" "Already I inspired love, my bosom was forming; and what a bosom! White, firm, sculptured like that of the Venus de' Medici. To sum up, power can be used for protection as Candide utilized it to defend himself from Senor Don Issachar, but when it is used to maliciously harm it is no longer moral nor does it grant self happiness. Similarly, when people have power they feel happy by preventing unwanted effects from happening. Sometimes people that are not attractive are overlooked as having any human worth. " "And what eyes! What eyelids! What black eyebrows!" "[The women who dressed and undressed me fell in to ecstasies when they looked at me in front and behind, and all the men would have liked to be in their place. Beauty is another shared desire by people. For example oppression, war, rape, and death are all outcomes from an obsession with power that are depicted in "Candide. Clearly, the comparison to a Venus sculpture, which were made as objects of gaze, and one's body emphasizes a true fixation with outer beauty. The truth is that it is not outer beauty, but inner beauty which correlates with the notion of self happiness. In addition, money can become like a "god" to anyone who lacks love for themselves. Furthermore, the lines " I grew in beauty[ in the midst of pleasures, respect, and hopes]. greatest lord in South America, who has a very handsome mustache; is it for you to pride yourself on an invincible fidelity? p42" depicts how people will consider having money under the worst circumstances. ]"p36 illustrates an obsession with beauty.
Common topics in this essay:
South America,
Candide's Cunegonde,
Candide Throughout,
Don Issachar,
Candide Candide,
Voltaire's Candide,
self happiness,
beauty power,
wealth beauty power,
common desire,
outer beauty,
wealth beauty,
desire people,
money survival,
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