Candide
After reading the novel Candide, I realized how much of a satire the novel actually was. The actions of the characters and the situations they are put in alone show how satirical it actually is. In the beginning, Candide is exposed to the philosophical teachings of the castle’s oracle. His name is Pangloss, and he believed that “Everything is for the best, in this best of all worlds” (p519). Candide struggles repeatedly with these beliefs. Throughout the text, he is constantly subjected to horror after horror, and is always second-guessing his beliefs. Candide goes from believing to not believing over and over again. I feel that the belief that Pangloss had burned into the mind of Candide is quite ridiculous when I try and put it into context with the situations Candide faces. In the very beginning he is put through horrible events that he is led to believe. One of which deals with the attack of the Bulgars on the castle, and what occurred from this attack. “She (Cunegonde) was disemboweled by the Bulgar soldiers, after having been raped to the absolute limit of human endurance; . . .
The adventures that Candide goes through in this story are ridiculous. She reminded him of the fact that he promised to marry her, but since she was ugly, Candide wasn’t sure if it’s what he wanted. But every time, he still manages to escape with his life. ” (p528) I think that the message that is being displayed by Voltaire is very simple. He is captured over and over again by different people. The ship begins to sink, and Jacques (a man who was also on the ship), ran to the aid of one of the sailors. In example, when Pangloss, and Candide board a ship for Lisbon, they are challenged with a horrendous storm. However, he does loose many friends and or acquaintances that he has. The sailor had clutched onto the side, and Jacques ran to his aide. At first Cunegonde used her sexual appeal to get what she wanted from Candide, now, she had to manipulate him. Even though the novel was good, I hope to never be faced with the calamity that Candide and his fellowship did. Overall, I believe that the story of Candide was very well written. I feel that the worst part of this story is what occurs to Cunegonde. “The Anabaptist was lending a hand in the after part of the ship when a frantic sailor struck him and knocked him to the deck; but just at that moment, the sailor lurched so violently that he fell head first over the side, where he hung, clutching a fragment of the broken mast. In the end, Cunegonde has become ugly.
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