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THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS
VOLTAIRE
CANDIDE
LECTURE 6-7
JANUARY 15-20, 2016
LECTURE OUTLINE1. Voltaire
2. Literary form
3. Optimism
4. Expectations and Progress
5. Happiness
VOLTAIRE 1694, Born as Francois-Marie Arouet, near Paris
1717, Imprisoned in Bastille, adopts the name Voltaire
Lives throughout Europe
Advocate for civil rights, toleration, and reason
1759, Publishes Candide
1778, Dies in Paris
1789, French Revolution begins
LITERARY FORM Satire: Irony, sarcasm, or caustic wit used to attack
or expose human foolishness or vice (Am. Heritage)
Critique what ought to be respected
Time and culture specific
Message is hidden (requires interpretation)
Farce: A light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for humorous effect (Am. Heritage)
Risk: You miss satire when you focus on the farce
Candides humor
One day, as Cunegonde was walking the grounds of the castle, in the little wood which everyone called the park, she caught sight through the undergrowth of Dr Pangloss giving a lesson in experimental physics to her mothers chambermaid, a very pretty and tractable little brunette. Mlle Cunegonde had a natural aptitude for the sciences, and she noted breathlessly the repeated experiments to which she was witness; she saw clearly the doctors sufficient reason, both the effects and the causes, and she returned home very agitated, very thoughtful, and very much filled with desire to be a scientist, reflecting that she might yet prove to be the sufficient reason of young Candide, who might in turn prove to be hers. (Ch1)
CHARACTERS AND NAMING Doctor RalphNarrator, witness of war and
suffering
CandideSolid judgment and openness of mind
PanglossAll tongue
Optimist, Medieval philosopher, Leibniz caricature
Martin as pessimistic foil
Cungonde and Cacambo
Candides Journey
OPTIMISM This is the best of all possible worlds (Leibniz)
Rational-moral philosophy
Voltaires critique
Consolation in the idea of optimism
Its really a form of naivet
Experience of suffering shows the world is not for the best
Redefinition of optimism (52)
Its an irresponsible philosophy
What is optimism? asked Cacambo.
Alas, said Candide, Its the mania for insisting all is well when all is by no means well.
EXPECTATIONS Text frustrates relationship between progress,
reason, and expectations
Predictive power of cause and effect
NonsensePanglosss discourse (Ch1)
PerspectiveGirls and Apes (Ch16)
Readers expectationsCorruption and multiple deaths
PROGRESS Is knowledge a dead end?
El Dorado, Pococurante, Turkish dervish
Humane treatment of others?
So many scenes of violence and suffering
Failure of law. A just war?
And yet, there are good people
Reason as a tool of progress?
Truth, practical reason, and hope
HAPPINESS WestphaliaGarden of Eden
Innocence, ignorance is bliss
El DoradoParadise
Candide and Cacambo are happy
Problem: Theyll be like everyone else
Wealth, power, and distinction
Desire and restlessness
Isolation of El Dorado
Candide kept saying to Cacambo: Its true, my friend, and Ill say it again: the castle where I was born cant compare with where we are now; on the other hand, Mme Cunegonde is not hereIf we remain here, we shall be just like everyone else; but if we return to the old world with only a dozen sheep loaded with Eldoradean pebbles, we shall no longer have Inquisitors to fear, and we shall easily rescue Cunegonde.
This speech appealed to Cacambo: so pleasant it is to be on the move, to get ourselves noticed back home, and to boast of what we have seen on our travels, that our two happy wanderers resolved to be happy no longer and to seek his Majestys permission to depart (Ch18)
ENDING: MAKE-THE-BEST-OF-IT GARDEN? First ending (90): What changes?
That is well said, replied Candide, but we must cultivate our garden (le jardin).
Repetition of the point (Yes, but)
To cultivate your garden
The farm (literal)
Garden of your soul (metaphorical)
English vs French gardens
POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS
CultivationWork as a process, not an end in itself
QuiescenceKeep your mouth shut, dont ask questions, accept the world as it is
Fight poverty, vice, and boredom
Suffering vs BoredomThats a hard question
Distraction of hard work (avoid vice)
Work toward justice (seek virtue)
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