The last twenty pages of Candide seemed a bit anti-climatic in comparison to the previous chapters. Candide still is on his quest to be reunited with Cunégonde and has strange encounters persist. The section starts with Candide and Martin going to meet Senator Pococuranté, a powerful Venetian Senator. Candide admires all the fine things he sees in Pococuranté home, but everything he praises the Senator is quick to dismiss. Martin can appreciate Pococuranté views on life, while Candide is left puzzling why he does not find all these wonderful books and works of art delightful. Martin spying shelves of English books asks 'I imagine,' he said, 'that a republican like yourself must take pleasure in reading most of these works, written in conditions of such freedom?' - 'Yes,' replied Pococuranté, 'it is a fine thing to write what one thinks; it is man's natural privilege, after all. In Italy, wherever you go, we write only what we do not think; the descendants of the Caesars and the Antonines dare not entertain an idea without the permission of a Dominican monk. | Artist: Canaletto (1697-1768) Dated: 1738 Location: J. Paul Getty Museum This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less. Source: Wikimedia Commons |
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Update 2 covering Chapters 9-16 of Voltaire's Candide Read Along hosted by Exploring Classics.
This set of chapters certainly should change one's view of Candide. In the previous set he seemed a little meek and lost about the ways of the world, going with the flow and moving as it leads him. These chapters are filled with Candide slaying everything in sight. Losing his meek characteristic that was allowing him to be lead. He now appears hotheaded and quick to react without thinking about the consequences. He starts by slaying both of Cunégonde's owners in the Jew and the Inquistor. Now they must flee, taking the old woman that has been Cunégonde maid they ride out hoping to find safety. Karma comes back to thank Candide's quick slayings by having all the groups means of money stolen from Cunégonde on their journey. Cunégonde plays a drama queen, lamenting at how her life has been the worst and no one can come close to understanding the terrors in her short lifetime. Granted, being raped, disemboweled and watching your family cut up is not a walk in the park, but remember, someone always has it worse off. Thus enters the story of our old maid, she was born with descent, social status and not to be outdone by Cunégonde, she is witness to the death of her family and repeatedly raped as well. She was repeatedly sold as a slave, traveling the world with each new owner. It gets better during one of her enslavements the men left behind to protect the women were hungry, they had already eaten the two inner guards to the concubines. So next comes one buttock cheek from each woman to feed these savage beasts wishing to kill them to squelch their hunger. The three are forced to separate, Candide being the guilty party and must go it alone from Cunégonde and the old lady. Cunégonde as a still young and pleasing to look at lady can easily find safety in another man's house. Candide sets out and with the help of a guide decides to present himself as capable of being a commander for the nearby army. Surprise, none other then Cunégonde's brother is here, wait, wasn't he killed in the attack where she was disemboweled? That would have been too easy, so no, he was barely alive and nursed back to health and here to meet Candide. Candide tells him his dear sisters is alive and that the two of them are to be wed. The brother, Reverend Father Provincial cannot accept that Cunégonde would stoop to the level of Candide for marriage, he is not of acceptable lineage. So hotheaded Candide slays him in an instant. Time to flee again.
Exploring Classics is hosting a read-along of Candide by Voltaire in March. As this is a fairly short classic and shows up on some of the "best of" list I thought I would join. The event will be from March 1-31. Exploring Classics will be reading the work in the original language (French), but all posts will be in English. Here is the posting schedule: Monday, March 10 : chapters 1-8 Monday, March 17: chapters 9-16 Monday, March 24: chapters 17-24 Monday, March 31: chapters 25-30 (last post) After each chapter post, you have a whole week to comment on the chapter. Plenty of time to plan ahead and join! Published in 1759 this French satire follows Candide from a young man living a sheltered life to new world of living influenced by his mentor, Pangloss. [Notice: Original posting 2014-01-23 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com] Tags: Read-Alongs; Candide |
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