Candide is incredibly hilarious and yet truly upsetting at the same time. At first, when I read through half of the book, I was overwhelmed with all of the horrible things that happen to Candide and his friend throughout his journey. However, after taking a closer look I see that this story by Voltaire is actually very funny. I feel sort of bad for being able to find so much humor at someone’s hardships, and began to justify my laughter by saying that “this is only a book,” and “I would never laugh at something like this in real life.” However, how many times do people, including myself watch shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos or even just videos on YouTube and laugh at other people’s pain or disabilities. Even Sunday night as I watch documentaries about the events of 9/11/2001, I found myself laughing just slightly at the reactions of some of the people. Just like the story of the old woman, what happened on 9/11 were not comical in the slightest, but isolated people, reactions, and comments I found humor in. I believe it is the same as laughing at the fact that the old lady has half a butt! Of course I could be wrong and everyone might think I’m an awful person now . . .
Anyway, I love the way that Voltaire writes in Candide. I think it’s his style that allows the novel to come across as so serious and yet funny at the same time. For example, I love in chapter 11 in the very first couple sentences, a joke Voltaire sneaks in to his story about the old woman. The second sentence of the chapter states “I am the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina.” This is not funny, but a footnote I have at the bottom of the page of my book, written by Voltaire says; “Notice how exceedingly discreet our author is. There has so far been no Pope called Urban X. He hesitates to ascribe a bastard to an actual Pope. What discretion! What a tender conscience he shows!” It is sarcasm and cheeky comments like this one throughout the book that make Candide so much fun to read and enjoyable, even though it’s actually really sad and disturbing.
Reading Candide has made me think a lot about war and the way people of different religions treat each other. In chapter 3 after Candide has escaped from the Bulgars, he visits a country he heard was “rich and all were Christians,” and believes he can find help here from a kind soul. No one helps him, so he asks a minister to give him some aid. Unfortunately because Candide does not renounce the Pope, he is turned down by the minister as well. It is only an Anabaptist, a religion everyone hates, who helps Candide and later Pangloss. This story reminds me a lot of The Good Samaritan! Voltaire makes all of the Christians sound like horrible people, except for the ones that everyone hates! It really gives a person a lot to think about.
Until next time . . .
-Susan
P.S. I posted on katina!
Ah, yes! Thank you so much for saying “this is only a book,” and “I would never laugh at something like this in real life.”. Makes me feel better for laughing at this book so much.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hilarious and horrible at the same time which is exactly what Voltaire intended in an incredible way, MAKING us stop and look back at what we're laughing about and reconsider.
Now to the fact that you laughed at 9/11 documentaries... You're terrible! No just kidding, I totally understand what you mean. I think Voltaire would be the one who would think you're terrible though, seeing as how agaisnt violence he is and how he tries to give us that view through his writings. Trying to (totally not a word or very smart at all but... just roll with it.) "de-desensitize" us.