War Can Bring Joy

Dear diary.

Today I have a new valet called Cacambo, he is very nice. He is also fairly religious because he believes that god takes care of all women. I hope he is right and that Cunégonde is in a good, safe place now. I was scared when Cunégonde I didn’t know what to do with out Cunégonde, where we should go? What shell we do? I was depressed. Cacambo suggested that we'll fight on the side of the rebellious Paraguayan Jesuits. I thought it was a good idea because the army can give us shelter and food. He helped me feel better when he said "they will be delighted to have a captain who knows Bulgarian drill and tactics. You will make a vast fortune. The situation looked good until we met one of the rebel guard. We ask to speak to the colonel but the colonel orders the guard to orders our weapons and our horses seized. I thought we were going to die because we were surrounded by twenty four men and we were informed that were only aloud to be in the country for 3 hours. It was bad news because we were both starving. Every thing changed when Cacambo saved our lives when he said I was German. When the colonel heard that he agreed to see me. I was happy because I was suddenly served with respect. I was handed a golden plate with food on it while before they would have let me starve if I wasn’t German. On his order our weapons and horses were returned. When the Colonel asked me if im German in that language I said "yes reverend father". Than I realized that the colonel is Cunégonde brother! We were both full of joy from seeing each other. I was really happy to see a familiar face. I and the baron embrace one another in tearful joy. I told him that Cunégonde also survived the attack and that she is with the governor. While we waited for more food, the colonel told his story.

Sarah's Post

Sarah Quigley
English 101
Hello, my name is old lady and i am here to tell you all about what happens when the governor likes someone, but first let me give you a summary of what has recently happened. So basically i just told my whole story about those "pirates" i always knew they were up to no good. I was quite surprised how well everyone took my story, they even made it so that everyone could tell there story to see what they have all gone through in their past. It feels good to know that i did that all just by standing up in what i believed was the right thing to do.
Well, thats enough about me lets get to the governor and Cun駯nde. When we docked the ship at Buenos Aires we went straight to see the governor. Buenos Aires was a beautiful place, it was filled with the greenest mountains that i have ever seen, and the buildings were so beautiful i mean just the way everything fit together it just looked like a fairy tale. ALso, the air was so fresh like the best spring day you will ever have, when you can actually smell the flowers as you walk by them. The water so clear and you could hear the crisp sound of the waves crashing against the rocks and you could hear the calm voices of little conversations all around you. I never wanted to leave but i knew that this feeling wouldnt last forever.What happened there was that the governor proclaimed his love for Cun駯nde and begs her to marry him. She didn't know what to do at all! I told her it would be a good idea to marry the governor for it would mean a lot of good things would come her way if she decided to go for it. I also thought about how much of a fortune it would bring to me and Candide, considering Cun駯nde is in charge of me i didn't bring that part up to her.
After all of this happened, we found out that when the Franciscan stole Cun駯nde?s jewelry went and tried to sell them to a jeweler to make money but the jeweler rocognized the jewels and knew that they were not his and that they had been stolen. The Franciscan was caught, but before he was hung he described three others who had been involved. This was when i told Cun駯nde that it was the best idea to stay in Buenos Aires to be safe. This was also when i told Candide he had to flee because of what he had done. I knew that the governor would not let anything happen to Cun駯nde because of his proclaimed love for her. Before all this drama had happend i was so relaxed and calm because of the enviornment, but after all this all i wanted was for it to be over and to forget all about it.

I have had so much happen within mylife it doesn't seem like its possible to have it all happen to one person in such, well what seems, a short period of time. I guess living it makes it harder then hearing about it though. I know i could end all of it but then i would have nothing and i do not think i am prepared to have absolutly nothing even though i have very little now.

Idea and Satire Techniques.

Jeremy Cavanna.

Idea:
I think that Voltaire included this chapter to introduce the old womans story. It gives us an idea of the characters shown Cunagonde. It is a sad but interesting story that Voltaire is telling us, he maybe wants us to look at the story from candide's point of view, taking in count candide's belief referring to Pangloss theory (everything is for the best, perfect eutopia). In conclusion, this chapter was made to introduce the old womans story to us by going back into her past.

Satire:
''My nose did not always touch my chin'' (page 26, top) This is clearly an overstatement to describe her uglyness, seems impossible that someones nose can touch his own chin! ''Our men fought like soldiers of the Pope--- that is, they flung themselves on their knees, laid down their arms and begged the corsair to gvie them absolution in Acticulo Mortis''(page 27, middle). Is Voltaire trying to make fun of the Pope? We would first think that the begining of the sentence 'Fought like soldiers of the Pope' would make them polivalent, strong and couragous soldiers, but the ending of the sentence indicates that they were weak and afraid. Voltaire used sarcasm here.

''I was beauty and grave itself'' (page 28, top) This is an overstatement, it seems like she has a very high self esteem about how she looked years ago. Her beauty was such that she went from being a princess to a slave.

Candide: The Old Ones’ Past

Jeremy Cavanna

English 101

Chapter 11 ‘Summary’

April 04, 2007

Today I met this old woman who had a very interesting story, she told me about her past, one of the thing she talked about was how beautiful she was back then. She grew in beauty, grace and talent, in the midst of pleasures, homer and fair expectations. She told me how she inspired men with love, back then. I think that this woman isn’t lying, I think that this woman really was beautiful, and I think that it is the event that occurred in her life that changed her to be equal physically wise to other average people, because everything is for the best, and she lost her physical advantage to trade it for an advanced intellectual degree, based on the experiences she lived in her life. Later on in her life, she got captured by Russians, to be sold as a slave in Morocco; it was very hard for her as a princess to be reduced to slavery. It was a very hard period of her life she told me, but I think that it was for the best because she has acquired a lot of knowledge and experiences through her pain, and just like she is teaching me right now, she will be able to teach others. She explained to me her arrival at Morocco, and how the country was divided in different fractions that broke in a civil war. As she arrived in Morocco, a hostile fraction of black people fought with the captain and her crew, the winner of the battle would ‘earn’ the princess, the mother and their maids. She told me that she was muttered between anger, fear, horror, and blood. It was a horrible part of her life, but it is because of all these horrible events that this old lady is now wise and useful to the all the young ones that need to learn about the experiences that await them in their future life.

Idea/ Satire Techniques

The reason that Volitare made this chapter was because it brought time to introduce the old womans story. It helped create a good transition between one idea to the next. I also think he made this chapter to provide more character traits shown in Cunegonde. Saying that she was sad that the Inquistitor and Jew both died and that she was in despair about what happened to her even though Candide went through some of the same horrible moments that she did.

Satiric Techniques=
1.) Deus ex machina (maybe) “He (Candide) displayed so much smartness, speed, initiative, morale, and efficiency that he was given command of the company” (pg. 35 top). When the Spanish general just happens to be watching him he becomes the captain. This is too much of a coincidence.

Traveling to a New World

I wept out of great despair, for the Jew and Inquisitor that had provided me with diamonds and moidores were gone. Although I was in great sadness, Candide comforted me with the wise words Pangloss had once recitied to him. When my emotions lessened, we had to sell a horse since I had no more diamonds for us to get Cadiz. The journey was long and tiring, but we managed to get to Cadiz. There my brave, beloved Candide signed up to train with soliders and in return, we would be sent to a new world. With all the hard work that Candide accomplished, he was soon promoted to Captain. He then took me, and my good dame upon the ship along with the Inquisitors horses. We set off in hope of finding a new life and security. Although I couldn't help feeling that I wouldn't be able to find hope and goodness in this new world because of all that I've been through. Candide spoke of such truth and knowledge but all I could tell him was, "I love you with all my heart, but nonetheless I am still scared to the depths of my soul by all that I have seen and undergone." I felt so empty and hurt by my past. Candide knew what it felt like and yet he was still able to think good thoughs using Pangloss' theories. I wish I could face my past with such a positive outlook like that. Although my good dame liked to differ, telling me that I haven't been through half of what she has gone through. I was in shock! How could a woman like her suffer more than me? For I have been through the most terrible situations that anyone would cringe just from hearing them. Despite all this, she still didn't budge and started to tell us about her own past experiances.

A Life Worth Killing For.

I have questioned the decisions I have made today several times. My life was devastating when I lost Cunegonde and I couldn’t do it again. Cunegonde’s Israelite entered in a rage to find me there with her. Angered that he was sharing her not only with the Inquisitor he drew his sword and ran toward me. Panicked and surprised to see he was armed, I drew the fine sword the old women gave me with the clothes and killed him. I saw his dead body lying next to Cunegonde’s feet and I found myself regretting what I did. Normally I would never hurt anyone, but this happened so fast it doesn’t even seem real. Cunegonde was just as scared as I was and was frightened that I would be hanged. We sought the advice of the old women because we were too surprised at the situation to make a logical decision. As the old women was about to share her advice the door opened to our surprise and there stood the inquisitor, who’s time with Cunegonde had just begun. As he stood there, staring at the corpse, he was just as astonished to see me as I was to see him. I thought he could have me burned or whipped and he is my enemy. Still holding the sword in hand I quickly ran it into him leaving him dead on the floor too. Seeing both corpses on the floor, Cunegonde, even more frightened that before, was saying that it was our last hour and we were going to be severely punished. I assured her it was for the best because I love her and all men do crazy things when they are in love. Fortunately the old women knew exactly what to do. She showed us to the horses and told us to get Cunegonde’s diamonds and moidores to take with us to Cadiz. The weather outside was very nice since it was night and we traveled for thirty miles without stopping. We stopped at an inn in the little town of Aracena, where we ended our eventful day in discussion.

Idea: Voltaire includes this chapter because it shows Candide’s devotion to Cunegonde. Candide says he is willing to do anything for even kill someone, like he did, when he says “When a man is in love, is jealous. And has been flogged by the Inquisition, he does the most surprising things.” (23) He proved his statement correct when he killed the Jew and the Inquisitor and ran away with her.

Satire:
“That great philosopher would have given us good advice in this emergency. Since we have not him, let us consult the old women.”(22) This is an example of black humor because he is making fun of women and saying that the philosopher isn’t hear to give them good advice the have to get it from the old lady.

“There are three Andalusian horses in the stable, with there saddles and bridles” (23) This is and example of deus ex machina because it is a coincident that there is exactly three horses for the three of them with their saddles to get away.

“But the stalwart young west phalian had received, along with the suit of clothes that the old women gave him, and excellent sword.”(22) This is also example of deus ex machina because it is unlikely that the women would have given him a sword because they were expensive and even if she did give it to him why would he wear it, who was he planning on fighting against.

The Jesuit Baron

This part of my life is probably one of the most depressing parts of my life. It all started when I saw how the Bulgarians savagely murdered my parents. On top of this after the Bulgarians left I could not see my sister anywhere, so I assumed the worst. When the Bulgarians were gone mass burial processions started to happen, and I was thought to be dead! When the Jesuit sprinkled the mass of bodies with holy water I tasted a salty flavor, and some drops trickled into my eyes. This stung, so my eyes flickered a bit, but enough for the father to see it and check my pulse rate. Naturally it was still going (other wise I would not be writing this blog). After a couple of days I was sent to Rome by the Reverend Father Croust. He informed me that our Genera was looking for young German Jesuits. I was considered to be a fit enough young man to work in the vineyard. When I arrived at the site I was given a subdeaconship. This means an official recognition that I am a follower of the deacons. I was also given a lieutenancy, giving me a higher rank in the army. When we heard that the troops of the king of Spain were coming, I was told that we would beat the soldiers, and that then they would be excommunicated. Everybody knows that is the worst thing that can happen to a person. It happened to be the case that the Baron was with me. I was informed that the Governor of Buenos Aires was with Cunégonde the Baron’s sister. Both of us wanted to recover her alive, as it was his sister, and as I intended to marry her. This was not a smart thing to tell the Baron. I figured this out after it was too late and I had already said it. We got into a little argument, and I ended up killing “my old master”. The emotions that were running through me are inexplicable, but if you killed a close friend you would know what I am talking about. Cacambo, the guard at the gate saw what had happened, and he thought of a way to get out of this by having me put on the clothes of the Baron. There is much more to come, but you will have to wait!


There are several techniques that Voltaire uses in this chapter. Voltaire uses "Deus ex machina" which means that the hero gets saved in a miraculous way.This happens at the beginning of the chapter when the Jesuit drops water on the corpses, and that Candide's eyes flickered, that was some what unlikely. eyes flicking slightly can't be seen very easily. Voltaire also uses understatement, when Candide kills the Baron. Voltaire also uses overstatement when the Baron says; "as you will remember, my dear Candide, I was a very handsome lad."(Pg 39).

The reason Voltaire included this chapter is somewhat hard to think of. Several reasons can be thought of. Some reasons I thought of include: it can be to demonstrate the importance of religion, or the lightness around the fact that Candide killed the Baron. In my opinion it also displayes family values to a certain extent. This is because the Baron wants to recover his sister, and when he hears Candide about marrying Cunegonde he is not happy about that. this chapter seems to spread over quite a bit of time. This is probably due to all of the events that take place within the chapter. The chapter seems to go on and on through many events, these events are not in very great detail.

Cunégonde Re-found

I was in a bad mood today but in this case I still followed the old lady. She led me to a hovel and gave me ointment for my back and food. Daily she came and brought me food and cared for my wounds. Right before the lady leaves she tells me some people’s names to watch over me, but I was still dazed about what happened to me, so in that case I did not bother to pay attention. For her kindness I felt it necessary to kiss her hand, but she did not say thank you all she said was, “It’s not my hand you should kiss.” She left and said she will be back to anoint my back tomorrow.
The lady came in brought me breakfast, also put ointment on my wounds and checked to see if my back was getting any better. Then she brought me lunch and dinner. This same routine happened for about a few days and I kept asking who she was, why she was so kind and how could I show my gratitude, but every time I ask she does not ever give me reply. Then one day the same old lady came into my room, but without any supper and I was confused because she asked me to come with her and do not speak. She took me and bit in the country to a little lonely house.
When ever the lady took me to the door she just simply knocked on the door and the door opened to the knock. The lady brought me to a gilt room and she sat me down on a brocaded sofa. I felt that my past was a nightmare and the present was a dream, but it was fairly pleasant.
When she came back into the room, she brought a lady with her who was trembling and covered in beautiful, expensive jewels.
When I took off her veil, to my amazement it was Mistress Cunégonde! I feel speechless to her feet and she fell backwards onto the sofa.
For some reason it was to hard to believe it was Cunégonde. So I had to ask her if it was really her and alive in Portugal because I heard that they ravished her and ripped open her belly.
She told me that this did happen to her and her mother, her father, and brother were killed. I also asked her how she managed to come to Portugal and be at this house. She told me she shall tell me the story, so I listened to her obey and ready to listen to her story.

IDEA:
Voltaire includes the chapter because it shows how Candide was feeling before he realized that Cunégonde was still alive. it also shows that he is apperciates the kindness of the old lady and how much kindness she is showing to wards him. this chapter also prepares us to hear the story of Cunégonde's horrifying adventure because the chapter just ends before she starts her story because the next chapter is her story.

SATIRE:
Deus ex machina- the old lady in this chapter is the hand of God because she is helping to take care of Candide without any repay because she will not even tell Candide her name
Irony- this chapter was ironic because I did not expect Cunégonde to be at the little lonely house. i knew she was going to be re-found because of the chapet title but .not in Portugal, with the same old lady's care taking.

chapter IV

Julie Biart
3-4-7
B block
English 101




Candide : Yes To Chocolate & Syphilis
Chapter 4


Nothing hurts more than having seen such a sight under my eyes; of a beggar contaminated by the horrible disease of syphilis.
His body was completely ravaged from it, along with sores that covered him; the end of his nose is eaten off, his mouth not in the proper position but twisted to one side with black teeth underneath.
I saw him struggling as he tried to speak, coughing violently and spitting out a tooth every once in a while.
Gross. I thought to myself; yet somehow I pitied him.
I looked closer, his eyes were all weird, and to my wonder, I realized it’s none other but Pangloss, my dear master.
It’s amazing what a disease can do to you. But I am so thankful that syphilis was brought here from the New World in a brave womenn, Paquette, who traveled over there, with Columbus. If she had not done so, syphilis would not have been brought back to Europe and we Europeans would not have tasted the New World’s wonders such as chocolate. Yes, I came up with that reasoning thanks to Pangloss, what a genius.

After seeing Pangloss in such weird circumstances, I questioned him on what had happened to him, why he was in this condition, why he wasn’t in his castle and what had become of Mistress Cunegonde.
He couldn’t respond straight away. I lead him to the Anabaptist stable, where I fetched him some food. Once he felt better, I resumed to my questions and he answered back with the horrible news of my beloved Cundegonde’s death.
I was told that I fainted. Before I did, I remember the confused and blurred out emotions that were in me. I could not and would not believe what I had heard. It couldn’t be possible and I wouldn’t let it be true.
After I woke up I questioned even more, asking what was the point of her father kicking me out of the castle, what illness she died of and where had the best of worlds vanished to.
I was told that Cundegonde was raped and killed by Bulgarian soldiers. Her father, dead because he was defending his daughter, along with the Barones that were disemboweled. All the gruesome details were not necessary, but before I could say anything, Pangloss went on telling me how his pupil was damaged and that the castle was completely destroyed. Nothing was left, and by nothing I mean not even a single barn, animal, tree or stone.
It was so bizarre and perplexing hearing all these terrible news. I felt like I was dreaming, and that when I would wake up everything would be like before.

Despite the fact that Pangloss was physically ravaged and disfigured, he was got cured thanks to James who found a doctor. In the end, Pangloss was left in result with a one eye and an ear, even though he got help.
Due to Pangloss’s great writing skills, and him being an excellent arithmetician, James hired him as his bookkeeper, and brought him to Lisbon on his business trip. During the voyage, Pangloss explained to James his creed, that I am supporting, which is that this world is the best of all possible worlds and that there is no effect without a cause. However, James the Anabaptist disagreed. He thinks the opposite of us, and I quote him: “Men must have deviated somewhat from their original innocent, they were not born wolves but they are become wolves. God did not give them 24 pounders nor bayonets, but they have made these things for their own destruction. I might also speak of bankruptcies, and the law which seizes upon the property of bankrupts solely in order to keep it from the creditors.”
According to them, after the discussion the ship was in sight of Lisbon’s harbor with a terrible storm starting.
Worried, I am. But I pray that everything will go smoothly.

‡IDEA: Voltaire included this chapter because it shows how naïve Candide is. He has been taught the positive notion that all is for the best, by Pangloss, and to stay optimistic in all circumstances.
Pangloss was telling him how syphilis is a good disease, because of the reasoning I listed above. Candide, obviously, agrees which, all over again, shows how naïve he is.
The contradictory ( ? ) between Pangloss’s creed and James’s, are totally different.
Voltaire is also trying to attack the religious hypocrisy that one might be defending. Voltaire also wants to show the power the Bulgarian’s possessed, what terrifying things they could do to humans etc. The idea is to emphasize and focus on the terrible condition of Pangloss and the debating between their beliefs.

Chapter VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (18), El Dorado-2

SOOOOOOO after we entered this most amazing town, as I was still astonished of the customs and objects found around here (who would let children play with gold?), we met an old man who, he said, was 172 years old and he said he saw and knew about everything. He told us about the Spaniards that had named this place El Dorado, and that an english prince came very close to finding this town but couldnt because of the rocky mountains in his way. I thought that this was the most amazing place I had seen in my life! The streets were almost paved in gold.


He then told me about the women here, the arts, the customs of ED and then Cacambo asked what religion ED believed in. He said the same one that the rest of the world believed in, I thought he musnt know that much since he has only heard of one religion, which turned out to be a very strange one where everyone was a priest and no one got hurt because of it; this town didnt even have a prison!


So then we were invited to stay at the King's castle which was made of some sort of gold. It was the most incredible greeting I ever had in my short life: we were greeted by beautiful maids that dressed us and we were then led to the King's quarters where 2000 musicians played for us! I was starting to love this place!


We were shown the city with its tall buildings and abundant city life and I saw the Palace of the Sciences which was amazing.


So we spent a month as guests of the king and it was one of the best months of my life, but then I remembered that we had to go back to Buenes Aires for Cunegonde, my one and only love. So the king reluctantly agreed to let us go and built a machine to carry us and gold ladden sheep out of ED to the frontier.


And so we set off to find Cunegonde and to show her that I would not return empty handed, I had the sheep.

In this chapter, Voltaire uses several different satirical techniques.
When Candide and Cacambo meet the wise old man, they ask him what religion the people of ED are and he answers that they are the only religion that exists; he thinks there is only one religion in the world and it is not that serious for them: everyone is a priest, there are not conflicts about religion unlike the rest of the world that bases most of its wars or battles on conflicts. This is IRONIC because religion is actually so important and that Voltaire is suggesting that a heaven is somewhere where religion is only a minor factor in everyday life.

Another instance of IRONY in this chapter is when Candide asks for "a few sheep laden with the victuals, pebbles and the clay of your country". To the people of El Dorado, gold and precious stones are nothing and mean nothing; which is the opposite of what the rest of the world thinks. Voltaire is saying that a heaven (ED) is a place with a different value system then the normal societies and where money is not what makes the world go round.

When Cacambo and Candide greet the King by kissing him on both cheeks, Voltaire is suggesting that there are no social classes in ED and that that is what is best since ED is a Utopia. It is ironic because Kings are greeted with great honor and distinction in most parts of the world, Europe especially.

Cunegonde's Epic

Today has been the most terrible, yet terrific day. After my flogging in the court, I was taken by a dear old woman and was fed and given a place to rest. When I awoke and thanked the gracious woman, she told me that it was not her to thank. In fact, it was her mistress Cunegonde! As you can imagine, my happiness was more than words can express now.
After we were reunited again, Cunegonde told her story of all that had befallen her since our last meeting. Her misfortunes have been great and her trials hardly bearable to think of. I almost fainted when she recounted watching the slitting of her father’s throat and the slicing up of her mother. When I learned of the Bulgarian stabbing her, my curiosity of the scar was insatiable, but my eagerness to hear about the rescuing captain kept me eagerly listening. He adopted poor Cunegonde as a servant and took a high liking for her. Three months later, he decided to sell Cunegonde to a Jew, Don Issachar. She did not fancy him as she had the Captain, but he had an eye for her. By now, Cunegonde had traveled a great deal, from Thunder-Ten-Tronckh to Holland, Portugal and finally Lisbon. While in Mass one day, she was observed by the Grand Inquisitor, the very same who ordered my flogging and the auto-da-fes! He too liked Cunegonde and thought it outrageous that she be the property of an Israelite. I too, agree with him. He told Don Issachar that he should let him have Cunegonde or he would have an auto-da-fe. Not having much choice, Don Issachar asked for a joint sharing of Cunegonde and the house. This the Inquisitor agreed to and she was shared half the week with Don Issachar and the other with the Inquisitor. I do not feel comfortable with this arrangement, but there must be some reason and good as to why it took place. Anyway, the Inquisitor invited Cunegonde to his auto-da-fe and that is where she first saw me. Her character warm and loving, she immediately ordered her maid to tend to me after my floggings. And now I am at the point in the story most present. We have just finished dinner and are about to immerse ourselves in conversation again. To be continued later this evening (Chapter IX).

Satiric Techniques
1: "Angered by the man's failure to rise to his feet and salute, the captain killed him upon my body" (19). This is an overstatement. This is criticizing the army and nobility on their careless killings. Just because the soldier didn't solute, he was killed.

2: "The upshot was that my Jew came to a composition, whereby this house and myself should belong to the two of them jointly" (20). This is an example of Black Humor. It is immoral and wrong to share a woman like property.

3: "To think that my dear Candide and wise Pangloss should be here in Lisbon, the one to receive a hundred lashes and the other to be hanged, and all on the orders of my Lord Inquisitor- and he my suitor". This is ironic, because Cunegonde's suitor is punishing Candide, her lover. Cunegonde realizes this, when she sees Candide for the first time since his departure of Thunder-ten-tronckh, but the two men do not.

IDEAS
Voltaire includes this chapter to give an insight on Cunegone's character and all that had happend until the reunion with Candide. Voltaire is showing us that Cunegonde doesn't really care about what happens to her. She says, "A chaste woman may be ravished once, but her virtue is all the stronger for it" (20). When confronted with various different men, she prides herself that they love her and doesn't care that she is treated as a maid and property. Voltaire is pointing out that women at that time only cared about material things and that they also were considered material things by men.

The luckiest, most horrible day in my life

November 1st, 1755
Dear reader,

Today was a horrible day. A mix of danger and emotions has torn me apart. While we were on the ship going towards Lisbon, a terrible storm began to form. The boat was rocking about, and many people were becoming sick. As Pangloss has always said, everything happens for the best, so I didn’t worry too much. I heard someone scream, and I could barely hear them over the hard winds, so I ran out onto the deck, where I saw a sailor, calmly looking into the water; he was staring at something. I looked down into the sea and I saw James! I was so panicked at first I didn’t know what to do, but I pulled myself together and decided I should help him. I was about to jump in and try to save him when Pangloss held me back. He convinced me that the storm had been created especially for James to die, as everything has a reason and is for the best. I could not come to this idea, for he was a kind man who had helped us and nourished us when we were on the streets. Pangloss was talking to me about this when the ship suddenly broke in half! We struggled to stay at the surface of the water. After the ship had sunk, the only survivors were Pangloss and I, as well as the sailor who let James drown. He swam back to shore, and we floated to it on a wooden plank. We thought the worst was over, and we were grateful to find that we still had some money, when the earth suddenly shook. It was an earthquake! The sailor thought that he was going to be killed by this and so he quickly got drunk. I did not pay much attention to him as I was trying to dodge flying stones and rocks from the surrounding buildings. I suddenly then got hit by one and I can’t remember much, for I fainted quickly after. The next day, we went out to help the other citizens look for survivors. As thanks for our help, they fed us with a good meal (under the circumstances) and Pangloss talked to them about his belief that this earthquake had been for a good reason. A man from the Inquisition questioned him about this belief, and Pangloss responded him quickly and convincingly. I wish I could think up answers like that!

Satiric Techniques:

-Irony: James the anabaptist is killed when he drowns during the shipwreck and Pangloss stops Candide from going in after him because he says that James is supposed to drown. Candide is unhappy with this, but he knows that Pangloss is right.

-Deus ex Machina: After the shipwreck, the only survivors happen to be Candide, Pangloss and the sailor who let James drown. Candide and Pangloss are very lucky to still be alive after all they have been through.

-Overstatement: "Thirty thousand inhabitants were crushed beneath the ruins" (Voltaire 13). This quote is talking about the earthquake on November 1st, 1755. However, in the footnote, it says that only 20,000 people died.

Idea: Voltaire included this chapter in Candide because he wanted to show how some people such as Candide really followed people such as Pangloss without questioning anything about their thoughts, just accepting them. He wants to show this because he is making fun of the fact that most people, usually rich people because they don't have anything to worry about compared to peasants an very poor people who have huge problems daily, go alon with anything other people say, without using their own brains to think for themselves. Most people who do this never think for themselves, and so miss out on a big part of their life, just because they followed someone else's ideas and not their own. However, some people find out the hard way that they need to figure out their own ideas, without anyone's help, like Candide. Before, Candide only believed in Pangloss's theory that everything is the best, so whether it is good or bad, it must happen. However, during his trip to Lisbon in the ship, and after the earthquake, Candide starts to doubt the truth of this theory. He starts to think for himself because he sees that the death of a friend, and many other people shouldn't have to be, and therefore wouldn't be for the best.

El Dorado, pt. 1

After narrowly escaping being eaten be the people of Oreillion, my servant and I got into a fight about which way to travel. I insisted that we not go far from where my dear Cunegonde was, but Cacambo insisted that we flee to civilized Europe as fast as possible. I then exclaimed that we were not better off in my country, as the Bulgarians and Arabians are making the place a wasteland, and in Portugal I would be burnt. Cacambo, being the wise man he is, said "Let us make for Cayenne. We will find Frenchmen there--they are everywhere--and they will be able to help us." So that's what we did.

This turned out to be no easy task. We knew about where we wanted to go, just not how to get there. For over two months we traversed lands full of mountains, rivers, precipices, brigands, and savages. After four weeks, our horses died of fatigue, and we had to travel by foot. A week later, we ran out of provisions, and had to rely on the land to provide us with wild fruit and the like. One day, despite our lack of energy, we rejoiced, having found an empty canoe upon a river. After all the toil we had done to get to that stream, we decided to take a break and sail down the river. After all, we were tires, and there are always inhabitants of some sort on riverbanks. So we loaded some locally found fruit and headed downstream.

We past a variety of banks on our voyage. Some were full of sweet-smelling flowers; some were lush with beautifully colored birds filling the air with their melodious songs; while others were barren and scorched. We then came across a tunnel that lay ahead of us. Risking our lives, we decided to take the river that went through it, not knowing of its end. After a day or so of loud rushing and gurgling echoes, we saw the end of the tunnel, and deep ravine walls outside. Just as we exited this tunnel into the brilliant light, out canoe was bashed to pieces on the rocks. We dragged on for what seemed to be four hours, hopping across slippery rocks trying to find a way out. At the end of the ravine, we saw a vast landscape, lined with insurmountable mountains.

This land was the most beautiful that we had ever seen. It was cultivated with beauty and crops, and the people were carried in nearly extravagant carriages pulled by creatures that looked like red sheep. This was truly a secluded place allowed to flourish, and was better than all the other countries in Europe combined.

As we strolled towards the glittering city, we saw a peculiar site. Some local children were playing with some rather precious-looking stones. They were marbles made of gold, emerald, and ruby. I made the logical assumption that the kids were the king's children, and the teacher who beckoned them inside was the Royal Tutor. The children then left the rare stones, and the teacher took no notice to them. Puzzled, we continued into the city.

We came to a grand palace with sweet music and the smell of a savory meal. The people all spoke a language that I knew as Peruvian, and said aloud, kind of to myself, "I will be the interpreter."

The building was an inn, and we entered to find a meal, as we were famished. What we were served for dinner was beyond what the kings of Europe could imagine. We ate a total of 4 soups, each garnished with various exotic animals, such as parrots, monkeys, hummingbirds, and fly-trappers. Everyone at our dinner table, even the weary peddlers, had excellent table manners and talked politely with our guests.

After the meal, we did not know how to pay for our vastly expensive-looking dinner. When we asked the inn keeper, he laughed and said that all inns are free to travelers, as they are payed for by the government. He then apologized for the meal, saying that we were in a poor town, and as such, the meal was of poor quality. We were truly bemused by this experience.

...

In this passage, Voltaire uses various satirical techniques such as deus ex machina, slap stick, and situational irony. First, throughout this passage, the characters are being saved by unreasonable circumstances. In one instance, after walking around aimlessly for weeks, they just happen to come by a stream flanked with fruit trees, and an empty canoe tied up on the bank. However, it seems as though the characters are saved just to be punished again. For example, after being saved by the canoe, they are bashed onto a reef. They then are saved by the town of El Dorado, to be later let back out into the harsh, cruel mountains. Also, the townspeople in El Dorado seem to so good in their ways that they mock at all Europeans who have, compared to them, barbaric ways. Voltaire's characters are the "ideal" people, and seem to bash the ways of Europeans.

The main idea presented in this passage is subtle mocking of the greed in Europe. In one instance, Candide sees the school children playing with precious stones, and thinks that they are the kings kids. However, when the stones are left behind, he notices nobody cares - the townspeople are without greed. Voltaire uses this instance to mock the amount of greed in Europe. By making the townspeople more content than those in Europe, he shows that if Europe became less focused on money, the overall society would benefit.