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)