To me, Candide is saying that without human suffering there would be no happiness in the world. Every time Candide faltered or was hurt by someone or something he found someone he loved but that he thought he had lost forever. Thus making all that hurt and sadness he felt almost disappear. He struggled so much through everything yet never gave up searching for his true love. This seems to show that human suffering does nothing for the heart. They say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. And this story proved that to the fullest.
I have never heard such horrible stories as these people endured yet they still prevailed. Even the woman who lost half her butt still kept going because she knew life was worth living. The barbarianism described in this story was horrendous but without it Candide, and all the others, would never have been able to understand how lucky they were to have one another. It was interesting to hear how each one of them "died" yet never really died.
It was amazing to hear Pangloss's philosophy on cause and effect. Without the cause of human suffering: other humans; there would be no effect: happiness after surviving the suffering. Thus is it true, cause and effect is what makes the world go 'round; and without it we would cease to exist as human beings.
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So, Candide suggests human suffering is the sole cause of human happiness.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the novel seem to say about true love?
Does the old woman keep on keeping on because of a love of life or because she is too afraid to kill herself?
"Endure," "prevail," "persevere"...Does Voltaire use any of these terms? Why or why not?
Yes, dying without really dying. Is Voltaire making fun of anything in this way?
Pangloss's attitude...Does the novel as a whole adopt Pangloss's attitude or does it reject it?