Not medium rare, just crude.

Candide is by far the crudest novel I have ever read. Although the beginning of the book has just some cruel and shocking descriptions, the book has become as graphic as 90’s horror film. The descriptions and the lack of importance of strong scenes characterize this part of the novel.

“I am the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina” (pg. 49)

The importance of this quote is immense yet it’s not given much significance by the book and the story just continues as if nothing had happened. Take this quote part by part and you realize what it is. First of all there is a footnote of it, first time in the book. The note tells us the cleverness the author had in the writing of it, the footnote is written by him however and idolizes himself. The author also notes that “Pope Urban X” has never existed yet the critique to the church is felt.  The fact that the pope had an illegitimate son with a member of the royal family is extremely controversial yet the book continues seamlessly.

“In the end I saw my mother and all our Italian ladies torn limb from limb, slashed, and massacred by the monsters that fought for them.” (Pg. 52)

Descriptions like these are abundant throughout the chapter and they are the first ones that are indeed candid. How is it that such a thing could happen to a beautiful group of woman? Many woman have been killed, raped, and tortured this might be showing us how many woman stood in the sixteenth century, weak and at the mercy of men. The titles of the chapters even show the statue of woman, “The old woman’s misfortune continued” I wonder whether Voltaire is just showing the poor statue lady’s had back then or critiquing it.

““Cut just one buttock off each of these ladies…and that will provide you with a delicious meal…”” (Pg. 56)

What I thought would become a love story has become crude and gory. This is great: love stories lack the truth that crude ones might contain. Instead of having an extremely fictional tale of two people we have now realistic fiction in the sixteenth century. I couldn’t have dreamed of such a great transformation.