A Turn for the Worst

Candide has gotten weaker and weaker throughout these chapters. The well-developed plot, the unique style, and the satire have all left the novel. It has become just a simple European tale of the new world. I am quite disappointed with Voltaire. As a novel, Candide continues to stand out from the crows but compared to what it was, it’s nothing.

The plot in the new world bores me. The lack of interest might be because of the excess of poems, epics, and biographies I’ve read. Voltaire maintains me interested with his satire, which appears to have become almost invisible. Only by reading closely will you find Voltaire’s opinion. “They are partly human, just as I am partly Spanish.’” The satire behind the quote bashes the ideal of having Spanish blood. The quote is referring to half monkey half humans, which appears to be equal to being a half-blood. Seams absurd that people would think not being Spanish was like being a monkey.

“‘Do you mean to say you have no monks teaching people and disputing, governing and intriguing, and having people burned if they don’t subscribe to their opinions?’

‘We should be stupid if we had’”

As shown in the quote, the author uses the utopia of Eldorado to critique society and demonstrate what it should be. Demonstrated by the quote above, and other satire in previous chapters, Voltaire sees religion as unnecessary and mad. Although in previous chapters, the critique was less obvious, he takes no expense and openly bashes religion. They other remark made is for money and greed. I agree with the point our author makes, it causes many problems. “ ‘ I don’t understand you European taste for our yellow mud,’ he said; ‘but take all you want and much good may it do to you.’” As you may know Eldorado was a city pursued by Spaniards for centuries, Voltaire twists it around to show how the lack of greed creates harmony: outstanding.

I was most surprised with the rhetoric used by Cacambo with the Indians. The casual satire amuses me but the way he spoke to the Oreillons. The way he used pathos, ethos, and logos was amazing. “But, gentlemen, you would not wish to eat your friends. You think you are going to skewer a Jesuit; but it’s your defender…” The natives end up freeing them. With tints of related topics and a change of plot this book should return to its stature.