Commentary On Voltaires Candide

comment On Voltaires CandideVoltaires work, Candide, uses powerful satirical communicatory to represent thraldom in the eighteenth century, the supposed Age of Reason, and Candides epiphany, delineated finishedout the course of the extract. The expiration follows the travels of Candide and his fellows to Buenos-Aires, in search of his beloved Cungonde. After five days of travelling, he arrives, with Cacambo, outside the town of Surinam, where they encounter a mutilated knuckle down.The theme of bondage is represented most effectively through the descriptions given by the characters, quite than the physical description of the scene provided by the narrator. A slave or negrave is found on the ground. His physical position, cutetendu par terre, reflects his complaisant twelvemonth and the degradation of slaves. The slaves garment, un caleccedilon de toile bleue, is hardly weather-proof or durable, highlighting the poverty endured by slaves and the ruthless attitude of their get the hang. Voltaire withholds the name of the slave, emphasising the disregard for human spirit implied indoors society. Ngre is use to represent the entire slave population. This pejorative frontier further highlights societys attitude. However, it is important to n maven that Candide first c anys him mon ami, indicating his open nature, perhaps a reflection of Voltaires opinion of sla actually.Whilst the get the hang of slaves are very disrespectful of their slaves, the ngre calls his keeper matre, showing a profound respect. To add to master grandeur, the slave recalls his position in society, qualifying it with the adjective fameux. In this paragraph, the delineation of slavery is brutal, with the tragedies of the workplace and punishment discussed with a banal acceptance. The language used when the slave describes how la meule nous attrape le doigt, on nous coupe la main quand nous voulons nous enfuir, on nous coupe la jambe gives a feeling of breathlessness and the fu tility of his attempt to escape. This description of suffering draws accurately on legislation concerning delinquent slaves set out in in the 1685 grave Noir.The description also draws a parallel surrounded by the relationship between the slave and his master. Voltaires use of restrictive adverbials, such as neque shew the physical effects of cruelty on the slave. The language used by the slave is resigned, with a repetitive use of passive structures such as on nous. The slave then coldly articulates, cest ce prix que vous mangez du sucre en Europe. This frank statement highlights the corruption, not only in slavery, but in all levels of society.Leibnizs philosophy of Optimism is evident in the representation of slavery. The slaves resigned account shows an acceptance of life shared with those who follow the belief of Optimism. Leibniz claimed that both human and moral evils were tender occasion of a greater good.This is further emphasised by the qualification of slavery by the contract of the slave as un honneur. The slave adds an optimistic cependant this sharp element of bathos reinforces Pangloss meilleur des mondes outlook on life. This optimistic view, personified through Pangloss, contrasts greatly with Candides opinions after witnessing the situation. The absurdity of Optimism, with reference to the slave-trade, is shown when Cacambo asks, Quest-ce que quoptimisme? Cacambo has not used an hold before optimism, emphasising how little he cares for it. With reference to the novel as a whole, Optimism is only mentioned directly within this passage. As soon as it is mentioned, it is denounced. march on to the slaves account, he compares his situation with that of des chiens, des singes et des perroquets. The animals might possibly represent the different social classes within society.The passage emphasises how slavery was represented in monetary terms the slave was sold by his mother for ten cus patagons, the currency of Spain at the time. Mor eover, throughout the slaves account of how he came to be in this position, it appears that slavery was represented differently in the West from the homelands of the slaves. The ngre recalls how his mother told him ils te feront vivre heureux, describing it as an honour to work for nos seigneurs, les blancs. It is interesting that the masters are classed as les Blancs. Voltaire divides society not only by social class, but also by race. It is clear that the people of Guine were let down by the notion of slavery.The confusion is further emphasised by the phantasmal theme central to the passage. The lexical field of religion emphasises the religious beliefs of the slaves, a central theme in their Afri open fire culture. Evidently, the slave is religious, as he attends church tous les dimanches. However, Voltaire highlights, even again, the corruption within society by make it clear to the reader that the slave had been converted. The Pasteur claims that they are tous enfants dAdam , blancs et noirs. This contradicts his earlier statement of the masters being les blancs. Like his clothes and culture, his religious identity has been stripped from him. Here, Voltaire is criticising the social system of the period. It is clear that the slaves are taught what they know not to be true, yet they accept it as it is the way of the sphere in which they live.Despite Voltaires intriguing depiction of slavery in the passage, it is interesting to look critically at Candides attitude to the situation. When he first encounters the slave on the road, he addresses him in a friendly manner, symbolising his naiveness and lack of understanding. Voltaires portrayal of Candides naivety is referenced even in his name. Candide is taken from Latin and connotes whiteness, openness, naivety, innocence and, more(prenominal) negatively, inexperience and credulity. The passive language of the slave throughout his description of his terrible ordeal is a direct juxtaposition with the raw emotion visualised through Candides contradiction.The flaws in Panglosss optimism are clearly highlighted, especially during Candides discourse. W.H Barber signal that the characters help Voltaire in his purpose of parodying the episodic adventure novel making it realizable for the reader to view characters and narrative as it were externally, and consequently critically to become sure of the caricature and exaggeration, the deliberate implausibilities, the bathetic contrasts. Despite Candides denouncing of belief, he does little else to react to the situation. Candide merely begins to cry, leaving the slave where he found him. The reader criticises Candide for not helping to free the slave from his bind in society. Voltaire is provoking this reaction in the reader to make clear the effects of passivity. He also seems to regard the problem as so large and horrifying that one can only weep and go on ones way, or presumably, pertain to eat sugar with a guilty conscience.Throug hout this passage, irony plays very little part. However, other narrative techniques are busy. Personal deixis is used when Candide is talk of the town to the slave. He asks, que fais-tu l, mon ami, dans ltat horrible o je te vois?Here it is impossible for the reader to understand the situation and the horrible state that the slave is in without reading into the context of the question.The theme of culture can be thoroughly examined in this passage. Talking en hollandais, Candide emphasises his European downplay compared with the African culture of the slave. Division within society is clearly illustrated when the slave tells Candide that his mutilation is the price that he has paid to eat sugar en Europe. Voltaire demonstrates that the world is divided. Interestingly, the slave understands Candides Dutch, highlighting their pagan awareness, the importance of communication and the enforcement of other cultures upon slaves. The cultural toleration of the slaves is juxtaposed with the attitude of Western civilisation. African culture appears to be more family-oriented when compared with Candides upbringing. The slave refers to his mother, ma mere, showing his respect for the advice given to him by his family.Throughout this passage of Voltaires Candide, slavery is represented in a descend of ways, most notably by the description provided by the slave himself. In addition, Candides attitude highlights the philosophy of Optimism that Voltaire aims to discuss throughout the entire book. It is said that the narrative of Candide is .. a vehicle carefully designed to convey a philosophic discussion of topical concern both to the author and reader. In conclusion, Voltaire has employed a palette of narrative techniques to enrich this passage of the book.Word study= 1,490Bibliography MHRA formatBarber, W.H., Studies in French Literature 5, Voltaire Candide (London W.H. 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