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Flashcards in Candide Deck (60)
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1
Q

What does Pangloss teach Candide?

A

Métaphysico-théologo-cosmoloni-gologie

2
Q

Signs of the wealth of the Baron- how is this criticised?

A

He has windows and a carpet in the hall

The name Thunder-ten-tronckh, primitive-sounding name undercuts the family’s pride in their noble heritage

3
Q

What is Pangloss’ theory about evil and why people do not understand it?

A

Human beings don’t understand it because it they do not see the good it brings

4
Q

What does the character of Candide imply?

A

An overall criticism of the optimism of Philosophers like Leibniz.

5
Q

What is Candide’s first experience of the real world and education?

A

The war with the bulgars

He is forced to run the gauntlet after being given the choice between that and death

6
Q

How is the war described?

A

as harmonious- such that would not even exist in Hell

7
Q

Who teaches Candide that perhaps there is a certain truth to pangloss’ statement

A

The anabaptist takes him to his rug factory

8
Q

Why is Syphilis necessary according to pangloss?

A

has colombus not gone to the New world and discovered Syphilis then they would not be able to have all the chocolate in Europe

9
Q

Voltaire’s view on religion

A

the purpose of religion is to unite- by eliminating the hierarchical structure of religion there would be no need to fight wars- the example of El Dorado shows this utopia
He also maintains that religions should be separated from politics

10
Q

How is the Orator used to criticise the function of religion ?

A

The orator cares more about the concept of religion than being aware of the realisation of these values- ie ignores the suffering people like Candide. Religion may be therefore a distraction

11
Q

what does Jaques the anabaptist do?

A

Saves the soldier from falling into the sea when they hit the storm near Lisbon- he dies though.

12
Q

Why is Pangloss accused of heresy?

A

Because the ‘optimist’ Pangloss believes that the sin of the earthquake happened for a reason.

13
Q

Why is Candide flogged?

A

Because he had an air of approval to the thinking of Pangloss. After this he wonders why all the bad things had to happen- why was Jaques killed?

14
Q

Who else do learn has started to doubt the teachings of Pangloss?

A

Cunégonde has seen horrible things, raped and sold on and even saw the death of Pangloss.

15
Q

What happens to Don Issachar- the man who, along with another man held captive Cunégonde?

A

Candide kills them both and they take the jewels and the horses and go to the new world along with la Vieille

16
Q

How does the old woman give Cunégonde a lesson?

A

She says that she should stop complaining and that she has suffered more than they could imagine

17
Q

what could the death of Jaques represent

A
  1. the uselessness of christian values

2. the inferiority of good to evil

18
Q

How does Voltaire criticise indifference?

A

The sailor who indulges himself whilst others suffer the impact of the earthquake represents the indifference that was so dangerous yet so present in the world.

19
Q

What is the story of the vielle?

A

she says how she went from marrying a prince to being sold as a slave in Morocco

20
Q

What does the woman curse about suffering

A

that despite it we still want to live- she gives the example of the Eunuch who raped her, despite this experience she still wanted to live - she claims that the other men on the boat will have the same outlook

21
Q

What happens when they arrive in BA?

A

the woman urges Cunégonde to marry the wealthy governor as it will bring her good fortune

22
Q

What about the story of the old woman shows the out dated image and practices of the western world?

A

The officers resort to cannibalism by eating the woman’s buttocks, instead of breaking the oath

23
Q

The woman shows a level of intelligence- what is her stance in comparison to Pangloss?

A

She is pessimistic, but at the same time highly aware. For example she urges Candide to make judgements based on evidence rather than speculating like the philosophers do.

24
Q

What is the only asset of women in 18th century society?

A

They are seen as sexual objects and the beauty of Cunégonde helps her to attract Don Fernando

25
Q

What do the long list of names that Don fernando has suggest?

A

It mocks the over importance of the nobility of the time

26
Q

When Cacambao and Candide get to Paraguay what are the series of events that unfold?

A

They encounter an Colonel who they learn is the brother of Cunégonde.
He tells them of his misfortune after the war of the Bulgras, he has since been converted to a jesuit.
Candide reveals he would like to marry Cunégonde, however this displeases the Colonel because he lacks status. Candide kills him. Again the encounter highlights the arrogance of the European aristocracy.

27
Q

Explain the encounter with the Oreillons

A

the Oreillons try to kill C and C on the account that they are Jésuits but fortunatley Cacambao speaks their language and bargains with them saying how they are not Jésuit

28
Q

What do the chapters on El Dorado show?

A

The hidden beauty of the new world - c’est probablement ‘un pays où tout va bien’
It also shows the horrible to side colonization- criticising again the western practices
El dorado has no courts nor prisons and they all answer to one god under one religion- all equal.

29
Q

How does Candide react to the place

A

he says to Cacambao several times that this world surpasses the chateau in westphalie. They are given jewels and sheep and Candide has no other desire than to go and show his sheep to Cunégonde- he wants to create his own kingdom.

30
Q

How does Candide get tricked?

A

He meets Vanderdendur who says he can help him get to France- he tricks him though and takes all his sheep and jewels on the boat

31
Q

What are the negative points about El Dorado?

A

The jewels are only of value in the outside world
It is an inaccessible place
The jewels inspires greed in Candide

32
Q

How does the experience with money start to affect Candide?

A

He slowly starts to identify with the old woman’s view of pessimism

33
Q

What happens on the way to Bourdeaux?

A

En route to Bourdeaux they encounter a battle between two ships. one of which belongs to Vanderdendur- this ship sinks. Candide is happy that he has met this end, but wonders why the men of the ship with him had to die too

34
Q

What does Martin say about gOD?

A

That there is no hope left in the world now that God has abandoned it

35
Q

On what do Candide and Martin disagree?

A

The idea of free will- Martin says that man will always be cruel to one another and that we can not determine the way the world is. Martin argues that men will always do evil to one another

36
Q

What happens in Paris?

A

Candide falls ill and two physicians force themselves on Candide for he has a wealth of jewels including a ring.

37
Q

In paris how does Candide loose a lot of money?

A

He plays cards with the Abbé and his friends who cheeat

38
Q

What does the Philosopher teach Candide?

A

that the world is in a never ending state of warfare

39
Q

How does Candide use his money for the good?

A

He bribes the officer to let them go when they are arrested for being suspicious strangers

40
Q

Why do they decide not to go to England/?

A

they witness the murder of a General - athough Voltaire believed the english were an advanced nation and he admires them very much even they could be guilty of irrational behaviour

41
Q

Accodring to Martin how is there an impossibility of a perfect world?

A

He is a manichaeist and therefore thinks that the simultaneous existence of good and evil prevent there from being a perfect world

42
Q

How is Martin’s pessimism flawed?

A

He is convinced the Valet Cacambao will betray Candide but in actual fact he does not.
Absolute optimism and absolute pessimism both fall into the latter category, because they will admit no exceptions

43
Q

Who do they meet in Venice?

A

They meet Pangloss’ old maid who tells of how she has been raped. candide gives her money to clear her pain. However Martin warns him saying that this will only worsen the problems- Martin abides by ideas that discourage any active efforts to change the world for the better

44
Q

They meet the count of Venice who scorns much of the artwork there for being unnecessary- but why

A

He can’t pretend to like it anymore and martin agrees saying that there is in fact pleasure in no pleasure

45
Q

Who do they meet around the dinner table in Venice?

A

Several Kings including Theodore of Corsica who is the most in fortuitous of them all.

46
Q

What does Candide offer to one of the kings?

A

Jewels- they question how he can do anything so generous
However this is not going to solve anything as they explain how they simply continue to loose money in war
These men are victims to a growth in capitalism which was seeing the rise in the lower classes and their levels of wealth.

47
Q

What has Candide learnt about the power of money?

A

it can not buy you happiness nor leisure

48
Q

What does the garden suggest about the power of humankind?

A

That they are weak and that although they should endeavour to change the world they are better turning away from the problems

49
Q

Through his time with Martin and the old woman what does Candide learn?

A

That optimism is futile

50
Q

The uselessness of philosophical speculation also serves

A

to highlights the absurdity of the idea that they live in the best possible world.

51
Q

How does the education that he receives in the real world differ from that of the one he receives from Pangloss?

A

He starts to engage with the world- the way he slowly sees his money slowly trickle teaches him so much more than the theory

52
Q

What is the message from the garden at the end?

A

For the first time there is a direct cause and effect link- the harder you work the better the yield and the better the quality of life

53
Q

What do the resurrections of the characters such as Pangloss show?

A

That the negative traits they embody will perhaps never die- for example Pangloss encourages a passive attitude to much of lifes events. He also does not base much of his thinking on real life events and is therefore stubborn and not open to exceptions

54
Q

How is the hypocritical nature of man mocked

A

they demand chastity but the abundance of stories of rape show that they can’t expect this to be realised

55
Q

Why was Voltaire exiled?

A

As a result of expressing his bitter, satirical wit at the expense of the French Regent

56
Q

Who was the admiral who he supported and whose death he criticised

A

John Byng

He also made reference to the seven year war

57
Q

the agecncy of candide

A

Candide is simply blow about by circumstances- things happen to him. At the start the meeting with Cundégonde highlights this- his knees tremble, hands wandered and lips met.
However slowly Candide gains his own agency. At the end he gets the to the point where he can formulate his own idea and contest those of Pangloss. the last words for example where he says but, we must return to cultivate the farm shows is own opinion opposing that of the one Pangloss has taught him. He cradually becomes aware of the problem facing PanGLOSS’ THEORTY, IT IS ALL SPECULATION. In his farm he is aware of the simple cause and effect.
The candide at the end of the novel no longer merely exists but instead is active and is aware of the importance of agency in creating a future and not simply letting future unfold.

58
Q

the importance of Love for Candide

A

it is a driving force and dictates much of where he goes- it provides him with hope and a reason for living. He doesn’t dare not marry no matter how much he learns.

Voltaire criticises love though and philosophical speculation too. Many of his contemporaries were astounded by the insight he gave into love- but by still marrying Cunégonde we see the importance, in Candide, of love despite the flaws it conceals

59
Q

example of Cunégonde changes

A

her arms have gone red and

60
Q

importance of all the events the women of the novel have undergone

A

it shows the banality of horror and the secondary position of women. Martin notes that he has seen so many extraordinary things in his life that there is no longer anything extraordinary