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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The narration by Jack Devenport was great, the book takes dark subjects and tells them in a way that is lighthearted as a satire to Leibniz “Theodicy” (or that we are in the best possible world). Ridiculous in Monty Python style of humor, it’s aged well.
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked how the intent of the book was to be satirical, and it was really cool when I knew what the satire was about. I would have enjoyed the book better if I'd known the contexts more of what Voltaire was writing about, but I like how he applied it to a fictional narrative. Candide was hilarious because he was so utterly naive. He went through many struggles but did not quite understand the terribleness of the events because others were taking advantage of him. He went through the book believing that everything happens for the best, and my favorite example of this was when he killed the Baron (Cunegonde's brother) by accident and then ended up not getting killed later because he had killed the Baron (a Christian) and the pagans who wanted to kill him were joyful of "revenge"; therefore, it was good he killed the Baron. The last part of the book was a good summary of the whole book: "All events are linked together in the best of all possible worlds; for, after all, had you not been kicked out of a fine castle for your love of Miss Cunegonde . . . then you wouldn't be here eating preserved citrons and pistachio-nuts" (130).
Funnier than I thought but also just as funny as you'd think an 18th century book to be.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Candide, by Voltaire, is an 18th century satire. Banned upon release, it features plenty of blasphemy and criticism of the abject cruelty administered by the empires of the world.
Candide is a man who travels the world, experiences different cultures, mostly having to endure one act of cruelty after another, which leaves him questioning the meaning of humanity.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of stories that are so episodic, and I found it quite repetitive. Nevertheless, the writing is excellent, and it’s short length makes it easily digestible over one weekend. Whilst I wouldn’t say I particularly enjoyed it, I can appreciate its historical importance.
“Our labour preserves us from three great evils; weariness, vice and want”
Candide is a man who travels the world, experiences different cultures, mostly having to endure one act of cruelty after another, which leaves him questioning the meaning of humanity.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of stories that are so episodic, and I found it quite repetitive. Nevertheless, the writing is excellent, and it’s short length makes it easily digestible over one weekend. Whilst I wouldn’t say I particularly enjoyed it, I can appreciate its historical importance.
“Our labour preserves us from three great evils; weariness, vice and want”
Very funny, but I lack a lot of the historical knowledge that would have made this satirical little book even funnier.
cunégonde and candide this… cunégonde and candide that… what about the real ship of this book: candide and pangloss!!!