XIAOXIANG.SHI
Eng 8
Mid-term exam
Susan Rock
7 June 2013
Mid-term
In what ways does Voltaire’s satire apply to modern society? For example, what would Voltaire think of the human condition today? What aspects of our thought and behavior might he satirize most fiercely? What kinds of political, philosophical, and religious hypocrisy are most prevalent today?
‘Candide’ means pure, honest and upright in its own meaning. So this book wants to tell us that the role in this book is pure. For this character, it is easier to satire the society.
At the beginning, Candide was only a servant in the Baron’s house, but he falls in love with the Miss Cunegund. He wanted to marry with her, because of her beauty. At the end, Cunegund became ugly. In fact, Candide didn’t want to marry with her anymore, but her brother’s arbitrary made him angry. So, Candide punished the Baron, then married with Cunegund. These two events showed Candide was not only a pure and weak people, but also had the traitorous character. The Baron represented the decline of the aristocracy and aristocracy class. Candide punished the Baron is the challenge of the aristocracy. Today, it is still not change. People like good things and dislike bad things. For example: when a woman is very beautiful, many men will love her. If one day this woman becomes ugly, these men will change their choice. This is the ugly side of human nature. Also, many people who are on the top position of others will look down others. This is also doesn’t change, because this is the character of the human nature.
What aspects of our thought and behavior might he satirize most fiercely? Obviously, there are greed and selfish. In the novel, there are a lot of bad persons in order to get the money from Candide, then attack or harm him. For example, Anabaptist saved the sailor, but the sailor didn’t save him. This is the selfish character in every person. When you got in trouble, you want others come to help you. But when you see…