Blind Optimism… How far does it really get us?

Posted on September 10, 2012 by mt129963

While reading Voltaire’s Candide, it amazed me how much optimism one had. In almost seemed impossible that anyone could be that positive throughout all the misfortunes that he had suffered. It intrigued me how Candide kept going for his goal in order to find Cunegonde. He went on many adventures in order to find her. Although in my opinion, I would have had stopped going when I reached el Dorado because of its ideal living condition, Candide STILL wanted to find her. On his journey for looking her, he got robbed, lost his jewels and eventually got imprisoned as well as many other misfortunes.

The question is how far can blind optimism get you? Well, I believe that blind optimism can get you far, however, it may lead us to make many foolish decisions. If Candide had stopped somewhere throughout his journey, he may have had been happy. However, his quest to find Cunegonde made him make many foolish decisions and get him into a great deal of trouble. I’m not saying that it is wrong to be optimistic, but I’m saying that it is not smart to be blindly optimistic. Optimism can help us get through the worst situations, however, we have to think rationally along with blind optimism. We must ask ourselves, “Is this worth it?”, “Will I be happier at the end after all my dilemmas?”. If we can ask these questions with “yes”, the for all means go for it! But if not, it may not be a wise decision and you should strongly consider to find some other rational plan. Blind optimism can lead to self-destruction and possibly in the end not worth it at all. Look at where blind optimism got this guy….

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Blind Optimism

Posted on September 10, 2012 by jv148085

Candide is nothing more than a blind optimist and a fool. He relies on blind faith and the philosophy that “this is the best of all possible worlds”. His passive approach to the atrocities that are constant in his life leads me to believe that Voltaire’s intention for his main character is that of comic relief. As the reader, I question this man’s sanity. How can one man take so many beating sand mishaps and still think,  “ This is the best of all possible worlds”?

Candide displays his foolishness in typical male form. Cunegonde, the object of his affection, is the main reason why he is in his current state, though one can argue that because of her he was spared the same fate that her family and poor Pangloss have endured.  Nonetheless, his blind love for her has put has put him in questionable and deplorable situations. When they are reunited blinded by his love, he kills both Don Issachar and The Grand Inquisitor. This act of irrational thinking has put not only his life in danger, but also the lives of Cunegonde and her servant.

I must commend Candide for his positive outlook on the situations in front of him. Though I admire his efforts, I still think he’s nothing but a fool. What is the point of living if you accept the injustices that are sent your way, suffering quietly in the hopes that “private misfortunes make for public welfare”?

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Anything You Can Do

Posted on September 9, 2012 by sb128227

When I reached the part of the old woman’s story in Candide, I couldn’t get the song of “anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better that you” out of my head. In a way that is what the old woman meant, in my opinion, that everyone always things that they’re in a worse situation than everyone else. In each of us we have that egotistical character which tells us that no one else could be in a worse position than us. We can’t let our self admit it cause there’s going to be no one to show sympathy towards us, to feel sorry for us and what we’ve been through.

The story proves this point by even going as far as saying that each man on the boat felt as though he was the most miserable ma. Not even one person though that someone else could have been through more misery than himself. You are right, we should care about ourselves more than about someone else, but we seem to ignore the others because of this egotistical character. That little devil inside all of us blocks us from admitting that whatever we’ve been through, the person next to you might have gone through worse.

Some people nowadays have a huge devil inside them. I saw a show once that is similar to My Sweet 16. In the show the birthday of the girl got all screwed up, she acted and looked like she was the most miserable girl in the world that night. You see, her mom for her birthday got her a brand new Lexus for her big day, but that was not the car she wanted and she wanted to get receive at her party. What a tragedy!

Birthday Girl (dont know how else to link)

 

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Candide, By Voltaire Chapters 1-14

Posted on September 9, 2012 by lr129344

I have always imagined Volataire to eb a different, very philosophical writer after hearing about him in various history and english classes whether in High School or even progressing through College. I expected his works to be very abstarct and theoretical. Though, after reading Candide, it seems as if it was a story in similar format and wording to something I had read prior. It involves the typical turning of events for a specific character, in this case Candide, and his progression and obsticles. It involves the typical family hardship, a love affair/relationship, and escape.

Despite the unexpected predictability of this work from voltaire, I still did enjoy reading it. I just had certain different expectations, or maybe even higher expectations while reading it.

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Candide, or Optimism’ (Chapters 1-14)

Posted on September 9, 2012 by ic146829

                When I first began to read this story I thought it was going to be a love story till it took a turn for the worst. Candide went through so much after he was kicked out of the castle and seems like things were going bad for everyone else who lived in the castle. During his lifelong nightmare he was taken care of by an old lady who was sent to him by Cunegonde, the love of his life. Cunegonda was convinced that her life was worse than the old women’s. Then we learned that was absolutely false. It was such a sad story what the old lady had to endure in her young life.

“All events are linked by the chain of necessity and arranged for the best” – Candide.

              Even though Candide went through so much he never gave up, he always tried his best to make things better in order to survive. So my question is, is it Candide or Optimism? I would have to go with Optimism, Candide was such a positive person that he never once gave up on his perfect world.

-Ismelda Cruz.

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Voltaire’s Cancide, or Optimism Chapters 1-14

Posted on September 9, 2012 by wc130361

Here is yet another satirical work by one of the enlightenment thinkers. Voltaire certainly mocks many notions throughout these chapters, but his focus is certainly on the philosophical teachings by Dr. Pangloss. Pangloss mentions that this is the “best of all possible worlds” and that everything happens for the best when he said “private misfortunes make for public welfare.” As the story goes along, the statement is proved to be entirely wrong by many instances that involved Candide and other central characters, including Pangloss himself. This to me is the central drive of the story.

I found it interesting how throughout the story Voltaire includes historical events such as the Lisbon earthquake or the auto-da-fé (which he mocks as well) to give his story a more realistic impression to the readers. It reminds me of Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal in which Swift also included facts that were supportive to the theme of his essay. I am quite certain that the latter part of the story will follow a similar pattern to the first half. I can predict that Candide will fall victim to the lessons of Pangloss, which would ultimately end in his demise. In doing so, a conclusive effect would linger, establishing Voltaire’s views on such an optimistic thinking.

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Reading A modest Proposal.

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Naotaka Washimi

When I first started readin, I thought this story is going to be how the small country Ireland has came up with the idea to deal with poverty by controlling the birth rate.However as I was reading I found that idea of this story was very shocking and terrifying me.  I don’t think there are people who like to or enjoy eating children as a delicacy even back in 16th century. During that age technology didn’t keep up with providing the enough food to all citizen but attacking the national problem of poverty by reducing number of children is very ridiculous.  The author Jonathan Swift was justify the reducing the population by eating infant children by providing the clear information like Ireland has no capacity sustain lives of 120,000 coming infant and no capacity to hire them both in industry and farming. He also mentions that until children grow up to age of 6 years old, they are can be a part of work force in society therefore those children of poor background make lives by being a thief but he said that Ireland was so poor so there was nothing to steal from people.

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from Jeremy Villalobos

Posted on September 3, 2012 by EKaufman
As an individual of whose family is predominately female, the subject of woman’s rights is one that is of great importance to me.  Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women is a great example of women testing the boundaries of enlightenment. Pushing the agenda of women’s rights through logic and reason, thus validating their arguments in eyes of men.
            Women have been the scapegoat of men for hundreds of years. This has been deep-rooted in society, dating back to biblical times. Eve was to blame for the fall of man, as the devil had enticed her to eat the apple. Which lead to the banishment of Adam and Eve from paradise. Wollstonecraft has observed the nature of society during her time and has seen that nothing has changed, and that men seem to further oppress women into submission.
            Her tone in the pieces seems somewhat provocative for it’s time. In my opinion, her efforts are important and this is a commendable piece of literature. She treats men in a dismissive way, exposing to the reader the true nature of men in that time period. Men, in her opinion, are nothing but children acting as adults and are chauvinistic tyrants with a desire to rule over females, encouraging them to conform and to get in line and obey with out question.
            She urges women to be individuals, free thinkers and to break free of the mold that men have built for them. This piece comes at a time of enlightenment, encouraging society to question societal norms and to break rules that have been set in order to further the human race.  Wollstonecraft was a pioneer for women of her time, using logic to break down the walls of expectations for women.
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A “Modest” Proposal

Posted on September 3, 2012 by ms130947

At the very beginning of the essay I thought I had been reading the first paragraph incorrectly. However, I was fooled by the sarcasm of the scene that Swift creates. He mentions that “it is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars.” It was difficult for me to understand whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see homeless people every day, or for the lifestyle of the beggar? I was initially led to believe that Swift is a compassionate writer feeling the pain of the beggars. But as the story continues, I can surely say that he is using a sarcastic tone and the only sad sight that he sees is that people of his status have to deal with those that are homeless.

Another voice Swift uses throughout the story is irony. The story itself is ironic since no one can take Swifts proposal seriously. This irony is clearly demonstrated at the end of the story. Swift makes it clear that this proposal would not affect him since his children were grown and his wife unable to give birth to another child. It would be rather absurd to think that a rational man would want to both propose this and partake in the eating of another human being. Clearly the proposition is irrational, but a great piece of literature for sure! My question to the class it, should those who are economically unstable give birth?

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Mary Wollstonecraft

Posted on September 3, 2012 by zl139112

Mary Wollstonecraft was considered as one of the founders of feminism after her death. Her thoughts were greatly enlightened and influenced by the French Revolution at that time.  She wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Men” in 1791, which attacked constitutional monarchy and aristocracy. In the following year she wrote another radical essay called “Vindication of the Rights of Women”, which she is best known for.

            “Men and women must be educated…It may then fairly be inferred, that, till society be differently constituted, much cannot be expected from education.” When i read about this, i realized that this article isn’t just about the rights of women; it is also an accusation of the current social structure. In fact, the unequal rights of women and men were led by the morbid social structure. Otherwise, Wollstonecraft would not state that, “that all the writers who have written on the subject of female education and manners from Rousseau to Dr. Gregory, have contributed to render women more artificial, weak characters.” It is the problem of the society that caused the great mind of Enlightenment Age to say women must rely on men. Wollstonecraft argues that men and women are just the same, no one is superior to another. According to the text, “If a man has the perfect understanding of everything at his maturity, then the women should rely on him. However, they are only overgrown children most of time.”

Another reason to be responsible for the prejudice upon women is the differences of education. Even though women can obtain as much knowledge as men can, there isn’t much for them to obtain. Women’s knowledge often comes from the real life experience; while men have well organized knowledge to obtain.

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