Candid? No. Candide.

Candid: Truthful or straightforward.   The novel’s main character and the title of the work hint that the book will be forthright in all aspects.  However, this satirical piece is anything but candid. 

Full of subliminal messages and conversations that need every bit of attention in order to avoid completely misunderstanding the intentions of the author, the satirical elements in Candide can be overwhelming.

“What has happened to Lady Cunégonde, that pearl among women, the masterpiece of nature?” pg. 28

The way that Candide describes his loved one stands out.  When he says that she is a pearl among women, he is also making a reference to her personality.  Pearls’ connotation involves purity. By using that word in description of a woman, one can assume that she is loyal and honest.  Funnily enough, the reader will learn that Cunégonde had been raped and murdered. Ironic. As a reader, I feel stunted by the syntax of the novel, as I feel that given the plot’s mysterious nature, every single comma or capitalized word has a message that I need to take into account when analyzing my progress.  

“'Your Excellency must excuse me,’ said Pangloss: ‘Free Will is consistent with Absolute Necessity, for it was ordained that we should be free.  For the Will that is Determined…'” Pg. 35

It seems as if one should be laughing, but come on! The book is written by a philosopher! Who would be candid enough to laugh when what can be perceived as jocose is really a world-famous satirical masterpiece?  In the excerpt above Voltaire plays with Capitalization and the power that it gives the actual sentence.  By capitalizing the words Free Will and Absolute Necessity, he makes a connection that would otherwise not exist.  He strengthens the bond between Free Will, the fact that society overlooks its importance, and the element of Necessity that comes to mind when addressing such issues.  Furthermore, by ending the conversation with an ellipsis, the author implies that the reader should fill in the blank.  But what ending is appropriate?

Voltaire has made it clear that his satire plays with the idea of morality in society.  This can be seen throughout the entire episode that describes the conversation before the storm and James’ death.  It had been established that James portrays Voltaire’s opinion when James and the one-eyed man discuss the morality of man and the effects of society on what is considered acceptable behavior.  Later, the author emphasizes this point by describing the sailor’s near death experience.  James is described as “worthy” when he decides to save the sailor.  This one was “falling, he was caught on a piece of broken mast and hung dangling over the ship’s side.” (pg. 32)  This not only describes the literal, it is an analogy with reference to the deterioration of society.   Society is hanging on a broken mast, struggling to endure, requiring that the worthy sacrifice themselves to ensure survival, and then not even noticing what the world has lost.  Will this continue?