Week 4 Analysis
Closed Reading - Week 4
I chose Candide because this was very entertaining tale for
me. I think it may be because it was filled with drama and twists. I love when
I have no idea what is going to happen when I'm reading. When I am surprised or
shocked by what happened in a book then I know the author is doing something
right.
An example is when Cunegonde came back to Candide. I thought
she had been killed by soldiers when they invaded her city. When she turned up
again I was like "wait what!"
It seemed that Candide had bad luck with people, I mean
Pangloss died, we had thought Cunegonde died and he killed Don Issachar and The
Grand Inquisitor.
Candide seemed to take Pangloss' philosophy and messages
pretty seriously until bad things started happening and then he was questioning
it.
As a philosophy student aren't you supposed to question
people? Why they believe in certain things and such? I wonder why Candide
didn't start question Pangloss until he got tricked by the Bulgarian Army.
It wasn’t until he was reunited Pangloss in Holland, thanks
to Jacques, that he slowly started to believe in the “best of both worlds”
theory. Maybe Pangloss has a certain hold on Candide and that’s why he listens
to him, I’m not completely sure.
Along the way, Pangloss got Syphilis. Somehow, Candide convinced
his rescuer, Jacques, to pay for his cure. After a couple months they set sail
for Lisbon. They were abroad the ship when a big storm hit causing Jacques to
go overboard. Candide tries to go in after him and save him but Pangloss
stopped him, saying that this was meant to happen.
It was interesting to me on how much Candide listened to
Pangloss. Whatever words Pangloss said it was like God himself was talking to
Candide, that’s how I saw it anwyays.
Pangloss and Candide
got to Lisbon and the huge earthquake hits and they decide to have an
Auto-Da-Fe. Pangloss was hung while Candide was whipped.
Then an old woman spotted Candide, struggling, starving, and
dirty. She took him in and nursed him back to health. Once Candide got better
the old woman brought Candide back to meet with Cunegonde, I question why she
so willingly listened to Cunegonde. Especially, since the old woman knew that
Cunegonde belonged to the Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar.
My first thought was the woman must be connected to either
Candide or Cunegonde but I never guessed who she may have been.
After Candide kills Don Issachar and The Grand Inquisitor,
the old woman, Cunegonde and Candide make the decision to travel to the new
world. Wee
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI really like the way your close reading provides summary for what is occurring in the specific parts you mention while also analyzing and questioning what is happening, too. It’s one thing to read the story and have your own thoughts about what is happening, but to see it briefly summarized and see the way another person interrupted certain moments in the reading is really helpful as well and I appreciate that. I think it is interesting how you question the old woman’s connection to Cunegonde, the woman happened to have a similar background to Cunegonde so perhaps it was just happy coincidence that they met each other and she was able to sympathize with her struggles. However, maybe the old woman took a liking to Cunegonde because she was unhappy as Don Issachar’s servant and wanted to give Cunegonde the least unpleasant experience possible by looking after her well? You make a lot of great points in your post and I like how you chose this reading to focus on because it shocked you, I think it helped you take notice of a lot of detail that could easily be missed.
Hi Megan,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your closed reading. I also found the tale Candide shocking and surprising. I honestly didn't understand why Candide never questioned Pangloss until after he was tricked by the Bulgarian Army. Candide every so often throughout the story he was say, " Master Pangloss was right indeed when he told me everything is for the best in this world" (Norton 359) he not once questioned Pangloss until he says, "Pangloss must have deceived me cruelly when he told me that all is for the best in this world"(Norton 366). It took Candide to see the world for what it really was to start question Pangloss teachings. Overall great post!
I was also surprised and relieved at the same when cunegonde was alive because i was shocked at how much was going wrong for Candide who didn't do anything wrong. The only thing that was his mistake was being naive for never questioning Pangloss's beliefs. It was the author's intention to show that without critically thinking, we can cause more harm for others and ourselves. We need to analyze each situation on its own before we can determine anything. Pangloss made the mistake of not realizing that he has free will. Having free will means that we have the power to be responsible for our actions and situations. Sometimes we don't have control over the situation but we can't simply leave everything to chance. We just need to know the difference between each situation in which we can take control of and not take control of.
ReplyDeleteHey Megan, nice jobe on the literary analysis it was very enjoyable to read. Most of all I like that you added your thought's into the analysis which is always interesting to see. It was interesting to see your question, "As a philosophy student aren't you supposed to question people? Why they believe in certain things and such? I wonder why Candide didn't start question Pangloss until he got tricked by the Bulgarian Army". I don't know why either but it's a great question and was cool to see that within your analysis. Great job on the anlysis and keep up the great work.
ReplyDelete