tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post3339290352644432067..comments2024-02-09T16:13:32.416-08:00Comments on Classical Carousel: Candide Read-Along Intro & Chapters 1 - 8Cleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-37085869686496260602014-03-13T10:22:08.382-07:002014-03-13T10:22:08.382-07:00Thanks, Fariba! Apparently Voltaire's mistres...Thanks, Fariba! Apparently Voltaire's mistress was a follower of the philosophy of Optimism and Voltaire agreed with her for a certain portion of his life. Obviously somewhere his views changed. I wonder if he is Candide, although probably not as all the characters in the book seem to function as "types". I have a feeling as to where he's coming from but so far it's just supposition.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-19536975009618638522014-03-13T10:05:01.301-07:002014-03-13T10:05:01.301-07:00I really like your chapter summaries Cleopatra. I ...I really like your chapter summaries Cleopatra. I have read many satirical works, but Candide has always confused me. I have difficulty knowing what Voltaire actually believes. I know that he is a Deist and is criticizing Leibniz's philosophy of Optimism. Other than that, it is hard for me to understand Voltaire. But, I'm hoping to understand him more this time around. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-76443327991102878362014-03-11T08:54:46.053-07:002014-03-11T08:54:46.053-07:00Thanks, Ruth! I agree that he's intentionally...Thanks, Ruth! I agree that he's intentionally made parts of this novel somewhat obscure, but there are certainly areas where his opinion is quite obvious. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-66449618330754863282014-03-10T17:07:50.665-07:002014-03-10T17:07:50.665-07:00You and Fariba gave great summaries. I agree abou...You and Fariba gave great summaries. I agree about trying to zero in on what Voltaire believes. I think he did that on purpose - for now. <br /><br />~ RuthRuth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-19237710674239648212014-03-10T13:55:53.818-07:002014-03-10T13:55:53.818-07:00I think my next post will be condensed. I like be...I think my next post will be condensed. I like being thorough in case I re-read the book again but I think this one will be a one time read. And Voltaire does like to beat his points until they're dead, so if I keep the same format, I'll be getting repetitive.<br /><br />What bothers me so far is that I can't really tell what Voltaire's views are on certain subjects. He obviously does not like Pangloss' type of optimism and he dislikes war, but what about the religious sects? Does he dislike Franciscan friars and Protestants, but likes Anabaptists? Huh? ;-)<br /><br />Masks in the Greek theatre! What a wonderful description. That is exactly right!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-90704590959979816802014-03-10T11:57:15.825-07:002014-03-10T11:57:15.825-07:00I like how you analyse the book chapter by chapter...I like how you analyse the book chapter by chapter. I was also intimidated a bit at first, but most of the satire is easy to get. There are things, like religious orders, that I don't understand why are ridiculed, but most of the stuff is pretty clear. I can't agree more that the characters are no real characters but rather caricatures. Like masks in the Greek theater.Arenelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08646965847129179304noreply@blogger.com