Candide: chapters 19 to 24 - A Change in Personality

I believe this series of chapters is also very important for the novel. Candide meets a new passing character which acts kind of as a second Cacambo, and changes his personality and way of thinking a lot. This new character is Martin, and I say he is similar to Cacambo because he also gives me the impression of being a bodyguard to Candide. I say Candide changes his personality because he accepts the new world is no better than the old. This change in personality had started occurring from before when Cacambo insisted they should go back to Europe, before they found Eldorado. However, in chapter XIX Candide definitely accepts the evil in the world. 

" 'Oh Pangloss! cried Candide. 'A scandal like this never occurred to you! But it's 

the truth, and I shall have to renounce that optimism of yours in the end.' " (Pg. 86)

Here we can see Candide is almost completely opposing Pangloss' theory and nature of philosophy. He said that everything was for the best no matter what happened, and now Candide is starting to doubt this, which is what he was taught his whole childhood. Here is when we start seeing the very nature of the satire in this book. The name Candide means optimism, and at this point that is what Candide less is, an optimist. This is both ironic and absurd because his name id optimism but he regrets and complains about everything that happens to him.

I still believe that Martin's appearance will be of more importance further on. What is this character's purpose in the novel? Why is he always cursing life? Is he the cause of Candide's negativism? 

Homework - What's the Point?

I read the short story "Homework," by Helen Simpson, found in The New Yorker. This story is about a teenage kid that comes home and, as any regular kid, left his homework for the very last minute. He starts complaining saying that a 13 year old boy isn't capable of writing a 3-page story. He decides to ask his mom for help, which is the narrator of the story, and explains she will only help him this once. They talk for a long time discussing a topic that would change a boy's life. Together, they create a fictitious story about his parents divorcing. The story basically goes on describing what the boy writes while his mom gives him all the ideas. It kind of gets interesting in the end when the boy explains his only way out of his parents divorce was watching soccer, or football as the British say, and states his love for Manchester United. The very end of the story is quite cool when George chants "UNITED, UNITED" ironically, since his parents are not united at all. 

I found this story quite meaningless and boring. Even though it is well written, and I felt connected to it, the plot isn't very exciting. The author clearly doesn't have any imagination whatsoever. I chose it because I hate homework and this title caught my attention. Perhaps it could've been a funny and interesting theme, but it wasn't well developed. Putting my boredom aside, I do have to say I felt quite connected to the story. My whole life I have thought of my parents divorce as the most tragic thing in the world. If this fear ever came true I know it would be an event that would change my life completely. The theme of soccer is quite present in my life also. Ever since I was a small boy I've always liked this sport, and my passion towards Nacional has never ceased even though I left Medellin as a small boy. The mentioning of Manchester United as George's favorite team made me quite happy, seeing that this is the team I support in England. Just yesterday I watched the semi-final of this year's UEFA Champion's League between Manchester United and Barcelona.

Going on I have to say there is really no point in this story. I can see how someone would like to write something about homework, but I can't see how someone would think of such an uninteresting thing. It is probably easier to think about something interesting and exciting than something that boring. I was almost as depressed reading this story as George was writing his own work. "It's English so it should be all right, but he still wants to make it hard. We've got to do three sides of paper out of our own heads." (Pg. 1) I can't believe I chose such a boring story to read. I can't even think of a few paragraphs to blog about!

Candide: chapters 13 to 18 - Candidecentrism

In this series of chapters, many things occurred to Candide. I would say Candide is almost the only main character, while all other important characters are just passing by. I can also say Cunegonde is just a passenger because even though she affected Candide's life, in chapter 13 they were separated. Once again, I had the pleasure to act a few scenes within these chapters, in which I represented the governor and Cacambo. To complement on the idea Candide is the center of the whole story, I would say Cacambo is almost like his bodyguard. Cacambo always accompanies Candide, he always does the 'dirty work', and stays behind protecting him. However, Candide needs to maintain his leading position and therefore does some things to make the story interesting. Some of these 'interesting' things are murdering people. Candide basically adopts a personality of killing anything that comes in his way. At one point, in chapter 15, Candide even kills Cunegonde's brother. The coming chapters are kind of boring, unnecessary, and not interesting for the idea of Candidecentrism. Candide meets more passing characters, in this case in the form of two women and two monkeys, which Candide also kills. Later, Candide and Cacambo reach the city of Eldorado, where they meet the Kings and encounter themselves with a lot of gold. Candide is amazed with all their riches, however, they don't seem to be satisfied. The main character envies them, but does nothing about it. The way in which Voltaire writes, and describes the foods, and dresses and golds clearly shows an amazement of the country: 

"Two waiters and two waitresses, dressed in cloths of gold with their hair tied in ribbons, invited them to sit down to table and put before them four tureens of soup, each garnished with two parakeets, a boiled vulture weighing about two hundred pounds, two delicious roast monkeys, three hundred doves on one plate, and six hundred humming-birds on another, as well as exquisite stews and luscious pastries, all served on plates of a sort of rock crystal." (Pg. 76) 

This very long sentence clearly shows one of the characteristics of satires: hyperbole. All the descriptions are extremely exaggerated. How can their be three hundred doves and six hundred humming birds in one meal? That's impossible. The description is very detailed and says the exact amount and serving every plate had. I wonder why Voltaire decides to write such a long sentence? This also forms part of the exaggeration in the description of a country Voltaire envies. 

Candide: chapters 7 to 12 - A Change in Perspective

After I read these chapters of Candide, my view towards this novel completely changed. I had the fortune of acting out a few of these scenes or chapters which helped me understand completely the meaning of the happenings. I carefully studied chapters 9 and 10 and noticed many interesting things. First of all, I say I changed my view towards the novel specially because of Candide's acts. I used to think of Candide as a rich, spoiled child that came by misfortune and was thrown out of home. I also thought he was constantly changing moods depending on his circumstances. If he was lucky, he was happy, and vice-versa. Now, I started thinking of him as a criminal, because he killed everyone that came in his way. In a way, I think this sudden change of personality came about because of a sense of protection towards Cunegonde. In the ninth chapter Candide killed a priest and a jew (which I represented in the play), and was forced to run away with Cunegonde and the old lady towards a small town called Avacena.

I believe this book is also about misfortunes and how to deal with the circumstances that come about. In the tenth chapter Cunegonde is robbed of all her possessions, and the three characters are forced to sell a horse to be able to move on to a new town, called Cadiz. This chapter is characterized by all the complaining done by Cunegonde and the old lady. Because of their misfortunes, the trio decides to go to the New World in search of better lives. On the way there, the women complain always about their misfortunes, and then the old lady tells her long, tragic story in the eleventh chapter. Some people believe these chapters are mocking the New World because it is though of as a second chance, a second living after messing up lives in Europe. 

"We are going to a different world, and I expect it is the one where all goes well; for I must admit that regrettable things happened in this world of ours, moral and physical acts that one cannot approve of." (Pg. 48)

In this passage we can see, the New World is described as a completely new place, almost alien to the Old World. Perhaps this is mocking people who think this. In general, I have to say this section was sort of annoying because of all the complaining, and it completely changed my perspective about the novel. This part of the book was also about changing perspectives rapidly, and noting optimism. For example, when one person was complaining the others tried to be optimistic and say it didn't matter because they were going to start a new life. To prove optimism, and change of perspectives, I would like to end with a citation of a song from our play from the part where they are on the boat on their way to America, and Cunegonde is telling of her tragedies.

They robbed me of all my possessions

But there's always a new world

We sold one of our old horses

And everything will turn out well

Candide: chapters 1 to 6 - Labniz success satired

In the beginning of the book I found a lot of satire divided into many different categories. One of the most absurd parts I could see, occurred in the fourth chapter. After being kicked out of the castle, Candide was forced to be a beggar in the streets, but absurdly enough, he found Pangloss his past philosopher - tutor, in a worse condition than himself. How can a wise philosopher be in a worse condition than a young kid that just got thrown away from home? Other than absurd, this is even a little ironic. 

" 'Pangloss!' cried Candide. 'Can this be my beloved master in such a shocking state? 

What misfortune has befallen you? What has driven you from the most lovely of mansions? 

What has happened to Lady Cunegonde, that pearl among women, the masterpiece of nature?' " (pg. 28)

I also found some hyperbole amongst these chapters, such as the disease Pangloss had spoken of in the fourth chapter, and the way Pangloss and Candide are arrested in the sixth chapter. Voltaire exaggerated the disease completely by saying it tracked back all the way until Columbus' era. On top of this, in the sixth chapter hyperbole is clearly shown with the arrest of Pangloss and Candide simply for "speaking and listening with an air of approval." (pg. 36) All these small themes of satire can sum up to the target of the author within these chapters. I believe that in general Voltaire has the same target throughout the first six chapters: against philosophers and their success. I have heard Pangloss is really Labniz, a philosopher from the XVIII century that said everything is for a reason. Taking into account all the bad things that happen to Pangloss, and knowing he is really Labniz, I believe he and other successful philosophers are being targeted.

The Crying of Lot 49 - Sixth Chapter

The final chapter of the novel had a ton of information but I was disappointed with the way it ended. Within the chapter I found many interesting points and satirical elements. For some reason or another throughout the final chapter I asked myself who Bortz really was. What does he represent? Why is he included at the very end of the novel? Unfortunately I never really got to answer this question, but it is something I would like to investigate further. Other than finding out the origins of trystero, I liked the fact the author explained the novel's title. I had been very intrigued about what the lot 49 was, and when I found out I was very happy.

Talking about the satire in The Crying of Lot 49, I think I found a very important point. The part where we found out that there was a pornographic version of The Courier's Tragedy in the Vatican seems absurd to me. I believe this is making fun of the church. Continuing with the topic of satires, I believe the dirty version of the play is a satire because it is mocking theater. "'Why should they do a dirty version of his play?' 'As a morale example. They were not fond of the theater. It was their way of putting the play entirely away from them, into hell.'" (pg. 128)

I also found a connection with Macbeth. "Robert Scurvham had founded, during the reign of Charles I, a sect of most pure Puritans. Their central hangup had to do with predestination." This idea of predestination is connected to the destiny of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play. The Scurvhamites or pure Puritans can be compared to the Weird Sisters of Macbeth.

When I was reading this chapter I was constantly thinking about the characters in the novel. It seams very strange to me to see so many different characters throughout the book. This was very confusing because there were some characters that simply appeared once, but were mentioned later. In the beginning or middle of this chapter I was also thinking how all this linked back to Pierce. Fortunately, I found this out later knowing that all the places he owned were linked to Trystero workers. Finally his collection of stamps led to the lot 49 at the very end. Even though I was interested in the name of the book, The Crying of Lot 49, I was disappointed with the end. It was interesting to read the explanation of the 'crying' of this lot: "'We're in luck. Loren Passerine, the finest auctioneer in the West, will be crying today.' 'Will be what?' 'We say an auctioneer 'cries' a sale." (pg. 151) I say I was let down with the end because even though Oedipa found out all the information on Tristero, she didn't do anything about it. The last weeks of the investigation were written in a way that showed an Oedipa that didn't care or believe anymore. Nothing really happened in the novel.

Vocabulary

Whimsy (pg. 134): Playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor.

Fountainhead (pg. 136): The headwaters or source of a stream.

Incommensurate (pg. 147): Out of keeping or proportion with.

The Crying of Lot 49 - Fifth Chapter

The fifth chapter of The Crying of Lot 49 is very extensive and dense. It covers a lot of information but at the same time, leaves some space for questioning at the end. In general I felt very informed and found a few connections throughout this chapter. I found a couple of connections with philosophy and once again, with Slaughterhouse - Five. I also found a lot of words to investigate to add on my vocabulary.

Initially, I found the first connection with philosophy on page 95. When Oedipa is in her long night of walking (and riding) around the city, she mentioned it would be hard to distinguish between reality and dreams the next day. Many philosophers talk about dreams, and pose the question of how we know our whole life is not just a dream. Taking into account many dreams feel very real, how can we know we are not in a dream right now? This is a theme I can specifically know is mentioned by Descartes in his Discourse on the Method. Further on in the novel, philosophy is recognized again when Freud is mentioned. The context is when Dr. Hilarius is becoming crazy and he describes his hatred against Jews. His excuse is that he is not really a nazi because: "Yes, you hate me. But didn't I try to atone? If I'd been a real nazi I would've chosen Jung, nicht wahr? But I chose Freud instead, the Jew. Freud's vision of the world has no Buchenwalds in it." (pg. 112)

I also found a new connection with Slaughterhouse - Five. Although small, I believe this discovery leads to relate these to novels more and more. Oedipa was having many encounters with the WASTE symbol and  people related to it, and in one opportunity she saw a mother saying goodbye to her son and advising him to mail by means of the WASTE system. At this point Pynchon wrote "So it went." (pg. 100) This is extremely similar to So it goes and although in different circumstances, is very curious.

Throughout this chapter I also found some other interesting things. First of all I found some new funny parts proving this novel is a satire, but I still don't know of what. When Oedipa is talking to Jesus Arrabal, this small part made me laugh and reminded me to be in the look out for the satire. "But your friend, unless he's joking, is as terrifying to me as a Virgin appearing to an Indian." (pg. 97) I also found a new interesting abbreviation. In the novel ACDC was Alameda County Death Cult. I believe the satire might be a joke to some mexican - american thing because of all the bilingual parts and the jokes. How can the name of a music group be used as an Alameda Death Cult? I believe this has more information to it than I know.

I found this chapter very interesting because I got a lot of information on the Trystero and the WASTE system. When Oedipa went to the gay bar, she found a person wearing a pin of the WASTE symbol, so she decided to ask this person what it was. Supposedly, it was the symbol of a group called the Inamorati Anonymous or  IA, and WASTE was their mailing system. After reading this chapter I felt more informed, and I knew more about the novel. However, the end is kind of confusing once again when Oedipa goes home and sees her husband acting strangely. She finds out he's on pills and this makes him seem as if he were many people at the same time. He starts talking about his knowledge in languages and analyzind music and rhythms backwards and this kind of confused me once again.

Vocabulary

DT, DT's, and dt (pg.105): Delirium tremens: Colloquially, the DTs, "the horrors", "the shakes" or "rum fits"; afflicted individuals referred to as "jitterbugs" in 1930s Harlem slang; literally, "shaking delirium" or "trembling madness" in Latin.

Idly (pg. 93): With no particular purpose, reason or foundation.

Brody (pg. 92): not found

Cataclysm (pg. 97): A large - scale and violent event in the natural world; A sudden violent upheaval.

Jitney (pg. 101): A bus or other vehicle carrying passengers for a low fare.

Catatonic (pg. 112): State of immobility and stupor; Abnormality of movement and behavior arising from a disturbed mental state.

Atone (pg. 112): Make amends or reparation.

KCUF (pg. 113): FUCK. This is the radio station I mentioned in my previous blog, but it is fuck spelled backwards.