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.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario