Candide
Question three
Question
• Choose a novel or play or long poem in
which a scene or character awakens
“thoughtful laughter” in the reader. Write
an essay in which you show why this
laughter is thoughtful and how it
contributes to the meaning of the work.
Thesis
Voltaire’s Candide is a prime example of a
literary work that invokes thoughtful
laughter in the reader, through the use of
satire which causes the reader to realize
the absurdity of traditional world practices.
b1
• Candide suffers through numerous
misfortunes but, maintains an optimistic
outlook.
– The war scene between the Bulgars and Abar,
its “Beautiful”
– Candide is humorously cowardly on many
accounts, but particularly so during the battle
when he hides from the heroic warfront
b2
• Candide often finds himself in the
company of many other humorous
characters.
– Old Lady with half a butt
– Cunegonde with all her beauty, turns ugly
– Pangloss was a philosopher who stressed the
best of all worlds in a life of complete misery
(metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigo-logy)
b3
• The very nature of Voltaire’s Candide as a
satire lets a thoughtful reader to come
across the underlying humor in the novel.
- Satire of war
- Satire of Catholicism
- Satire of Optimism
- Satire of modern convention
Quote
• One horse-laugh is worth ten thousand
syllogisms. It is not only more effective; it
is also vastly more intelligent.
Author: H. L. Mencken
Conclusion
• Candide is chalk full of thoughtful humor
=)