Thursday, October 11, 2012
Candide, Crime and Punishment
I never saw Candide as a criminal. Is it a crime to be curious? When he tried to experiment, he was kicked out of the castle and forced to experience the real world, and he realized that his land was not the best of all possible worlds. I believe him being forced to experience this was punishment enough. As the book progressed we see how the world can influence and corrupt Candide. He turned from this innocent boy to a person that kills and connive. The real world is the Crime and Candide was a victim, unaware what a kiss what get him into.
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I don't agree with your statement that Candide being kicked out of his home was a punishment- I rather see it as an odd awakening to the world, a conscious experience that is not so centered upon him and the simple ways of life. Had he stayed in Thunder-ten Tronckh, there would have been a likely chance that he would have died by the hands of Bulgarians, and the course of action of the book would have been directed towards the death of all of the main characters.
ReplyDeleteHad he stayed in the castle, he never would have been able to tend to his garden.
I agree that Candide isn't really a criminal. He was born a good person but it was the world that corrupted him.
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