| Term Paper Title | FORTUNE’S FURIOUS FICKLE WHEEL |
| # of Words | 896 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 3.58 |
FORTUNE’S FURIOUS FICKLE WHEEL
“Whatever is, is right,” said Alexander Pope, and “all is for the best” echoed Pangloss of Voltaire’s Candide (Lamm 175 ln 46). Pangloss believed that if something happens, then it is for a reason. He held that the, sometimes, bitter end—effect—was justified by the predestined and inevitable means—cause. Pangloss represented the attitude of eternal optimism, which was prevalent during the Renaissance period. However, the state of affairs of the Renaissance was pessimistic to say the least. Through the misadventures of Candide, we see that Fortune’s wheel was pointed toward woe through most of the Renaissance period. Many of Candide’s tragedies result from some of the great movements of the Renaissance which turned out to be not completely for the best.
The first movement we shall look at is the increase in absolute and sovereign power. During the Middle Ages, the feudal system was becoming less effective. There were many inconsistencies in the feudal system; in fact there was not even a common currency. As a result, there was a rise in sovereign power in order to keep everyone on the same page. Absolute power has its disadvantages (at least for the common man), as Candide got to experience first hand. One of the first strokes of ill fortune that Candide encountered is a meeting with the Bulgarian draft board. When Candide first meets the Bulgarians they are kind to him, and their friendliness seems to be the fruit of the best intentions of simple hospitality. He is told, “not only will we pay your reckoning, but we will never suffer such a man as you to want money.”(Lamm 176 ln 109) He soon learned that their intentions were not indeed for the best, as Pangloss had carefully taught him. Their intentions were to have him serve their king, whom Candide neither had loyalty to, nor had even seen. Because of the Bulgarian king’s absolute power Candide was made to serve in the army, and was beaten when he wished to exercise any personal choice.
The second movement we shall look at is the rise of Capitalism. Though Capitalism was formed in order to give every person a chance to succeed and become wealthy, it too had its shortcomings. Once Candide left Bulgaria, he ended up in Holland, a rich, Christian country. There, Candide expected to receive hospitality and mercy much like he had received at the Baron’s castle. However, he learned that Holland held Capitalism in higher regard than it did Christian charity, and he was not even able to get bread by begging for it. He was t...Read entire document
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