Monday, October 6, 2008
Moliere and Candide
Post a 5-6 paragraph analysis comparing any character in Candide and any character in Tartuffe. You must utilize at least three quotes from each work. For the play, quote Act, Scene, and Line number (e.g. Act II, Scene 3, Line 1-5). For Candide, quote chapter and paragraph (e.g. Chapter 12, Paragraph 4).
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The characters Candide and Organ are similar in so many ways and one could draw a number of different parallels. Three parallels that appear most striking in the stories are their stubborn naivety, dependence on a self proclaimed guru, and unwavering ideology.
Orgon is so stubborn in his naïve belief that Tartuffe is “no loftier soul since time began” that he will not take into consideration anything contrary to that belief, even by his own son. He responds to his son with “Ah, you deceitful boy, how dare you try to stain his purity with so foul a lie?” (Act III, scene 6, line 15-16). And Candide is equally stubborn in the way that he does not see thievery or deception, so much so that he cannot believe Cunegond in that a thief has left him with nothing. “Atlas,” said Candide, “the wise Pangloss often proved to me that the goods of the earth are common to all men, that everyone has an equal right to them. By this logic, the Franciscan should have left us enough to finish our journey. Didn’t he leave you anything at all, my lovely Cunegond?” (Chapter 10, paragraph 3)
Both Orgon’s and Candide’s dependence on their respective guru’s, for lack of a better word, takes it to the point of absurdity. Organ says to Cleante concerning Tartuff, “to keep his precepts is to be reborn, and view this dunghill of a world with scorn. Yes, thanks to him I’m a changed man indeed.” (Act I, Scene 5, Line 15-17) And Candide cannot even think for himself. “Ah,” said Candide, “if Pangloss were here, he would know, and he would tells us what to think.” (Chapter 27, paragraph 14)
So, it’s only natural that Organ and Candide would take the ideology of their guru’s in such an unwavering fashion that it becomes their only perspective. “There is no effect without a cause,” Candide answered modestly. “Everything is linked by necessity and arranged for the best. I had to be driven from Miss Cunegonde; I had to run the gauntlet; and I have to beg for my bread until I can earn it. None of this could have been otherwise.” (Chapter 3, paragraph 7) And Orgon uses this perspective to look for redemption as he tells Cleante, “At length, Heaven prompted me to take him in. To dwell with us, and free our souls from sin”. (Act I, Scene 5, Line 41-42)
Stubborn naivety, dependence on a self proclaimed guru, and unwavering ideology are bring big problems for both Candide and Orgon…another parallel. At the end of both stories, it would appear that the blinders come off and they can see the error in all of it…again a parallel!
Do I dare say it, a parade of parallels!
Andrew Barone
The two charters that I choose to compare is Candide and Orgon. They have many similarities about them when reading bout stories. A few I spotted are they both idolize one man's teachings. Another similar thing would be that at one point they both get fooled and loose something of great value. The last one is that at the end, they both suffer a twist of events and end up where they want at the end.
Candide has a stubborn way of not giving up his beleifs in his master Pangloss. "Pangloss stopped him by demonstrating that the Lisbon harbor was designed expressly for the Anabaptist to drown in."(Ch.5 para.1) This proof along with many others in the story show that Candide doesn't go by his own logic, he goes by Pangloss. Orgon is the same to. When Orgon says, "Oh, had you senn Tartuffe as I first knew him, Your heart, like mine, would have surrendered to him. He used to come into our church each day And humbly kneel nearby, and pray."(Act 1 Scene 5 lines 23-26). This shows his how quickly he comes to trust and believes everything Tartuffe says.
Orgon and Candide both had some kind of wealth and one point had it taken from them. Candide needing a ride, with his two sheep, saw a captain and asked for a ride. Candide was willing to give up thirty thousand piastres. "The two sheep were loaded on board. Candide followed on a samll boat in order to join the ship in the harbor. The merchant seized the moment, raised the sail, and cut loose with a favorable wind. Candide, bewildered and stupefied, soon lost sigth of him."(Ch.19 para. 29) Thats when his trust was used against him. Orgon had the same happen to him. Tartuffe states, "No, I'm the master, and you're the one to go! This house belongss to me, I'll have you know." Act 4 scene 7 lines 19-20) Orgon's trust in his Saint has got the better of him when he gives the deed to Tartuffe.
In the end Orgon and Candide both have a twist and have what they want in the end. Candide, finally reunited with Pangloss and the others, had come to settle down and finally get married. "It is quite natural to imagine that after so many diasters, Candide, now married to his mistress and living with the philosopher Panglos, the philopopher Martin, the prudent Cacambo, and the old woman, and having also saved many diamonds from the land of the ancient Incas, must have enjoyedthe most agreeable life in the world." (Ch.30 para. 2). The quote explains it all. Candide got the girl (even if she is ugly) and lives happily with his friends. Orgon to had a run of good luck. The officer says, "We serve a Prince to whom all sham is hateful, A Prince who sees into our inmost hearts, And can't be fooled by any trickster's arts." (Act 5 scene 7 lines 48-50). The officer takes Tartuffe to jail instead of Orgon. This twist of luck gets him his house back and lives happily with his family.
Voltaire’s “Candide” and Moliere’s “Tartuffe” has many transparent similarities manifested in their themes and in their characters. There is a lot of irony to be found in both plays, and while they are presented in different ways (“Candide” is a thought-provoking, episodic play; “Tartuffe” is presented as sort of an epic poem), they are both satirical comedies attacking the values of their society at the time.
The characters I chose to compare are Candide and Orgon. Candide is the protagonist but he is bland and naïve, and exhibits blind faith in Pangloss and his philosophizing, which Voltaire pointed out in the play as “metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-boobology.” (Chapter 1, Paragraph 4) These traits in Candide are similar to some traits that can be found in Orgon. He is also naïve and exhibits blind faith In Tartuffe, who is a scoundrel and who poses as a religious ascetic to convince Orgon that he is a pious and a humble man.
Both characters are susceptible to influence. It is seen at the beginning of the play that Candide worships Pangloss and his optimistic philosophy; Orgon also displays, dare I say it, a disturbing sort of fondness for Tartuffe. One can say he is practically “in love” with him and he is more fond of him compared to his family. “Under his tutelage my soul’s been freed from earthly loves, and every human tie: My mother, children, brother, and wife could die, and I’d not feel a single moment’s pain.” (Act I, Scene 5, Lines 18-21)
Orgon is generally an honorable man. He served the king honorably, as made clear by Dorine when she said “In the late troubles, he played an able part and served his king with wise and loyal heart,” (Act I, Scene 3, Lines 11-12); he gives to the poor as he had done with Tartuffe and he provided him with clothing, shelter and food. Candide is also an honorable man. In the end, when Cunégonde lost all her beauty, he still lived up to his promise of marrying her even when his love for her had faded. “In his heart, Candide had no desire to marry Cunégonde. But the Baron’s extreme arrogance made him resolve to conclude the marriage, and Cunégonde pressed him so strongly that he could not take back his word.” (Chapter 30, Paragraph 1) He is also good-hearted, honest and helpful despite his simplicity.
Last but not least, in “Tartuffe,” Orgon goes to both extremes and his actions and words are based on emotionalism rather than rationalism. He tries to be to become the epitome of a religious and virtuous person, and when he realizes that Tartuffe was just a hypocrite and that he tried to seduce his wife behind his back, he becomes determined to hate and persecute all pious men: “Enough by God! I’m through with pious men: Henceforth I’ll hate the whole false brotherhood, and persecute them worse than Satan could.” (Act V, Scene 5, Lines 32-34) Orgon cannot steer along a middle, rational course; he is always driven by his emotions and therefore, is blinded by them so he jumps between extremes. Candide also displays somewhat similar behaviors, but not exactly like Orgon’s. In the end of Candide’s journey, he rejects Pangloss’s philosophy in favor of practical labor. But he is still incapable of forming his own opinions. In the beginning, he had blind faith in Pangloss and his ideas. In the end, his blind faith in Pangloss was exchanged for blind faith in the farmer and his opinions. In both plays, one can clearly see recurring themes of faith versus free-thinking, vulnerability, hypocrisy and reversal of fortunes and the role that religion and social hierarchy played in the society at the time that these plays were written.
- Janine Mallari
Shari said...
Shari Cohen
The characters I believed to have the most similarities were Candide and Orgon. They were both codependent, naive, gullible, and almost child-like. It seemed as if Candide and Orgon both needed guidance from another person to go through life. They definately were not critical thinkers. They were both "taken in" by men who talked a "good game."
Candide seemed to live his life guided by the tutor Pangloss. Candide believed that Pangloss' teachings were as they say, "written in stone." After Candide is thrown out of the castle and he meets up with two gentlemen who ask him how tall he is and he tells them, they say, "men are created only in order to help each other." Candide replies by saying,"You're right,thats what Dr. Pangloss always told me, and I see clearly that everything is for the best." (Chapter 2 Para. 2)When Candide killed Issacar in self-defense he said, "If Pangloss had not been hanged, he would offer us good advice in this emergency, for he was a great philosopher, in his absence, let's consult the old woman." (chapter 9 Para.1)
Candide had Dr. Pangloss and Orgon had Tartuffe. Orgon was so deeply under Tartuffe's spell that he says,"There's been no loftier soul since time began. to keep his precepts is to be reborn, and view this dunghill of a world with scorn.Yes, thanks to him I'm a changed man indeed.From earthly loves, and every human tie: My mother , children,brother, and wife could die, And I'd not feel a single moment's pain.(Act1, scene 5, lines 13,15,16,17,19,20,21)
Here is where the two characters differ. Orgon doesn't care about losing his family, he proclaims that he wouldn't feel any pain if they died. Candide held on to his love for Cunegonde. When the Baron tells Candide about entering the city as conquerors and liberating his sister Cunegonde, Candide says,"I certainly hope so, because I was planning to marry her, and still am."(Chapter 15 para.3) Candide honors that vow even after discovering that Cunegonde was no longer beautiful.
At least both men Candide and Orgon eventually began to see the truth about their so-called, "mentors." Orgon had to be shown the hard way, but Candide learned it on his own. I believe the last line in the story, "Candide" sums it up well when Pangloss babbles on about how all events are linked together in the best of all possible worlds and Candide replies,"That is well said,but we must cultivate our garden." ( Chapter 30 para.15)
In the satirical stories of Voltaire’s “Candide” and Moliere’s “Tartuffe”, both express a sense of irony and stubbornness in their characters. In “Candide”, the character Candide spends the whole story in a roller coaster ride of unfortunate events, yet he still seems to listen to his wise teacher Panglos, who explains everything happens for a reason. In “Tartuffe”, the character Orgon is duped by a fraud named Tartuffe, even though Orgon’s entire family tried to convince him of Tartuffe's trickery.
In “Tartuffe”, Orgon is so blinded by his love for Tartuffe that he ignores the care of his wife. Dorine explains that Orgon’s wife Elmire is quite sick, and all that Orgon cares about is how Tartuffe is doing, even though Tartuffe is well (Act I, Scene 4, Lines 1-37 ). After Dorine is done criticizing Orgon, Cleante tells him of his views on Tartuffe. He tries to explain to Orgon that Tartuffe is a fake. He even uses examples of Tartuffes fraud and Orgon still ignores it. Cleante explains that someone who flaunts their piety like Tartuffe is merely doing so to get attention, that someone who is actually religious keeps to himself or herself (Act I, Scene 5, Pg 31-36).
The story of “Candide” is very similair in the way that Candide forms his beliefs based upon those of Panglos. At one point in the story, Candide runs into a diseased and dieing Panglos. Candide asks Panglos “ Isn’t the devil at the root of it all?” and Panglos convinces Candide if Christopher Columbus had not caught the same disease in America, they would have no chocolate or cochineal, which reinforces his beliefs that everything happens for a reason (Ch. 4, Pg 281). When Candide, Panglos, and Jacques are on the ship in the violent storm, Jacques is thrown into the sea trying to save a sailor. Panglos continues to convince Candide that everything happens for a reason and that “the Lisbon harbor was designed expressly for this Anabaptist to drown in.”(Ch. 5, Pg 282).
In a similair way to Candide, Orgon is so convinced by Tartuffe’s greatness that he begs his daughter to marry Tartuffe. Orgon knows she is in love with Valeire and yet he still pushes his demands upon her (Act II, Scene 1-2, Pg 36-42). A similair instance occurs in Candide when the South American Governor asks Cunegonde for her hand in Marriage. Even though she loves Candide, the old woman tries to convince her to marry the governor for his wealth and protection (Ch. 13, Pg 296).
Ultimately Orgon and Candide are required to make sacrifices so they can be convinced otherwise. It takes the entire story of Candide for Candide to for his own beliefs that “ we must cultivate our garden.” This means that instead of believing things happen for a reason, he believes that people’s characters are molded based upon their experiences and they must learn from them (Ch. 30, Pg 337-338). In “Tartuffe”, Orgon is finally convinced of Tartuffe’s fraud when he is about to fornicate with his wife Elmire (Act IV, Scene 7, lines 1-12). Orgon nearly loses his house because of his stubbornness, but regains his property with a lucky turn of events, and a powerful King (Act V, Scene 7, Lines 46-84).
These two pieces of Literature have many things in common. Not only do both Candide and Tartuffe share the same theme, the characters also share some similiarities. Most of them were pretty obvious.
The theme I found to suit best for these two narratives was that people are being duped by the power to be instead of their own reasoning to figure things out themselves. This theme plays a significant role in the comparison of the characters.
Candide and Orgon are the two characters I think are the most obvious to compare. These two characters are very similar. Both, Candide and Orgon, are duped by another character in each story, Candide tends to believe everything Pangloss says and looks up to him in so many ways. For example, Candide tells his lover Cunegonde, " We are heading for a different world, I am sure that overe there all is well..." (Chapter 10, Paragraph 7). He says this because that was Pangloss's theory. In the same scenario, Orgon idolizes Tartuffe, maybe more than he does his wife. For instance, Orgon comes home and asks the maid, Dorine, how everyone is. She tells him that his wife is very sick but he concerned only about Tartuffe. " Dorine: Your wife, two days ago, had a bad fever..." "Ah, And Tartuffe?" (Act I, Scene 4, Line 11). Little do they know, they are being fooled by their own judgement.
Orgon is so blinded by Tartuffe that he even kicks his own son out for accusing Tartuffe of hitting on his wife. Although it was true, Orgon is so naive when it comes to such an "excellent" man. He even says, "How he blasphemed your goodness! What a son!" (ActIII, Scene 7, Line 1) which shows how caught up he is in Tartuffes conspiracy. As for Candide, he doubts himself and follows what ever Pangloss tells him. When the earthquake happened, Candide was trapped and asked Pangloss to bring him some oil and wine but Pangloss hesitated because he was telling Candide it happened for a reason. "I maintain that the thing is a logical necessity," (Chapter 5, paragraph 10) and decided to help him after Candide lost consciousness. Afterwards, Candide never asked him why he didn't help him right away.
The theme plays out until the end when both Candide and Orgon finally realize the truth. Candide says to Pangloss, "That is well said, but we must cultivate our gardens" (Chapter 30, Last sentence) In the end of the play, Candide witness with his own eyes the kind of man Tatuffe really is. After hiding under the table and hearing Tartuffe hit on his wife himself, he says, "That man's a perfect monster, I must admit!"
These two cahracters are perfect examples how their private lives with passions and ambiguities can conflict with an orderly code of behavior in the public sphere. For example, Orgon refuses to take no for an answer when it comes to Tartuffe marrying his daughter. "Yes, Tartuffe shall be allied by marriage to this family, and he;s to be your husband..." (Act II, Scene 1, Line 27). Even though everyone knows what a bad guy he is, Orgon is too stubborn to see it and now it is affecting his daughter Marianne. Also, how gullibility and lies play against truth.
The two characters I choose to compare are the dervish from "Candide" and Cleante from "Tartuffe". Both of these characters stand as the voice of reason in their respective pieces of literature. Though they approach their situations differently they're both the most rational characters whose advice would have stopped many of the characters problems if heeded earlier.
In "Candide" the group goes visits the dervish and ask him why God would create evil men. The Dervishes response is simply "Why meddle in that?" (Chapter 30, Paragraph 5) In "Tartuffe" Cleante is more forceful in his response of "Good God man, have you lost your common sense?" (Act I, Scene 5, Line 53) the sentiment is the same in both statements. Tartuffe and a constant questioning of the world and the way it works are both unnecessary and avoidable problems.
While the characters in both pieces of literature dig themselves in to deeper holes (metaphorically) the dervish and Cleante have simple and effective advice. Stop. The dervishes final words are "keep silent" (Chapter 30, Paragraph 6). Cleantes advice to the power hungry Tartuffe is: "This quarrel must be mended, and my advice is not to push matters further in to crisis." (Act IV, Scene I, Line 15-16). The quest for enlightenment and ill-gained power can only end in frustration and sadness. Both of these quotes highlight the futility of those goals.
The dervish and Cleante are both brash when advising the characters, but there are some rational nuggets of hope in both pieces of advice. When Orgon is feeling down about losing all of his power Cleante states: "Come, just because one rascal made you swallow a show of zeal which turned to be hollow..." (Act V, Scene 3, Line 45-46) By this he advises Orgon to not judge the entire world based on single experiences. The dervish states: "What difference does it make is their is good or evil?" When his highness sends a ship to Egypt does he worry about whether or not the mice are comfortable on board?" (Chapter 30, paragraph 6) The is similar to Cleante's advice, that small and single experiences should not shape an individuals view of the world.
Both the dervish and Cleante are rational men of God with little patience. If their advice was heard and listened to earlier in the literature the problems could have been easily avoided. Instead is takes real experiences and other characters to convince Orgon, Candide, and company. Mariane and the Turkish farmer finally convince the characters to view the world more rationally, along with a lot of "touching the hot stove" life experiences.
Candide and Tartuffe being 2 different stories have 2 very similar characters. They are Candide and Orgon, both of them being naïve, unrealistic and at one point each show sorrow. There are several points in each story that show these themes.
Early in Candide you find he is naïve. “Gentlemen, you honor me greatly but I lack the means to pay my share,” answered candied. “But sir,” said one of the blues,” we never make people pay who have your looks and merit. Aren’t you 5 feet ten inches tall?” This was when Candide was lost, cold and hungry and the men at the inn allowed him to come in and eat. Then they tell him he is the “pillar, the upholder, the defender” of the King of Bulgars (someone he doesn’t know). He is forced to do a drill then beaten. I just the from the beginning they were making fun of Candide but he didn’t see that and trusted they would be kind to him and give him food for free. (Chapter 2 paragraphs 2-19)
You can find the same theme when reading Tartuffe. In the beginning he is being told about how sick he wife was and can only question about his friend Tartuffe’s well being.(Entire Act 1 Scene 4) This shows both characters ability to be unrealistic.
While both characters can be seen as self centered at times, they each had their own moment of sorrow. When Candide comes about the young black slave who had both his hand and leg missing. After Candide questions the boy about who did it and why he says, “Alas! It’s the mania for insisting all is well when one is suffering.” He even cries all the way to Surinam.(Chapter 19 paragrapghs 10-13) Something similar happens toward the end of Tartuffe when the Orgon realizes the truth about Tartuffe and that he gave him the house. Orgon is very upset and feels he let down everyone. (Act 4 Scene 8-Act 5 Scene 1)
In the end of Candide he gives in to the Baron and unwillingly marries Cunegonde. I personally thought he did not have to give in to the Baron, it was kind of naive, because you knew it wasn’t what he wanted. It was like he was doing it to get the Baron angry.(Chapter 29, 30 paragraph 1) This also occurs in Tartuffe when Orgon tells his daughter Mariane that she is to marry Tartuffe. Orgon had just been reminded of the promise he made that Valere could marry his daughter. Orgon then goes to Mariane and forces her to say she wants to marry Tartuffe.(Act 2 Scene 2)
James Eggie
I found Candide and Orgon to be the most similar. They are almost in fact the “same person”, they both only see things “their” way. Both of these characters show traits to be very naïve, immature, stubborn, and gullible. They also put a great amount of trust into people they have barley known, which goes to show that gaining their trust doesn’t take much.
Both of these characters do not use their own power of reason to solve anything. They are both tricked and fooled by Pangloss and Tartuffe. Organ believes Tartuffe to be this wonderful, excellent man who indeed is going to be of great assistance in their family. Orgon becomes so fascinated with this deceiving man that that is all he seems to care about, even over his own family. Organ returning home one day hears the news from Dorine that his wife had been ill the past couple of days with a horrible headache and he shows absolutely no sympathy, he continues to ask about Tartuffe “After much ado, we talked her into dispatching someone for a doctor. He bled her, and her fever quickly fell.” Dorine says “Ah. And Tartuffe?” (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 26-30) Tartuffe becomes the most important person in his world and he makes sure of that. He also does not care about his families feelings; he is willing to wed his daughter with this man he knows nothing about! “Speak of his poverty with reverence, His is a pure and saintly indigence…”(Act 11, Scene 2, Line 30-39) And even after he sees his daughters reaction, he still demands the wedding.
Candide tends to do the same with Pangloss, he gets fooled by him and believes every word the man speaks. In the beginning of the story, (chapter 1, paragraph 7) “And the fourth was to listen to Master Pangloss, the greatest philosopher in the province and consequently in the whole world. “ Right there proves that he was going to abide by this man in whatever he did. Candide was pretty weathly, they both were and both had in taken from them in some way.
They also have their families trying to tell them that these 2 men (Pangloss and Tartuffe) aren’t what they seem, that instead of being trustworthy and excellent, they are indeed corrupt. Candide nor Orgon want to hear this advice and show themselves to be extremely stubborn. They consequently learn the hard way. Everything isn’t always what it seems, and you can’t trust everyone you believe to be “wonderful.”
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