Paper
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 told rudely that if he continued to follow this trade they would confine him to the house of correction, where he should be taught to get a living. (Lamm 177 ln. 211) Later, Candide found himself in the city of El Dorado, where gold and gems were plentiful, but were considered as mere pebbles to the natives. He was effected by Capitalism and saw this as a prime opportunity to make himself rich by carrying loads of gold and gems back to his old country. But, Fortune frowned again on Candide, and most of his gold and jewels were lost in transport. This caused Candide to exclaim My friend, you see how perishable are the riches of this world; there is nothing solid but virtue (Lamm 181 ln 722)
Next, we shall examine Reformation of the church, and the calamity it brought to Candide. A long line of corrupt Popes cause the eventual Reformation of the Catholic Church. These Popes were mistrusted and even hated by many people. Candide had a run-in with one such person during his time in Holland. He was asked whether he thought the Pope was the Anti-Christ or not. Candide was indifferent about this query, but the woman who proposed this question took his lack of an answer as support of the Pope and dumped a bucket of slop onto Candide s head. This hardship may seem minor in comparison to Candide s other strokes of bad luck, but it was certainly unwarranted.The last movement of the Renaissance that we shall explore is the rise of Humanism. Though this idea began with the most noble of intentions, it did not come to full fruition, and therefore became ineffective. Humanism believes in the value of the individual, but Candide could testify that it had not reached all people. The last straw occurs when Candide lands on the coast of Surinam. There he meets a half-naked Negro who had lost one arm and one leg. But, the real tragedy and misfortune that had been imposed upon this unclothed man was that he had been dehumanized. In the eyes of his masters, and even his own mother, he was merely a piece of property. After hearing of the injustice the man had suffered, Candide cried out, Oh Pangloss! Thou hadst not guessed at this abomination; it is the end. I must renounce thy optimism. (Lamm 182 ln. 760) With this statement, Candide declared that all is in fact not for the best.By and by, Candide finds himself in Turkey and Fortune s wheel pointing more toward the side of weal. But, he has seen too much come easily and go quickly to take his present condition for granted, and is content with cultivating his garden.
Другие работы по теме:
King Lear Essay Research Paper Shakespeare King
King Lear Essay, Research Paper Shakespeare: King LearGood King, that must approve the common saw,Thou out of heavens benediction com’stTo the warm sunApproach, thou beacon to this under globe, That by thy comfortable beams I mayPeruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles But misery. I know ?tis from Cordelia Who hath most fortunately been informed Of my obscured course, and shall find time *From this enormous state, seeking to give Losses their remedies.
Casket Essay Research Paper The CasketsThe significance
Casket Essay, Research Paper The Caskets The significance of the caskets inscriptions in the play, The Merchant of Venice were that each message on the outside of the caskets left clues to which one is the casket that will win Portia and her fortune. There were three caskets: one filled with gold, one filled with silver, and one filled with lead.
Execution Essay Research Paper Execution is a
Execution Essay, Research Paper Execution is a common punishment throughout the world for cruel and unspeakable acts of violence and acts of rage. The cruelest form of execution is hard to say because there are many different forms of execution. Execution dates back to the middle ages. It was used for a large number of crimes including petty offenses involving property.
Fortune In Troilus And Cressida Essay Research
Paper Lady Fortune: Friend or Foe? The face of Fortune in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde. Lady Fortune and her wheel are two of the most enduring symbols in mankind’s history. Witness the popular game show, Wheel of Fortune. While it may seem silly, it proves that something of this concept has stayed with in our psyche, even today.
The Knight
’s Tale Essay, Research Paper The Knight’s Tale The Knight’s Tales Theseus meets the widow of the Theban war who remained him of Fortune’s false wheel and thus fill him with pity . Theseus is then at the summit of Fortune’s wheel .
Innamorta Essay Research Paper Just a string
Innamorta Essay, Research Paper Just a string of thoughts… Life. A sparkling myriad of light, a multi-faceted gem, an opal basking in the sun… the ever dancing shadows flicker off the walls as the inconstant light ever changes with the tides. As fickle as the woman that lies with fate and Lear’s witches, life is; and yet is not.
Power Essay Research Paper Hydro Power
Power Essay, Research Paper Hydro Power My alternative power source is Hydro power. It comes from water. The oldest and simplest form was the water wheel first used in ancient Greece for grinding grain. The water wheel design was changed by Jean Victor Poncelet in the 18th century. He made the blades curved which raised the efficiency by 70 percent.
Decameron Essay Research Paper The Decameron by
Decameron Essay, Research Paper The Decameron, by Boccaccio, is a frame story written in the mid fourteenth century. There are a hundred stories told over a span of ten days. On the second day, a man tells a story about a princess, Alatiel, who was sent away to marry a king. Before Alatiel reaches her destination, she has sexual experiences with a lot of different men.
Romeo And Juliet Essay Research Paper Lovers
Romeo And Juliet Essay, Research Paper Lovers are often stopped from falling in love, but lovers have faith to help them love each other. In William Shakespeare?s Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers are paused from falling in love, due to two family feuds. Fate leads Romeo and Juliet to meet and to die.
Huckleberry Finn Essay Research Paper Huck and
Huckleberry Finn Essay, Research Paper Huck and Jim both have seen money differently because Huck is white and has a chance in like and can make it. Jim was a slave and really couldn?t make money. Huck had a lot of money but didn?t spend it that easily ?Oher a hundred and fifty dollars. Quite a fortune for you?(p.12). huck and Tom were in a cave and found six thousand dollars that robbers left there.
The Wheel Of Fortune Essay Research Paper
Robert Balgac Journal Entry #5 Mysticism Dr. Collinge The Wheel of Fortune According to Zen Buddhisim, the wheel of fortune rotates and the ones who are now poor will be rich in the future and vice versa. The stock of America Online, symbol AOL, is a perfect example of this belief.
Andrew Carnegie Essay Research Paper Carnegie Andrew
Andrew Carnegie Essay, Research Paper Carnegie, Andrew (1835-1919), American industrialist and philanthropist, who, at the age of 33, when he had an annual income of $50,000, said, Beyond this never earn, make no effort to increase fortune, but spend the surplus each year for benevolent purposes.
Changing A Flat Tire Essay Research Paper
Changing a Flat Tire The following steps are the safest way to change a flat tire. If you received a flat tire while driving down the road; first thing to do is to get away from oncoming traffic; at that time, find a place that is well lit, such as a parking lot. Keep in mind the farther you drive on a flat tire, the more damage you will incur to the tire and wheel.
Behind The Wheel Essay Research Paper What
Behind The Wheel Essay, Research Paper What It Feels Like Behind The Wheel by Richard Corliss The article was out of a recent magazine regarding what it is like to drive a race
Codes Essay Research Paper Cheat Codes At
Codes Essay, Research Paper Cheat Codes At the main menu screen, press and hold the square and circle button at the same time. You should hear a chicken cluck. While holding the square and circle buttons, enter these various button combos for huge cheats. A chicken cluck should be heard after putting in each cheat to confirm it was entered correctly.
Imagery In Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2
Essay, Research Paper Imagery also plays an important part in creating the tension in act 2 scene 2. The first thing we see as Macbeth enters are the two daggers
Your First Year Behind The Wheel Essay
, Research Paper deondray miles Period 6 YOUR FIRST YEAR BEHIND THE WHEEL Your first year behind the wheel of a vehicle is said to be the most dangerous year of a driver?s driving experience. The reason for this is because most
Prince 2 Essay Research Paper The PrinceMachiavelli
Prince 2 Essay, Research Paper The Prince Machiavelli’s the Prince The Prince, written in 1513 by Niccolo Machiavelli is regarded as one of the most crucial yet controversial works in the field of political science. It holds Machiavelli’s observations and reflections on Italian political history. It was written in response to the decay of the Italian states system.
Driving Drunk Essay Research Paper Drunk Driving
Driving Drunk Essay, Research Paper Drunk Driving is becoming a major concern in our society today. Drunk driving is not a funny thing. It has killed many people and ruined the lives of many others.
Anne Rice Essay Research Paper Anne RiceAnne
Anne Rice Essay, Research Paper Anne Rice Anne Rice s life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her writing. She was brought up in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the second of four daughters in her family. She was born Howard Ellen O Brien. Her mother thought that Howard was a suiting name that would bring her good fortune.
Hermia 2
Hermia – Midnight Summer’s Dream Essay, Research Paper Hermia , Lysander , Helena and Demetrius represent young love in Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream . They are potrayed as foolish and fickle , acting like children and requiring a parental figure to guide them . The parental figures are Hermia s father , Egeus , and figuratively Theseus , the mortal ruler , and Oberon , the mystical ruler.
Ferris Wheel Essay Research Paper A date
Ferris Wheel Essay, Research Paper A date, which should note each vienna fan, falls into the year 1897. In the context of the celebrations to 50. Return of the accession emperor Franz Josefs I gave the English naval second lieutenant and engineer walter B. Basset the idea to establish on the reasons of the emperor garden ” gigantic wheel ” a ferris wheel.
Itten
’s Color Wheel Essay, Research Paper The color wheel taught to most people today is the twelve-hue color circle developed by the Swiss color scientist, Johannes Itten. This color wheel is based on three mixtures of pigments, or a triad mixture, with red, yellow, and blue as the primary triad. All hues are formed from mixtures of equal or unequal amounts of primaries.
Transportation Essay Research Paper Ever since the
Transportation Essay, Research Paper Ever since the invention of the wheel, transportation has improved in many areas. Safety, comfort, and travel speed are a few of these areas in which transportation has improved. There is a big difference in the safety, comfort and travel speed of transportation in the 1800’s compared to the 1900’s.
Shakespear Essay Research Paper
“That even our loves should with our fortune change; for tis a question left us yet to prove, whether love lead fortune or else fortune love.” – Player king, act 3 scene 2
The JFK Conspiracy Essay Research Paper Is
The JFK Conspiracy Essay, Research Paper Is the government really truthful to us ? the people? Government is a really big ?organization? with a huge amount of members, and it?s obvious somebody is not telling the truth.
Fatal Machines Essay Research Paper Fatal MachinesHave
Fatal Machines Essay, Research Paper Fatal Machines Have you noticed how careless people can be when they are behind the wheel of an automobile? Cars are dangerous machines which require patient drivers. Over the years technology has made cars safer. Many people think they are indestructible when they?re behind the wheel.
The Role Of Fate In Oedipus The
King Essay, Research Paper Audrey Fish The Role of Fate in “Oedipus the King” Is Oedipus a victim of the gods, their prophecies, and destiny, or his own fatal flaws? I am under the impression that Sophocles wrote the play to underscore the uselessness of trying to avoid one’s fate. He implies that we need to turn to the gods because we cannot see the whole picture.
Creative Story Positraction Essay Research Paper Creative
Creative Story: Positraction Essay, Research Paper Creative Story: Positraction It was a cold night and Roger Katmandoo ( a 89 year old man) sat on his front porch. His rocking chair squeeked as he rocked back and forth. Right then