Oh, Silly Things Humans Do!

Some vocabulary words from the chapters:

floggedpast participle, past tense of flog (Verb)

Verb:

Beat (someone) with a whip or stick to punish or torture them: "the stolen horses will be returned and the thieves flogged". Promote or talk about (something) repetitively or at excessive length.

ravishedpast participle, past tense of rav·ish (Verb)

Verb:

Seize and carry off (someone) by force. (of a man) Force (a woman or girl) to have sexual intercourse against her will.

As Mateo said on his blog the capitalization of words, or the way Voltaire writes a word leads me, as a reader, to pay more attention to what is being said. For example:

‘“It is not my hand you should kiss. I will come back to-morrow.”’ p.38

Oh, silly things humans do! I love how when people are in a rush they press the elevator button none-stop as if the elevator would suddenly realize you are in a hurry and move faster than how it is programmed to move. Candide commits the same human mistake after talking to Cunegonde he asks: “You are still alive, then?” p. 39 No dude she’s a ghost!

I am starting to understand Voltaire’s ways now. He tries to show us how we are surprised when someone is kind to us, which should not be that way. But then he shows us that every good action had a previous reason. The old lady who helped Candide didn’t do it just cause, she wanted to reunite him with his love.

I also identified Cunegonde’s revival as the most ironic thing possible, against all expectations.

I find incredibly funny how Cunegonde and Candide “innocently” flirt. Candide longs to see a scar Cunegonde has in her left tight, yet all is innocent. It is also funny how being ravished held so little importance for Cunegonde. She says everything with such a heartless voice it makes it funny. For example ‘“ A woman of honour can be ravished once, but the experience is a tonic for her virtue.”’p.41 Logical thinking: A woman of honor shouldn’t be ravished, but if it happens more than once she won’t lose her honor.

How delightful drinks before seeing four men being killed! Oh, and they taste so good! Just like these death ceremonies. Just delicious it is an honor to be invited to the murdering ceremonies, isn’t it Miss Cunegonde?