Browse Comments by Reader


Arjun Bassin

Arjun Bassin on Chapter 7:
March 15, 2010 at 2:21 am

Voltaire juxtaposes very unfortunate events and unusually fortunate events. Candide experiences terrible circumstances like earthquakes and the reader questions how Candide can maintain his view of optimism. However, soon after Candide is treated extremely well; he is fed three times a day and has his wounds taken care of. Candide doesn’t even have enough time to question his belief of optimism. The terrible event is followed so suddenly by a fortunate one.

This series of events show how difficult it is to have one constant outlook on life (optimism, pessimism, etc.). Life is full of twists and turns and is very hard to look at life in a bigger picture.

Go to thread
  1. Ade1a (2)
  2. Alice Boone, Curator, Candide at 250: Scandal and Success (40)
  3. Amarish Mena (1)
  4. Amy Ward (4)
  5. Anonymous (1)
  6. Arjun Bassin (1)
  7. Armen Hakobyan (1)
  8. Bradley Anderson (1)
  9. Bree Vore (1)
  10. Brette McSweeney (1)
  11. Chris Bruce (1)
  12. Chris Morrow (6)
  13. Christopher Cleveland (2)
  14. Connor Beeks (2)
  15. Connor Hillmann (1)
  16. Corri Schembri (4)
  17. Diana Encalada (2)
  18. Eric Palmer (1)
  19. Eric Palmer, Allegheny College, editor of the Broadview Editions 'Candide' (3)
  20. Erik Örjan Emilsson (6)
  21. Grace Kim (2)
  22. Iris Ramollari (5)
  23. Jack E. Chandler, MSE (1)
  24. Jacqueline Bennifield (4)
  25. Jacqueline Bueno (2)
  26. Jahneen B (1)
  27. James Basker, Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History, Barnard College (5)
  28. James Morrow, author The Last Witchfinder, The Philosopher's Apprentice (23)
  29. Jim Boone (2)
  30. Joe Haldeman (1)
  31. Jose Castro (2)
  32. Jose Lopez (2)
  33. Joseph Galluzzo (10)
  34. Justine Brown, author of Hollywood Utopia and All Possible Worlds (11)
  35. Kate (1)
  36. Kelle Dhein, PhD (1)
  37. Ken Houghton (1)
  38. lah (1)
  39. Leanna Caminero (1)
  40. Lucy Hunter (1)
  41. M. Beasley (1)
  42. Maikel Dominguez (1)
  43. Maria Teresa Ritta (2)
  44. mary mcelroy (1)
  45. Matt C (2)
  46. Matt Pharris (2)
  47. Mgarcia2784 (1)
  48. Monika Mlynarska (3)
  49. Navrose Gill (2)
  50. Nicholas Cronk, Voltaire Foundation, Oxford (4)
  51. Nicholas Petrovich (1)
  52. Nicole Horejsi, Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University (11)
  53. Nile Southern (1)
  54. Raj Shah (2)
  55. Rinku Skaria (2)
  56. S McGhee (1)
  57. Samantha Morse (3)
  58. Samantha White, 12th Grade IB Student (2)
  59. Sean Murray, Intrigued Student (1)
  60. Shelley (1)
  61. Stanton Wood, playwright, Candide Americana (13)
  62. Tom Gilbert (5)
  63. Travis Lo (1)
  64. Trisha Amin (1)
  65. Victor Uszerowicz (1)
  66. Wataru Hoeltermann, Student at MDC (1)
  67. William Rodriguez (1)
  68. Zoraida Pastor (1)

This page contains a running transcript of all conversations taking place in Candide organized by reader. Click through the menu on the left to view individual readers’ comments. Click “Go to thread” to see the comment in context. You can also browse comments by chapter. Learn more about our featured commenters.

Total comments in book: 226