I really like that Ms. Boone mentions how impressionable the structure of stories can be depending on the culture in which they were formed. Judging by what we have seen of Candide’s world it is very easy to see where the old woman’s narrative derives its hyperbolic descriptions and casual tone from. Like everything else that seems to be happening it is horrifying to the point of absurdity. And although this story currently takes the cake, the old woman is quick to point out that everyone else suffers and believes themselves to be “the unhappiest of mortals”. The only silver lining seems to be the fact that they are all in motion. Hope springs from the fact that there are places to be. Although the old woman claims to have lived through many excruciating circumstances, boredom is never a problem. The repercussions of innumerable bad decisions seem to keep everyone in Candide’s world occupied as playing either the role of victim or victimizer. The consequences of divorcing oneself from this cycle of activity is an important theme in the book (although it’s not brought to light until the last pages of the book).

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