I really didn't know how to answer this question. So, I decided to start with thinking about the first time it seemed that Candide was being punished; when he got thrown out of the castle. He was cast out onto the streets and, in his naivety, was tricked into joining the army where he was beaten.
But what was the crime? Well, there may have been some less than gentlemanly actions in his run- in with Cunegonde. One of the seven deadly sins! There could be a argument to be made saying that a whipping is a fair punishment for lust. But it seems a little harsh to me. Maybe the crime was not his rendezvous with Cunegonde. Maybe his crime was being so innocent.
Candide had no knowledge of the outside world for his entire life. People suffered not too far from Candide's best of all possible worlds. And he didn't question it. A person can only be a child for so long right? And if that's true, then is it not fair that he should be punished for allowing it?
On the other hand, Candide really had no reason to question his best of all possible worlds. It was beautiful. He can't be blamed for not being able to fathom something that was never presented as a possibility. Candide didn't commit a crime, but a person can only be a child for so long. He was forced into a harsh reality, with famine, poverty, and crime.
Wow. So his punishment would then be not a punishment at all, but a bucket of cold water pulling him from a nice but disturbing dream. WOW. I had not even considered that. O.O
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement about his crime being his innocence. I think that the fact he was forced into the real world was a blessing in the disguise of a punishment. I hadn't really thought about whether or not he should be blamed for being the product of a seemingly perfect world. Interesting
ReplyDelete