Sharon+C+pg.+44-51


 * 1. What are the three biggest targets of Voltaire's satire in these pages? Discuss, and give evidence by quoting exact passages.**

First, Voltaire is satirizing religious conflicts in Europe. Protestant and Catholic Church were killing each other because they had different god and different beliefs. When Candide and Martin hear that all people in Eldorado believe in one god, having no monks, and no killing, they are surprised and shocked. On page 47, it says //"Do you worship only one God?"// and the old man answered //"Evidently so," He continued saying "We do not pray to him at all... We have nothing to ask of him; he has given us everything we need;"// Seeing no priests he asked, //"You have no monks instructing and disputing, and governing and intriguing, and having everyone burned alive who is not of their opinion?"// The old man didn't understand what Candide meant by this: //"Everyone here is of the same mind, and we cannot imagine what you mean by this talk of monks."//

Second, Voltaire is satirizing, materialism. People in Eldorado think the precious gems are only "pebbles," but when Candide and Martin see them throw the gems on ground, they cannot understand how they can throw those. When Candide and Martin leave, they take lots of gem stones that worth thousands and thousands of money. On page 50, it says //" thirty more carrying gifts of the richest native workmanship and fifty laden with gold and diamonds and other precious stones."// And Candide thought "//no further desire and no other object than to go and present his sheep to Mademoiselle Cunegonde....Now we have enough to pay off the Governor of Buenos Aires."//

Third, the author satirizes slavery. He shows how bad the African slaves were treated and what kind of works they did. On page 51, it says "a negro streched out on the ground, with no more than half of his clthes left...poor man had no left leg and no right hand." The slave said, "When we work in the sugar-mills, and get a finger caught in the machinery, they cut off the hand; but if we try to run away, they cut off leg..."


 * 2. Does Swift, in //Gulliver's Travels,// attack any of the targets you identified in question 1? Find passages from Swift's book as evidence. Then write a paragraph for each one, and discuss the similarities and/or differences.**

Yes, like Voltaire, Swift attack human desire or materialism. On pg. 2149 //"...certain shining stones of several colors, whereof the Yahoos are violently fond; and when part of these stones are fixed in the earth...they will dig with their claws for whole days to get them out, and carry them away, and hide them by heaps in their kennels..."// This part shows that Yahoo's (human's) desire for materials. To them it means a lot and they cannot live without it while others can't understand what good those stones will do.


 * 3. Write from each of the starred roles in our literature circles, and discuss your section from each point of view.New Critics: Quote the Key passages, explain how they work.****

Character analyst: Author's p.o.v. -Howe & Why -Changes (or no change) (Dynamic)

Psychology: Male/Female, Old/Young, Eastern/Western, Rich/Poor

Historian: how the book mirrors its time

Anthropologist: culture -Dark side -Unmasking

Philo: Big ideas themes