Irony, Satire, Symbols, and Symbolism in Voltaires Candide :: Candide essays

Use of Irony, Satire, and Symbolism in Candide In the novel, Candide, Voltaire uses many literary writing tools to prove the points in which he believes. Some of these many literary tools are irony, satire, and symbolism. Through these tools, Voltaire proves that greed is a universal vice, and usually ends in ones own destruction. Voltaire strongly emphasizes his pessimistic view throughout the story. During Chapter 10, he uses his philosophies, as well as other literary tools, to present greed as a devastating factor of society's corruption. For example, Cunegonde found that someone had stolen her money and jewels. "Who could have stolen my money and diamonds? ...I strongly suspect a reverend Franciscan who slept in the same inn with us last night in Badajoz."(Pg. 40) She was sure that the thief was the reverend; how is it that money can makes someone so holly, corrupt enough to make a sin? Voltaire uses irony here to show the pessimistic view of greed overcoming a holly person's wholesomeness. Voltaire satirized philosophical optimism. He used exaggerations and berated all the petty inhumanities of society. This is illustrated in the scene where Cunegonde was ready to marry a man for money, not on love. Â  "'Madam, you have seventy-two years of nobility, but not one penny. You now have the chance to become the wife of a man who's the greatest lord in South America and has a very handsome mustache." (Pg. 51) As Cunegonde ponders whether or not to marry a man for money, she provide support for Voltaire's overall theme of pessimism. Candide and Cacambo traveled to Eldorado, and found it to be the best place ever. "If our friend Pangloss had seen Eldorado, he wouldn't have said that the castle of Thunder-ten-tronckh was the finest thing on earth." (Pg. 68) Leaving a perfect place, such as Eldorado, where they could be seen as equals, and extremely pleased, seems insane. However, Candide and Cacambo found money more important. They left to live in a corrupt world, filled with riches and wealth. "[If we return to our world] we'll be richer than all the kings of Europe put together." (Pg. 70) This just goes to show that humanity see more, and better of money than happiness, and riches in contentment.

Aunt Jennifers Tigers

Ashlee Purcell Dr. Wagner Enc 1102 27, Nov. 2012 Critical Response Adrienne Rich was an amazing poet who expressed certain matters and women’s needs through her writings. Her poem â€Å"Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers† was used to express male and female relationships or maybe one in particular. Although many critics argue the point of view, the overall theme of â€Å"Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers† is Aunt Jennifer’s oppression through marriage, and the use of embroidery as the form of self-expression.The first verse of â€Å"Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers† is used to describe the tigers. They â€Å"prance across a screen†. This implies no sadness, the term â€Å"prance†, according to Dictionary. com, is defined to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse, to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently, to move or go in an elated manner; cavort, and to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper. This shows that the tige rs are moving in a happy, lively fashion. They are â€Å"topaz denizens of a world of green†.Topaz is unquestionably an ancient healing stone and gemstone. The Egyptians believed that topaz was colored with a golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. Because of this they believed that topaz was very powerful and protected faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who was their god of sun. The Romans considered topaz to be a symbol of power of the ruler who had it. They also believed that it bestowed wisdom on the ruler. The royal crown of England is set with nearly five hundred topaz stones.These stones have been said to have been mined in the Erzgebirge better known as Ore Mountains. According to the Bible, topaz is one of the many stones that protect New Jerusalem. In ancient Mexico topaz was used in conflicts to ascertain the truth. Aunt Jennifer expressed herself as a tiger mixed with the topaz stone has a important meaning of a certain power, and these tigers are unafraid knowing of the power it holds according to the verse â€Å" They do not fear the man beneath the tree†. In the second verse Aunt jennifer’s fingers â€Å"flutter† through the wool.Although the meaning of the word flutter could be used both in a negative and positive way, they way send is having difficulty pulling the ivory needle in the next line persuades the reason to believe the fluttering is a sign of stress. Reading on to the next line, â€Å"The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band†, describes possibly why Aunt Jennifer is in distress. His wedding ring â€Å"sits heavily upon† her hand. The Uncle is not around anymore to wear his ring. Did he leave? Did he die? Because the ring itself cannot possibly be so heavy to affect her stitching, it must serve a symbolic meaning of the Uncle.How could the Uncle feel heavy upon Aunt Jennifer? Was he violent, demanding or opressive to Aunt Jennifer? Althought we are not prov ided with any further information I believe it is safe to say the Uncle had some kind of a negative effect on Jennifer’s emotional state if she is displaying physical signs of agitation. Work Cited â€Å"Adrienne Rich. † Wikipedia. org. Wikipedia. 1 Mar 2009. Rich, Adrienne. â€Å"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers. † Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Kennedy, X. J. , Dana Gioia. New York: 2010. Print.

The USA was so committed to the containment of Communism that direct conflict was inevitable

The USA was so committed to the containment of Communism that direct conflict was inevitable American intervention in the conflict in Vietnam started on its inevitable path ever since the closing months of the Second World War. The fate of Indochina was discussed (but not a high priority) at the Potsdam Conference, which began on 17 July 1945. The settlement called for the division of the country at the 16th Parallel in which the Allies (mainly the British) were to occupy the South and to have Chiang-Kai-Shek's Nationalist forces occupy the North to disarm the Japanese. A few months later, Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) on 2 September 1945.Ho Chi Minh along with General Giap and the Vietminh were able to win Allied confidence through their operations against the Japanese during the war. Ho appealed for international aid. He first had trouble with the Chinese Nationalists who had set up the Vietnam Revolutionary League (Dong Minh Hoi) and was against Ho's Communist movement.Và µ Nguyà ªn Gip (left) and Há »â€œ Chà ­ Minh in H...But he was able to sway them and gain control of the Dong Minh Hoi by saying he was a Nationalist foremost, and a Communist second. This made the Vietminh a mixture of both Communists and Nationalists. He was able to advance the Vietminh cause with help from Chinese Communists, Nationalists, Americans and British.1After the war, Ho sought for the recognition of an independent DRV. The Allies ignored him because they were more concerned with maintaining good ties with France than supporting his idea of Vietnamese self-determination.2 By 1946, communication between the DRV and the USA ceased which made Ho suspicious of their motives. US President Harry Truman feared Communism and refused to deal with Ho because of his Communist beliefs, despite also being a Nationalist and Democratic.With Ho's allies failing him, he sought recognition instead from fellow Communist countries USSR...

Political concepts affect on 2004 election essays

Political concepts affect on 2004 election essays Political culture, public opinion, and the media represent significant political concepts in the American political system. All affect the views of the general public. All of these political concepts are interconnected, each influencing the other, and similarly these three political concepts often affect the general publics political tendencies. The American political culture consist of the common values and beliefs of citizens that have political consequences. The beliefs composing the political culture are generally structural beliefs based on the American ideals of freedom. A general consensus exists among citizens on these beliefs and they often shape the political playground. Public opinion encompasses the political attitudes expressed by ordinary citizens on various issues, usually measured through opinion polls. In a strong democracy, public opinion should affect government action. Though greatly influenced by the media, public opinion also tends to reflect our basic political culture. The medias job is to bring the public valid and relevant information about politics and the policies that affect ordinary citizens. The media greatly influences public opinion by shaping an agenda and nearly dictating what issues are of importance. Living in a democracy, citizens should ultimately control the government, and to do they must be well informed. These three fundamental political concepts all have an influence on how the American people vote. The influences vary from subtle to great but combined, these often these political concepts probably have the largest influence on how the electorate votes. Of the three political concepts being discussed, political culture has the least noticeable effect on the way citizens vote. It is very important that a candidates fundamental beliefs are in sync with the American electorate and President Bush and Senator Kerry do both share in those central American ideals. Had a major ...

The Workings of Louis Napoleon III essays

The Workings of Louis Napoleon III essays Being named after one of the greatest rulers of France, Louis Napoleon III had no simple task, but that is not to say he did not handle it with tremendous grace. He fed upon the identical name and used it to his advantage to further promote his reign. Having his up and downs, Louis Napoleon III always seemed to realize giving the people what they wanted would be in his best interest. In 1848 Louis Napoleon III won the French presidential election with the aid of a few key ideas. First, the aforementioned same name fact gave the people of France a sense of comfort in that a ruler of their liking was again rising to power. Human nature leads us to this conclusion which, naturally, in certain cases is harmful; however I believe in this case it gave Napoleon the necessary praise he deserved. Second, Louis Napoleon III eased the fear of the middle-class and peasant property and gave them the compulsory protection from the socialist challenge of the urban workers that was so readily exclaimed by Karl Marx. Third, Napoleon had a program of guidance for himself and France which he composed while incarcerated for an attempted overthrow of Louis Philippes government. The two pamphlets were named Napoleonic Ideas, and The Elimination of Poverty. Although the three above mentioned principles of Louis Napoleons campaign of France were vital to his stability, the most important has yet to be revealed. He believed in government representing its people and should strive to help them economically. In previous years parliaments and political parties had been the dominant features of the French government but Napoleon believed otherwise thus deeming them impractical. The answer to this new found gap in representation was to have a strong, even authoritarian, national leader, literally in the vein of, Napoleon I. This strong national leader would serve all the people, rich and poor, would be linked to each citizen by direc...

Geology Volcanoes&Earthquake Assignment10 Assignment

Geology Volcanoes&Earthquake Assignment10 - Assignment Example Animals are extremely useful especially in predicting an impending earthquake. Before destructive earthquake strikes animals, exhibit strange behaviors such as they abandon their homes and move to safer areas. In the japan and china, most scientists pursue this mystery to predict an earthquake. In regard to increased interest in the management of natural disasters and improved communications, the public can now learn more about the earthquake before it hits. Nevertheless, the fluctuating earthquake rates as seismicity shows can hardly be used to determine whether the imminent earthquake is significant. Theoretically, a mega quake can occur if the length of the fault is very large such that it generates an earthquakes magnitude of more than 10. However, realistically a mega quake cannot happen because scientists have never recorded an earthquake with such magnitude. The highest they have ever recorded is magnitude 9.5 in Chile. There are ideas in place about the best place to occupy during earthquake. The ideas are referred to as ‘triangle of life. According to scientists, these ideas are misguided. During an earthquake, the ground cannot open up but instead faults do form. If the ground opens up, there will be no friction cause earthquake. In this respect, California will never sink into the ocean because the North American plate and the great Pacific plate move past one another horizontally. Due to this movement, San Francisco and the Los Angeles will be adjacent one day. It is paramount to realise that a large earthquake cannot be prevented by making very many small ones. Also, lubricating faults can be a dangerous exercise because it makes the earthquake happen sooner than it would have if the water were not injected into the fault. Further, the weather conditions can cause an earthquake especially a windy weather which can trigger a tremor to occur. In conclusion, there has never been a relationship between the earthquake and the space

CRITIQUE OF A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORT Essay

CRITIQUE OF A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORT - Essay Example This research is therefore significant for nursing operations. Hypotheses – patients (veterans) randomly assigned to MBB would exhibit significantly greater improvements in sleep and in other co-morbid symptoms than patients assigned to SH; increased mindfulness facilitates improvements in sleep symptoms in patients assigned to MBB The hypotheses show directional causal relationship between the variables. Research questions and / or hypotheses are consistent with the literature review and the conceptual framework in the sense that they give supportive argument to the theoretical and empirical literature. Of Utah and VASLCHCS Institutional Review Boards. All patients gave written informed consent and were compensated for their time. Patients were surveyed and selected in accordance with the main objective of the study (i.e., improving management of The randomized controlled trial was appropriate for the study because the population dealt with was relatively large. The comparison of results between patients assigned to MBB and those assigned to SH facilitate easier interpretability of the findings. The study involved four data collection points: test for eligibility (completing MOS-SS), sleep inclusion disturbance, enrolment and randomization, allocation for interventions (MBB and SH). The study clearly stated the population, sample size, and the sampling method. The employment of randomized method of selection reduced the sample bias. Designing four data collection points improved the accuracy of the data collected with regard to research questions. The design was appropriate and it provided a representative sample. The study employed two interventions: SH and MBB, which were clearly defined. Data collection process was designed to achieve accuracy by presenting four data collection points, which were tailored towards specificity, thereby minimizing bias. Interpretations are consistent with the results and the study’s limitations. It clear