All images from http://candide.tumblr.com (NSFW)
Here, Daniel Day-Lewis gives the impression of resting upon a long journey. The mountainous terrain reminds of Eldorado, the fictional kingdom saturated with precious metals in which Voltaire's Candide takes some rest.
 This Brigitte Bardot scene provides a fitting image of Cunégonde traveling with the old woman and Cacambo.  What is the price of the tobacco you smoke in Britain?  Paquette  Martin  Look at her pin: "War is Terrorism" | Candide, despite the cynicism that roils on the surface, still holds the titular promise of optimism, thoroughly critiqued. Life becomes worth living— and the satire ends— when Candide begins to recreate Eden for himself. Eldorado seems to him the best of all possible worlds of which Pangloss speaks. There they have all they need. They never have need to leave but simply to take care and grow what they have. Europe, with a lust for trade and stones rare and beautiful, suffers a continual hell. Even as the earth punishes Lisbon, so the survivors punish each other.
Kid Cudi's song "Pursuit of Happiness" provides a contemporary take on the phrase popularized by Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, which he modified from John Locke, who included the word property instead of happiness. The lyrics speak first of smoking cannabis and driving under the influence of alcohol, cultivating a stand-offish care-free attitude. The second verse concerns night terrors and bed-ridden dysphoria. The chorus holds the crux of the song's pathos. Not all that glitters is gold, the saying goes; to 'get it' implies material or sexual gain. Keep chasing the dream.
Candide begins his chase with innocent kissing and touching of princess Cunégonde in his home castle, which he has learned to be the most beautiful and best of all possible castles from resident philosopher Pangloss. Caught in "this cause and this effect" at the end of the first chapter, Candide begins his wanderings, with the ultimate goal of returning to paradisiacal Cunégonde.
To shorten Voltaire's absurd and winding satire, Candide marries Cunégonde long after her beauty fades and they, along with the characters who helped them on their way, settle down in Turkey. The philosophical question which follows Candide throughout the novel - whether this is the best of all possible worlds - comes to solution in the last line: "That is very well put, said Candide, but we must cultivate our garden." Here Pangloss gets tossed aside and the lesson of the novel drops. We humans may be fallen from grace, but we can try to recreate the state of grace for ourselves here on earth. For each their Eden.
Candide also displays striking similarity to Homer's Odyssey. Our protagonist travels the known world undergoing trials in order to reach some final home goal. Odysseus, however, is wily and unphilosophical, while Candide is gullible and ponderous. Nevertheless, both have an admirable stubbornness which keeps them alive and leads to eventual success. The retelling continues with The Pursuit of Happyness, a recent movie.  Why spell 'happiness' with the unconventional y? Considering the image, the subtle intention seems to emphasize genetic continuation: Will Smith's dad-character holding a briefcase in one hand and his son's hand in the other, the sun (what pun!) shining through their physical bond and the son leaning his head against his father's arm. The briefcase is his bag of winds, his treasure to be lost, his red sheep laden with gold and gems. Today we search for happiness through screens. |