Not a World of Water, But of Fears

Calvino has a new theory for creation. It is not of Adam and Eve or of Evolution, but of the combination of time and space.

The four elements (fire, water, earth and air) along with the creation of duality, has manufactured Khan's atlas: an inferno.

Throughout section eight, Calvino expresses how Irene, (Cities & Names 5) is an insignificant system, a network. He defined the mechanics of the world, and most specifically the atlas described throughout Invisible Cities a falsehood. A domino effect with no real effect.

"Those who pass without entering..." speaks of the souls who never stop recognizing the falsehood of things. That soul who is still able to depict the objects that supposedly represent value are nothing but "rubbish." However, those who decide to live upon Inferno's stories, are those who are not able to fight against these strong forces.

Argia, (Cities & the Dead 4) is a place that didn't only decide to adapt to inferno's laws, but became unaware of their decision to. "What makes Argia different from other cities is that it has earth instead of air." (pg. 126)

Nevertheless, it can be said that the mysteries of the universe can be solved by observing the city of Thekla. It is a city that never ends in construction. The people fear it will start to deteriorate if they stop building. However, the blue print at times gets lost and the workers simply continue building without recognition that they are doing so without a plan. The blue print represents the divine soul of every individual worker. It is the scaffolding and the continuous construction that impedes the city to be built by design. Furthermore, it is the constant need to be doing something that stupefies the inhabitants, making them feel their is nothing else to do with their lives. "Do not do, be" comes back to the previous explanation. Human beings have obligated themselves to be constantly busy and innovating in order to live. The small detail they forgot was that they were already alive.

Olinda can also represent the falsehood in all its glory. It is the idea of an idea inside of an idea. One will never know which is the original Olinda, or if it even exists. No matter which Olinda you go to, it might have the same characteristics as the previous one. The only thing that remains identical, unlike the city are your eyes.

During the last pages of the book, Calvino finally came to a conclusion. It cannot be explained thoroughly or elaborated. Its truth lies unexplained. It cannot be too much of an influence in our lives, for it might dig us down into hole. It is the truth. It is seen in Macbeth, Candide, Slaughter-House Five, Elektra and Night.

Life is insignificant.

Calvino and I: Homeless

Means of transportation are like the flow of blood through veins. They might take different routes, become clogged or increase in speed. However, the blood will always arrive at the heart.

Clavino describes many of the cities he visited in section six, as places characterized by their infrastructure. The city of Esmeralda (Trading Cities–5), Phyillis (Cities and Eyes–4), and Pyrrha (Cities and Names–3) design's are based on slopes, bridges, canals, allies, and spider webs. Calvino says Esmeralda's inhabitants "are spared the boredom of following the same streets every day." (ph.88) Calvino is simply stating that spontaneous and unconventional events might make life less monotonous. After all it is the risks of taking other pathways that create experiences. Furthermore, after getting lost by exploring different routes, the sentiment of arrival at the destination is much more satisfactory.

The city of Phyllis is not as attractive as other cities. It is messy but artistically unique. "...each different from others: cambered, covered, on pillars, on barges, suspended...variety of windows ...mullioned, Moorish, lancet, pointed....Happy the man who has Phyllis before his eyes each day and who never ceases seeing things it contains,' you cry, with regret at having to leave the city when you can barely graze it with your glance.'" (Pg.90)

Calvino is dying. He is leaving this world. He is leaving his cities: his body, his mind and his legacy. However, he only discovers that his time hasn't run up, yet. All that he once overlooked, or unappreciated once is now holy in his memory.

"Phyllis is a space in which routes are drawn between points suspended in the void: the shortest way to reach the curtain merchant's tent, avoiding that certain creditor's window...Many are the cities like Phyllis, which elude the gaze of all, except the man who catches them by surprise." (pg.91)

Is the man who catches the gazing and eluded man G-d? Along many chapters of Invisible Cities, it has come to my attention that G-d plays a fairly vital role in Calvino's life. He refers to him as a witty judger, who is the cause of all of cities. (G-d has brought Calvino to create his city–his personal empire. Alike the Great Khan, an emperor who is not only the observer of Calvino's spiritual journey literally, but is the representation of us. Khan is a reflection of Calvino's life. And within this reflection their is an individual story–metaliterature. This can be proven by Khans analysis of Calvino's untold cities, by describing mirrored cities, with grand bodies of water which invoke a reflection of the whole city–identical but upside-down.)

Suddenly, Calvino discovers his own death at the mid of section six. Through Cities and Names 3, Cities and the Dead 2, Cities and the Sky 1, Calvino enters in a state of crisis and shock. He understands, that although he managed to oversee all the cities and understand their value, heaven was not as he expected.

Calvino's ideas of heaven are basically about:
1. Heaven–sign of a sign that represents something else.
2. The Khan might also be dead–our personal state of death.
(How do we know were not dead right now? Or dreaming–same thing?)
3. Fisherman in Heaven is G-d.
4. Disappointed with his life progress on morality because he is not responding well to his death.
5. Everything happens for a reason–death is the certain obligation for all. (spider webs, networks)

"So then, yours is truly a journey through memory." (pg. 98)
Are his experiences and stories insignificant? He does not know if the world in which he lives in is real. However it is what he's always known, so what is truly Calvino's reality? What is ours?

How Big is Your Sword?

           The world is full of horrors, violence and darkness. “If you want to know how much darkness their is around you, you must sharpen your eyes, peering at the faint lights in the distance.” (pg.59) 

          “While, at a sign from you, sire, the unique and the final city raises its stainless walls, I am collecting the ashes of the other possible cities that vanish to make room for it, cities that can never be rebuilt or remembered. When you know at last the residue of unhappiness for which no precious stone can compensate, toward which that final diamond must strive. Otherwise, your calculations will be mistaken since the start.”

          The diamond’s carats signifies the understanding of the human to realize the potential of his divinity. However, the purity of the diamond sinks within hardly reachable regions of the soul if the darkness outside becomes too powerful. The world will always remain abundant with hatred, violence and disgrace. However, its effects towards us are greater than what we expect. For it becomes our outer reality and dissembles our recognition of our inner beauty: our diamond. Our potential to reencounter our fading lights, depends on our strength. 

         The diamond is the hardest material known to man. It is our weapon, our sword to fight crime. However, our sword must be sharp, well incised, and designed to protect. Even if we see our diamond has diminished in size, it has not, we just have stopped maintaining it. 

         If we mistaken our calculations since the start, we would live in falsehood. Calvino states: “Falsehood is never in words; it is in things.” If we do not live up to our diamonds brilliant shine,   we live under a darkness that unlike the diamond, is not part of us. Throughout Thin Cities–4, Trading Cities–3, Cities and Eyes–2, and finally Cities and Names–1, Calvino introduces the concepts of perspective, and value. Change can be seen in what we give value to or in our points of view. However, he reminds us that the diamond will never loose its value. 

Let it be

           "Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules are absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else." 

           Signund Freud, explains this theory quite well. He introduces the ideologies of the subconscious and how dreams are made up of all the ideas that lie in this region of the brain. However, what differs Freud from Calvino is the capability of dreams altering reality. 

You are not the creator of the cities–the cities have created you.

           Throughout the chapter "Cities and Desires–5," Calvino describes the city of Zobeide. It is a city made up of a dream. Those who live there have had the same dream, thus they constructed this site my memory. 

          "They saw a woman running at night through an unknown city; she was seen from behind, with long hair, and she was naked. They dreamed of pursuing her. As they twisted and turned, each of them lost her. After the dream they set out in search of that city; they never found it, but they found one another....None of them, asleep or awake, ever saw the woman again. The cities streets were streets where they went to work every day, with no link any more to the dream chase. Which, for the matter, had long been forgotten." (Pg. 45) 

           Although the inhabitants of Zobeide designed the city so perfectly to be able to find the naked woman, their design was too accurate that the result was perfect. In the dream, the city had certain streets, buildings, and characters. However, the plot of the dream involved the chase of a naked woman who always escaped. The people who shared this dream, never had the chance to retrieve this woman. Once they built the city and gave it life, just like the dream, the woman never appeared. This could only signify that their planifications and designs tessellated perfectly to the dream. The woman was never to be found. After years of waiting for the naked woman to appear, the citizens simply forgot. 

           Dreams and fears are elements of who we are and of our future. Calvino explains through his expedition that life is about experiences, not about the destination. No matter how much we want our future to change, the universe will assure lessons will be learned and experiences will be experienced. No matter how much we want the past to change, and even if we had the possibility to take another path, in some way destiny will accomplish its purpose.

"The first to arrive could not understand what drew these people to Zobeide, this ugly city, this trap." (pg. 46) 

Is Zobeide a trap for women or for the citizens, meaning us. Has such intensive planning to change the outcome of the dream, made us slaves of this desire? If your past defined you then you have fallen in the trap. 

       The desire for change is the ego pursuing a future that is impossible. Throughout chapter three, Calvino intends to portray how forced change is manipulating G-ds plans of your life. For instance, in Cities & Signs –4, Calvino expresses how every human wished another world, a justice world. By establishing the metaphor of languages and objects "Of all the changes of languages a travler in distant lands must face, none equals that which awaits him in the city of Hypatia, because the change regards not words, but things. He elaborates this desire from practically the whole human race by stating that G-d is blamed for the "lack of change in things." 

        In addition, in Thin Cities– 3, Calvino describes a city whose buildings had inner structures, but are never built. This reminds me of my mother's explanation for the many divorces of today. She says that relationships are begun mostly without a "base." In other words, couples aren't friends before they become couples. Establishing a serious relationship (mainly sexual) before having constructed the bases first, apparently leads to break-ups. This connects to the topic of this chapter: Change, for no change is beneficial if the actions taken are inmoral. Just like couples who proceed to different stages of the relationship whilst skipping steps, changes that have no goals or responsible planifications lead to destruction. Nevertheless,Calvino also explains during Trading Cities–2, that risks  and never taking action leads to regret and unaccomplished dreams, and no fears triumphed over. 

Change can be part of the expedition. Change undone is regretful. Change with irresponsibility is consequential. 

Curls, Coils and Curves: Spirals

            I was once confortable analyzing symbolism. However, I didn't know Italo Calvino. Only having begun the first section from the book Invisible Cities, I have not only felt stupefied by the overwhelming metaphors and analogies, but completely confused on what Calvino is truly intending to say. I focused on extracting key terms from each chapter and began to find the "hidden meaning" within these. I didn't only discover their was a pattern, but that every object and it's symbol can be connected to other symbols throughout the book. For instance, spirals, metals, musical instruments playing (violin), clocks, cocks, women (dancing-music), old men and astrolabes are constantly mentioned throughout every chapter. As well as the conjunctions and use of time (past, present, and future). 

             Spirals can represent a spiritual journey: an evolutionary process of learning and growing spiritually. This can be a clue to finding the significance of Invisible cities. Marco Polo is narrating his spiritual encounters. Then again, a spiral may signify: redundancy. In others words, repetition, but every time seen with different perspectives. In addition, spirals are what conforms the DNA structure of the helix. (This structure can be explained in Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene) Nevertheless, spirals, time (past, present, future, clocks, redundancy, etc...) and the constant appearance of old men have led me to one theory. Marco Polo's journey to the cities are not necessarily visits, but life chapters. This explorer might be narrating his life experiences when witnessing them in distinct ages of his life. This might explain the old men and the young men observing the cities in benches. This might also explain the clocks. 


"The city does not consist of this, but of relationships between measurements of its space and the events of its past..." (Cities & Memory-3) 


"Zora's secret lies in the way your gaze runs over patterns following one another as in a musical score where a note can be altered or displaced." 


"...he remembers the order by which the copper clock..." (Cities and Memories-4) 

            Perspectives: another aspect found in spirals. While reading "Cities & Desire –3" the idea of two paths, two perspectives, but one destination really caught my attention. 

"Each city receives its form from the desert it opposes; and so the camel driver and the sailor see Despina, a border city between two deserts." (Cities & Desire–3)


          Although the ship and the camel were both going to Despina, both had contrasting view points. The camel could only see skyscrapers and a raging metropolis, unalike the ship who only saw the "oases of fresh water in the palm trees' jagged shade...." (pg.18) 


"Zora's secret lies in the way your gaze runs over patterns following one another as in a musical score where a note can be altered or displaced."


          Zora and its patterns denote the conception of history, the past and what will be the future has happened before. The famous aphorism: "Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it." (George Santayana) reminds me of the spiral as well. Clocks, patterns, and signs are elements that define a spiral. They are repetitive, redundant, and synchronized, just like life. 


"The city is redundant: it repeats itself so that something will stick in the mind." (Zirma–Cities & Signs 2) 


         Calvino might be trying to say that "life will hand you lemons until you finally learn to make lemonade." In other words, the situations will be brought up until managed or dealt with correctly.




SPIRALS: they are the structure of life. From our birth, life turns, and death, the cycle repeats. From history, which might present itself within different perspectives, moments and people, but results are the same. Spirals are in our DNA. We are doomed to take its twists and turns. We are obligated to become the spirals. To live by their law. (Cities & Desires–2) 

Society Killed the Teenager

            "Has the god meme, say, become associated with any other particular memes, and does this association assist the survival of each of of the participating memes? Perhaps we could regard an organized church,  with it architecture, rituals, laws, music, art, and written tradition, as a co-adapted stable set of mutually -assisting memes."  (pg. 197)

              G-d hasn't necessarily made the human corrupt, but religion has. Has religion shaped our society, our values and our culture, even though we don't practice it anymore? Faith has been with humanity since the beginning, and our mentality has proceeded to G-ds "word" even if we don't acknowledge it. Today good deeds, especially unselfish deeds are known to be an individuals obligation in a community. This idea reminds me of the movie "Pass it Forward," and how principles are not only passed on by teaching, but are "contagious" if practiced at a close distance. Religious memes don't only alter our personality, but our life style as well.

            Since we were toddlers, we were convinced that the only way to feel accomplished is to follow the life cycle that humanity had drawn out for us. It hasen't occurred to us that we might not need to conform part of the conventional family unit, capitalist economy or customs. Nevertheless, we have been doomed to live up to these standards with the fear of going hungry, dying alone or becoming no one.

            Education is another meme that although, may be interpreted differently among distinct minds, the result is in fact identical. People are born with common sense, well that can be considered an attribute of selfishness. However, under curriculum standards, society has defined intelligence with mathematical skills, memory capacity and so on. "The differences in the ways that people represent the theory are then, by definition, not part of a meme." Is intelligence a meme if there is a global definition for it? Isn't success a meme as well? One, as an individual might live upon one's definitions, however when living in a world of 7 billion people, there is only one definition and one opinion.

           Happiness: a state of mind where one is content of oneself. In other words, this happiness can only be achieved if memes do no longer exist. To live up to society's rules, impedes oneself of becoming oneself. It means becoming partially selfish and respect society's laws, but live pass them. This also reminds me of the great saying of today: SOCIETY KILLED THE TEENAGER. For teenagers are people who have resisted to memes, but humanity rises, defeats and clones.


Key Terms:

1.) Cultural mutations: To reposition cultural characteristics. 

2.) Psychological appeal: Interest of the brain. 

3.) Imitation: The process in which memes replicate. 

4.) Idea-meme: "An entity that is capable of being transmitted from one brain to another."

5.) Meme: The "cloner" of the human culture. 

Women: The Source of Human Empowerment

                                                 "What's in for the workers?" (pg. 173)

                Richard Dawkins recalls the Darwinian theory of Superior Gender Roles. Alike ants, humans are not only divided into two different sexes, but into two main classes: the bearers and the carers. "The bearers are the reproductive males and females. The carers are the workers–infertile males and females in the termites, infertile females in all other social insects. Both types do their job more efficiently because they do not have to cope with the other. But from whose point of view is it efficient?"

(This video portrays how in some cultures, women are viewed as bearers taking advantage of the carers) 

                Although gender roles aren't as rigorously defined today, women are still considered the bearers and men the carers. As women give birth, clean, cook and take care of the children, men are off to work, maintaining the household financially. This is where the chauvinism of society comes in. Most men believe a woman's chore is effortless and meaningless. When men have to deal with more complicated affairs, such as making business deals. The typical American housewife in the 50's and 60's was trained since she was a little girl to greet her husband with food and a warm smile. Some people "feel that the queen is having it all her own way, manipulating the workers by chemical means to her own selfish ends, making them care for her own team brood....The opposite idea is that the worker's 'farm' the reproductives, manipulating them to increase their productivity in propagating replicas of the workers genes." Who is taking advantage of who?


             In some cultures women are treated as royals. They are overly pampered, whiny and haughty. Nonetheless, in Eastern cultures, women bow down in their husbands presence. They are to never speek up or make requests. Women are seen as minorities. This mentality was considered to be a global state of mind up until 1970's.   If it weren't for women civilizations wouldn't have developed. Women are the educators of the world. It is for this race, that the human is what is it today. This statement may seem like a compliment, but it may also be a burden.


            Dawkins reveals that the workers (men) "may be actually more closely related to the brood than the queen herself." (pg.174) He supports his hypothesis with the theory of the "sex ratio," and how the differences in quantities of gender offsprings change the mother's relationship to her offspring..."A gene that finds itself in a queen's body can propagate itself best if that body invests equally in reproductive sons and daughters. But the same gene finding itself in a workers body by making the mother of that body

                The women's rights speech has been cliched, and declaring that women have obligations as a breeder is insurgent. Even though women today believe that raising an offspring is for the old fashioned, it is the only way for the human species to survive. However, the question that will always come up when thinking about this topic is: is chauvinism in our genes? Are some cultures more sexists for survival reasons? The environment and physical characteristics of a race might stimulate a fast process for extinction. Is chauvinism in our genetics?

Key Terms: 

1.) Selfish Herd: a group of selfish singles. 

2.) Reciprocal altruism: Helping others for personal benefit. 

3.) Cave Theory: Warning one's specie of danger for self protection.

4.) Never Break Ranks Theory: Helping others to become part of a group.
5.) Sucker: Helping others and gaining nothing in return. 
6.) Symbiosis: Mutual advantages from two individuals working together. 

7.) Cheat: Having no repercussions from "winning." 

8.) Evolutionary Stable Strategy: A strategy used to defeat others and survive. 

9.) Grudger: Interest in helping others who will help you in the future. 

Fooled

The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins

The Replicators

Like the lion, full of pride, humans believe they are the supreme specie on Earth. Although the warthog might have seemed small, weak and defenseless, it was witty and sneaky, just like the gene. 

“Even while the group is going slowly and inexorably downhill, selfish individuals prosper in the short term at the expense of altruists. The citizens of Britain may or may not be blessed with foresight, but evolution is blind to the future.”  (pg. 8)

Evolution is blind to the future. As machines of the gene, we cannot control the gene. In the other hand, the gene can control us and we will never know when, how or why. If we survive tomorrow it is due to the fact that evolution was in our favor. Nevertheless, when will be the day come when evolution will turn against us? Does the apocalypse and the extinction of the homo sapien sapien species rely on the gene? 

If selfish individuals only prosper in the expense of altruist, than its a cycle of taking advantage of others. However, if the gene is selfish, and only prospers by using others, and we are machines of the gene, than what are genes acquiring from our use? Other than using us as their host, what other benefit do we offer genetic codes? Do we offer them power? Nonetheless, we have no choice because we live by their design. Why have genes created a machine with a higher conscience? 

What is man? What is the meaning of life? Is it to overcome the genes empowerment over us? Considering our bodies are composed of them, why else would they build us a conscience? Does evolution reconcile on our level of awareness? 

The Bowler Hat

The Selfish Gene
Richard Dawkins


Immortal Coils


         "They are in you and in me; they created us, body and mind; and their preservation is the ultimate rationale for our existence. They have come a long way, those replicators. Now they go by the name of genes, and we are their survival machines." (pg.20)

          The human is selfish. Why is the human selfish? According to Dawkins, its because all animals are conformed of genes. Genetic codes, otherwise known as DNA, form our minds and bodies. These minuscular anatomies of proteins and nucleotides and bases, are what has brought the survival of man. Genetics and evolution created the world and all in it. We are genes, and genes are us, within Dawkins perspective. 

          
         The human race is known to be competitive, greedy, and vain. We manipulate others and find pleasure in gaining power. Can we blame all of these flaws on a complex chemical trait: the gene? Are we capable of using our animal instincts as an excuse for all of our mistakes? However, can genes take credit for all of our accomplishments? When humans built the first rocket or the Wall of China, was this due to the evolving gene within us? 

        


     Spiritual leaders such as Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr, Dalai Lama, and so on, prove that humans, despite other animals, can fight against the selfish traits of the gene.  Dawkins does not believe in G-d, but that the gene is our creator and we are the hosts of it in our bodies. (Many agnostic relgions believe that we have G-d inside us-this is the same as the gene.) Does this mean we are utterly controlled by these cells? Do we create our view of the world? Are our actions, our actions? Or, are these simply illusions created by the gene?

       Humans who are agnostic and believe in free will, live in a more liberated mentality than those who are atheist and believe humans are nothing but a pool of genes. While agnostic people aim to evolve into a purer being during the coarse of their life, “gene believers” are doomed live by design. (Picture on the left is a Sims Game)

     


        This idea reminds me of the Walt Disney movie “Meet the Robinsons” and the bowler hat. Those who wore it would become hypnotized by it. The hat did not have good intentions, and had a mind of its own. Genes are like the bowler hat. Those who wear it (humans who believe they are created by genes) will never discover that the genes are defining the person they are becoming. These people will accomplish the hat’s desires (animal instincts= selfishness).  

     
      Genes are not what defines the human being. They might have a powerful influence on us and other animals, but they will never be our entire person. Genes cannot make one feel love. Genes may lead us to undergo attraction, but they will never produce sympathy or sadness. We can define genes as builders and managers of our body, but never of our hearts. 

Passive Voice

1. 
   
   1. Children cannot open these bottles easily.

   These bottles cannot be opened easily by children. 

   
   

   2. The government built a road right outside her front door.

   A road was buit outside her front door.

   
   

   3. Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked through the store.

   The antique vase was broken by Mr. Ross, as he walked through the store. 

   
   

   4.When she arrived, the changes amazed her.

   She was amazed by the changes when she arrived.

   
   

    5.The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.

   Street repaires are being made all month long. 

   
   

   6. The party will celebrate his retirement.

   The retirement will be celebrated in the party. 

   
   

   7.His professors were discussing his oral exam right in front of him.

   His oral exam was being discussed right in front of him. 

   
   

   8.My son ate all the homemade cookies.

   All of the homemade cookies were eaten. 

   
   

   9. Corrosion had damaged the hull of the ship.

   
   

   The hull of the ship has been damaged by the corrosion. 

   
   

   10.Some children were visiting the old homestead while I was there

   The homestead was being visited by some children, while I was there.

   
   

   
   

   1. If expansion is not accomplished, then two less-efficient alternatives must be acted upon: either the book sales will have to be in separate quarters or else the whole enterprise will have to be moved to a new location. [Try "we."]

   
   

   If expansion is not accomplished, we must act upon two less-efficient alternatives: we will have to separate quarters for the book sales or else, relocate the whole enterprise. 

   
   

   1. Trees on average sites are expected to be about twenty inches in diameter when they are eighty years old if they are managed properly since youth. [Start "Managed properly."]

   
   

   Managed properly, tress on average sites should be about twenty inches in diameter when they are eighty years old. 

   
   

   
   

   
   

   1. Any amended declaration should be filed with the Internal Revenue Office with whom the original declaration was filed even if you move to another district.

When Our Garden is Nothing but Dry

          Although Voltaire truly wanted to transmit the message of optimism throughout his novel, my understanding was quite different. The significance of Candide's supper with miserable kings was that all misfortunes are equally grave. ''...Pangloss and Martin, 'seemed to me to have done much better for himself than those six kings we had the honor of supping with." (Pg. 143) There are no worse diseases, worse deaths, worse wars or worse lives. All tragedies deserve the same amount of dwelling. It's all a matter of perspective.

 One may decide to look at Tsar Ivan's situation positively or negatively. The morality of Candide is: forgive, forget and more on. Its just a matter of how one can look at the situation, which in the case of Voltaire is: "cultivate your garden." (Pg.144) Or in other words: "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Candide could not have ended more wrongly, however each individual was able to compromise with their failure in their own way. Perspective is the lit door to survival. Count Pococurante portrayed how a person who does not posses perspective only see what's good, only bad. Lack of perspective is like having dark sunglasses on, which enables one to see only darkness where their is light. "You must admit that there is the happiest man alive, because he is superior to all he possesses.'" (Pg. 123)

    Voltaire intends to demonstrate that not is only optimism Nothing could have ended more wrong. The Baron and Pangloss return to the picture, Candide is no longer wealthy and Lady Cunegonde has turned as "ugly as a witch." (Pg.138) Their life revolves around the cultivation of a garden. Although all went wrong, they settled, they compromised.


"'When man was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was put there "to dress it and to keep it", to work, in fact; which proves that man was not born to an easy life.'" (Pg, 143)  

   The utopia that God created for humans (The Garden of Eden) was perfect because of its imperfection. 

I'm a Powerless Commoner

           Since the second we opened our eyes, we were all destined to live under somebody's command. Weither it was to follow our parents rules or our countries laws; people are always obligated to walk behind a supreme ruler. What does a person have to do in order to escalate the ladder of power? Must they act wise, strong, fierce, and intimidating? Or must they be compassionate and pleasing to the public? For all of the ways and reasons a person can transform themselves from a follower to a leader, the outcome will always remain indifferent: powerful. The public usually praises those who hold the scepter, however is their a possibility that once the crown is removed, they will become valueless?

        "'...In Paris, they treat them with great respect while they are still beautiful, but when they are dead they throw them on the dunghill.' 'Queens thrown on a dunghill! exclaimed Candide....'Our friend here is quite right. I was in Paris when Monimia passed, as they say, from this life to the other. She was refused what people call "a decent funeral" -that is to say, being sent to rot with all the parish beggars in some filthy cemetery. She was buried away from all her people if Burgundy Street.'" (Pg. 99)


           The power that lies within a queen or king is not of honor and wisdom. But the power they portray is usually bountiful of superiority, ego and corruption. This may be be the reason why Candide is so fascinated when explaining how Queen Monimia is buried in disgrace. Well, the order of power is reversed when she dies. She once had power over her people's bodies and now her people have power over her body.We can see this events all throughout history. For instance, the last Tsar family were the Romanov's. When World War I broke out, Nicolas II became weak from his own power. This led him to resign moments after the war, and later on murdered along with his entire family in Siberia. When this family was going to be entombed, The Peter and Paul Cathedral, (where all Tsars are buried) did not apply for this family. For this reason, the Russians built a room beside the Cathedral in order to burry the ex-tsar family. Although, this might seem an act of appreciation for the family, it was quite the opposite. The thought of being separate from their whole family line was shameful.

                There is an exception to this rule (powerful people being dishonored after their loss of position), which is the parental power. Parents are the queens and kings of the household. These people are able to take decisions for their children and control their actions and opinions. However, this constant respect that has remained in all the culture's domestic dynamics is fading away. The lack of education and parent guidance is backfiring, when we see children since a small age having a mind of their own. This independent mind cannot be taken positively, for their actions are usually immoral. This rule can be highly applied the Chinese culture. Since the children were small, they were taught to honor the elderly. Power may have different purposes, but the power that lies in a household ables society to produce "well trained" beings. However, power does not only come in government and in households. Power comes in love, in religion and in favors.

           In Candide, we can see the use of power having a more significant effect on each character. Pangloss's influence on his students, demonstrates this philosophers dominance over society's morality. A philosopher might as well be the most influential person of all.

         Power can also be seen in the love between Lady Cunegonde and Candide. Their compromise inhibit each other to have other relationships. "As he went back to his hotel with the abbe Candide felt some remorse at his infidelity to Lady Cunegonde." (g. 105)

            In addition, Pacquette, Pangloss's physics pupil seems to survive her syfilis. She is rescued by a doctor her imprisons her, for she owes him so many favors. "....If a famous doctor had not taken pity for me, I should have died...the doctor was the ugliest man you ever saw, and I was the most wretched creature alive being continually beaten for the sake of a man I did not love." (pg. 114) Pacquette is stating that she had to stand the abuse of a man she did not have any feelings for. Does this mean that she thinks one should bear any harsh behaviors from a man one "loves?" Love can have a negative power against you. Dark love can weaken one's self esteem. This kind of love is simply corrupt.

The Trap

       Candide along with Cacambo, land in the most extragavent, luxurious and mysterious country: eldorado. It’s commonly filled with golden skyscrapers and precious stones.What society considers of valuable objects, the people of eldorado only see it as ordinary. Eldorado has an entrance but no exit. This enclosed land, forces citizens to remain ingorant of the world’s hate. All people are friendly and good-hearted, there is no corruption or relgious empowerment whatsoever. Yet, among all this greatness, there is poverty.

     What is the simbolism of eldorado? Why has Voltaire created such a magnificent and exquisit atmosphere and made the citizens poor? This writer intends to demonstrate how fortunate people, in reality, seem perfect on the surface, but are completly unhappy and emtpy inside. Voltaire is trying to transmit that money does not buy happiness. The eldorado people might be surrounded by buildings and roads of gold, they might use diamonds as marbles, people might seem warm and welcoming, however, they are said to be moneyless.

     “Two waiters and two waitresses, dressed in cloth of gold with their hair tied in ribbons, invited them to sit down to table and put before then four

tureens of soup, each garnished with two parakeets, a boiled vulture weighing about two hundred pounds, two delicious roast monkeys, three hundred doves on one plate, and six hundred humming-birds on another, as well as exquisite stews and lucious pastries, all served on plates of a sort of rock crystal...” (pg. 76) Why has this community of poor civilians embraced these two strangers with such nobility? Why has the government especially offered to pay all expenses for a foreigners ultimate comfort?

        “’All inns run for the convenience of tradespeopleare paid for by the government. You have fared badly here because this is a poor village, but everywhere else you will be recieved as you deserve to be.’” (Pg.77) Even though people in this city have been miserably striken by poverty, why are they so interested in covering their penury by spoiling newcomers with luxuries they cannot afford themselves? Are these people exemplifying today's materialistic culture? That even though people might not have too much money, still want to appear of high etiquette? Or, that high class civilians shield their sadness with luxury. 

          The mystery of the eldorado people will always remain. Who are these people? Why do they live among such greatness and are still poor? Why is the government and relgion moral and law-abiding, but freedom non existing? Athough these individuals might seem to live in a much superior world than others, they have not the will to leave. The people of eldorado are chained to a life of superficiality and inner hollowness. Eldorado has an entrance but no exit. Once society enters a state of greed, there is not way out. The people of eldorado are the people of today.  

Altruistic Intentions: Society's Defeat

“Having heard the old woman’s story, the lovely Cunegonde began to pay her all respects due to a person of her rank and quality.” (pg.58)

        

         How are minorities designated? Do we define inferiority, by education or ethnicity? Nonetheless, people have been accustomed to blur the line between these two aspects. Discrimination involves degrading a person any way possible. In Candide we can see how the minorities of a society affect their functions. For instance, when Abigail persuaded Lady Cunegonde to marry the fellow Governor of “Buenos Ayres,” with the argument of  saving her reputation.Voltaire is able to portray how Lady Cunegonde, a cultured woman, has the opportunity of marrying a governor, not just for her stunning appearance, but because she came from a wealthy family. Thus, this demonstrates the escalating power of the aristocratic class, when preserving themselves as exclusive and pure. If Lady Cunegonde wouldn't have been a high class citizen in her past, Governor Don Fernando would have simply overlooked this deteriorated and ravished girl. However, minorities aren't always identified according to their economic ranking, but can be used to subordinate a culture. In particular, Candide states his dislike for Spaniards when Cacambo and Candide are about to be introduced to the Governor of “Buenos Ayres.” “’Praise to be God, said the dignitary, ‘I can speak to him as he is German.” (Pg. 63)

         However, as a reader, one comes believe Voltaire's genuine segregation for other races when he states: “My master Pangloss used to tell me that men are equal; and I shall marry her with no hesitation.” (Pg. 67) Voltaire’s constant mockery of how society has acted so warmly upon, Lady Cunegonde’s lack of prestige, makes readers reconsider his attitude when this woman is proposed matrimony by the governor. Is Voltaire saying that this proposal could never be real? Does he too believe that Lady. C is unfit for such a high standard man? Voltaire ridicules fictitious  romantic situations between Candide, the Governor and Lady Cunegonde, where citizens don't have any kind of discernment of the economical and cultural clashes. unlike society where people would attack this situation fiercely. His perception on reality and fantasy is raw. Voltaire intends to transmit a utopia that could never come true.

         The world dreams of equality, when sincerely, people aren’t capable of growth nor change.  Today this problem is even graver, for society has come to state their “growth” through the media. Individuals do not have to deal with representing and exposing to the world that they have “evolved.” They are convinced that through TV shows they can prove themselves righteous.They rely on TV to convince themselves that they have become  honest to others. For example, in The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, her character is able to demonstrate how far citizens have come to when helping others. However, Sandra Bullock, plays the role of an exceptional woman, who is an exception and rare in reality. Sandra Bullock plays a woman who is unaware of minorities. She interprets a woman who all humans want to be, but everyone is too selfish to become.

                Voltaire admires Candide, but he doesn't believe society nor himself could ever be truthful to this character’s words: “...men are created equal.” (pg. 67) 

The Pitted Pearl

                   "Ma che sciagura d'essere senza coglioni!" (Pg. 54) 

                      Its astounding how far Voltaire expresses the corrupt mind of the human mind. 

              Why has Voltaire brought so much importance to the subject of virginity in Candide? Is he against the social pressure of purity or does he encourage women to preserve and respect their “flower”? He expresses his feelings towards sexual preservation when he states: “What has happened to Lady Cunegonde, that pearl amongst women, the master piece of nature.” Considering Voltaire’s constant mockery of the typical romanticized novel, as a reader I can infer that he considers women as magnificent and worthy with or without their virginity. What has led men to create this connection between attractiveness and sexual purity? Even if a married, duchess princess, one hundred percent blue blood, is the most elegant woman in the entire kingdom, will she no longer be pure or “ a masterpiece of nature?” In addition, this expresses Voltaire’s motives when attacking the conservative society of his times. He accomplishes his revolutionary intentions by invoking a womanizing culture among those open-minded readers. 

           Legitimately, Voltaire has influenced and created the society that is today.  Furthermore, Voltaire constantly situates Lady Cunegonde in scenarios in which she must resist to any sexual intercourse. “For my part I have resisted both of them so far, and I think that is why they love me still.” (Pg.42) Is Voltaire insinuating that women who don’t surrender their purity are frowned upon or praised? “’I was indeed,’ said the lovely Cunegonde, ‘but people don’t always die of those mishaps.’” (Pg. 39) Does the irrational society of the time consider that after being ravished and polluted, women are trash? Although this revolutionary French writer diminishes the value of virginity, what is his position upon his Lady no longer being a pearl and a maiden? Is being ravished an exception to his mentality? Has his admiration for Lady Cunegonde lessened because of her misfortunes? 

            “One day Cunegonde was walking near the house in a little coppice, called ‘the park’, when she saw Dr. Pangloss behind some bushed giving a lesson in experimental physics to her mother’s waiting woman, a pretty little brunette who seemed eminently teachable.” (Pg. 21) Voltaire has rather exceeded his tolerance to public lovemaking. He sees this humane act as natural, instinctive and shameless. Although society today has been able to accommodate to sexually in a liberal way, has Voltaire shown that this mentality is advanced for his times? As a revolutionary, this French writer was able to guide humanity into innovative ideals, however was his perspective on human sexuality causing society to take steps back from becoming civil? Is it more mature to accept sexuality blatantly or as a secretive and animalistic convention? Voltaire introduces and manifests new angles of cultural eroticism to the “stark naked” and naive society. 

The Expected of the Unexpected

                     Love didn’t disappear for Candide. Love revived and emerged itself in his life once again. The appearance and miracle survival of Lady of Cunegonde, is cliché and overly romantic. In a way this happening achieves Voltaire’s discreet and satire approach when mocking romance. Candide and Lady Cunegonde were raised within a scenario that would be typical for a fairy tale; nevertheless, Voltaire mishandles their lives and destroys this stereotypical tale. He ridicules romance by making the happy ending unfeasible. As Candide fights for his lovers’ liberty by killing the priest and the Jew, escaping this hazard is going to take much more precaution as they presumed. Lady Cunegonde, as well as Abigail (her servant) and Candide must not only dodge the violent chasings that will follow, but they will have to heal from the traumatic memories that bruised their minds. After having scrutinized the old woman’s’ vile story and constructed an image in one’s mind of such life, alike the woman herself, as a reader I came to question of suicide.

                The old lady was the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina. She portrays the fairy tale life she led, from being the fairest lady of her kingdom, and having fallen in love with the most eligible man; her life came to pieces from one morning to the next. This old lady saw her purity being snatched away, her mother along with her ladies of waiting, split apart and her horrific destiny being exposed upon her ignorant and naive eyes: a presumptuous royal must learn to live the life of a servant. After all, everything happens for the best of all possible worlds. Nevertheless, sometimes life’s lessons drains the strength to survive, and as astonishing as it was that the old lady didn’t self-murder, she was actually able to leave the most clear and honest rationality of why someone who is so miserable still holds on to life.

                  “I have wanted to kill myself hundreds of times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our most melancholy propensities; for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one’s very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?” (Pg. 57) The old lady explains that life would be monotonous and dull if everything would be positive and as planned. Life wouldn’t just be lifeless, but without bitter experiences, there wouldn’t be any experiences. This reminds me of Dante’s Inferno and of those souls who did no good nor bad, those who they are eternally doomed in Limbo. How can life come to such unveiling and aimless directions, that one made no difference?  There is no importance to live everyday if a memorable event didn’t change a person. There is only recognition of hope when there are negative incidents. What would be victory without failure? What would be intelligence without ignorance? What would be beauty without unattractiveness? What would be happiness without misery? 

Freedom

                                                                  Robin Hood

"'I most humbly beg your Excellency's pardon,' replied Pangloss, still more politely, 'but I must point out that the fall of Man and the eternal punishment enter, of Necessity, into the scheme of the best of all possible worlds.'" (Pg.35)

            One of the world’s most miraculous philosophers discovered the deeper explanations for why unfortunate events make this world mirthful and peaceful: a utopia. The human world around us works in genius ways, for many reasons that must remain unexplored, nevertheless, Pangloss has unlatched Pandora's Box, and in its core lies: the universal rule of reason or the The Indispensable. These revelations of Voltaire’s, Candide search to comfort and promote hope among all who are eternally blessed. People, will hopefully find acceptance in their hearts when their motive for their misery proclaims that everything happens for a reason. Pangloss enlightens his pupil, Candide, by explaining how religious controversies, sexual transmitted diseases, or other forms of illnesses are “necessary ingredients” or “Necessities” for human progress. This remarkable preceptor concludes that wars haven’t been as ferocious because of the diseases that have weakened soldiers. (pg.30) Humanity has come to a point of utter grief and can only expect to regard as true Pangloss’s words, for the sake of survival of the inferno. Those who are living the nightmare are relinquishing the dream for others. For this reason, we who are glancing at the world through starlight glasses will never see those who offer their chances of being bliss.

            “’Men,’ he said, ‘must have somewhat altered the course of nature; for they were not born wolves, yet they have become wolves. God did not give them twenty-four pounders of bayonets, yet they have made themselves bayonets and guns to destroy each other...’” (Pg. 31)  Blame has intoxicated people’s brains, apparently we have destroyed our paradise: our garden of Eve. Humans have dug a hole to the center of the earth, crept into it, settled and then wept over how they are so down under. Every adversity is brought upon the creator itself.

            Humans have created “Necessities” to only comply with those who deserve to live in the sunlight.  Have we honestly come to such unselfishness, or for those who were born charmed, selfishness?

            "'Your Excellency must excuse me,' said Pangloss; 'Free Will is consistent with Absolute Necessity, for it was ordained that we should be free. For the Will that is Determined...'" (Pg.35) Can the world of the jinxed and the world of the godsend inter-collide? If everything happens for a reason, we are slaves of fate. We are all predestined to learn certain lessons through specific experiences (Anabaptist had to die during the shipwreck- Pg.31) Has God created the ill, suffering, and hungry to encourage people to become better souls? When does Free Will take a stand and make this utopia finally livable?

Human Sexuality

http://youtu.be/q-P232FQqdA