Some characters places and situations in this novel have a symbolic significance. Symbolism provides meaning and effect in a literary work.Candide means innocent. He is very innocent and charming. He is a symbol of innocence itself.
The Baron is killed with many of his family members. His castle is razed to the ground. This symbolizes the fall of aristocracy.
Cunégonde is an extremely pretty young girl at the beginning of the novel. She symbolizes the transitoriness of youth and beauty.
How exactly does the Baron represent the fall of Aristocracy? After that incident weren't they exposed to the lavish lives of the El Doradians? When the two (Candide and Cacambo) left El Dorado didn't they leave with riches that were more than any ruler in the known world? So to me, at least, the Baron being killed along with his family doesn't represent the fall of Aristocracy. There were far too many examples of its existence later in the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your logic on symbolism. I think their should have been deeper explanations of the certain types of symbols represented in Candide. For example, the Gardens, El Dorado, and Pangloss were great symbols also. When Candide is banished it is from Garden and it comes from the story of the Garden of Eden which symbolizes like you said here him trying to restore his innocence and faith that he lost through his sufferings.
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