The Stories We Tell: Literature as a Window on the Past
Reading literature by writers from various times, places, and cultures can give readers a better understanding of history and of the world's peoples. Voltaire's Candide, for example, helps readers understand the cultural perspective of intellectuals during the Age of Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, which began in late 17th-century Europe. It was a time when many writers and philosophers, including Voltaire, encouraged members of society to use reason and logic in their own thinking instead of blindly trusting the decisions and ideas of their leaders.
One way to understand a work's cultural perspective—those details that reflect a specific cultural group reflected in a work of literature—is by analyzing its point of view. A good place to begin, then, is to ask this question: Who narrates Candide? While Candide is the protagonist, he is not the narrator, which we learn in the first paragraph: "He combined a true judgment with simplicity of spirit, which was the reason, I apprehend, of his being called Candide." For the most part, Candide appears to be narrated from a third-person point of view; however, "I apprehend" in the first paragraph suggests a first-person narrator, one who is choosing the details to share and presenting them with some bias:
The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate but windows. His great hall, even, was hung with tapestry. All the dogs in his farmyards formed a pack of hounds if needed; his grooms were his huntsmen; and the curate of the village was his grand almoner. They called him "My Lord" and laughed at all his stories.
The first sentence states that one reason the Baron was considered "one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia" was that "his castle had not only a gate but windows." In this sentence, readers must pay attention both to what is being said and how it is being said. At first, the presence of windows in a house might not seem impressive, but the truth was that at the time the novel was written, window glass was expensive. The Baron is "one of the most powerful lords," then, because of his wealth, but "windows" and "tapestry" seem like somewhat weak measures of power. Voltaire is using irony, saying one thing but meaning another. In the opening lines, the author is actually pointing out that the Baron is powerful because he was born into wealth, and not because he has done anything to deserve it, such as protect his people. "They called him 'My Lord'," we are told, and a reader can infer that the Baron's subjects have to call him that. In addition, a reader can assume that they laugh at his stories out of obligation. Voltaire continues his descriptions of characters in the next paragraph:
The Baron's lady weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds and therefore was a person of great consideration, and she did the honors of the house with a dignity that commanded still greater respect.
Voltaire also employs euphemism, which is the practice of using gentle or inoffensive descriptions to discuss subjects that might be objectionable to some readers.
One day Cunégonde, while walking near the castle, in a little wood which they called a park, saw between the bushes, Dr. Pangloss giving a lesson in experimental natural philosophy to her mother's chamber-maid, a little brown wench, very pretty and very docile. As Miss Cunégonde had a great disposition for the sciences, she breathlessly observed the repeated experiments of which she was a witness; she clearly perceived the force of the Doctor's reasons, the effects, and the causes; she turned back greatly flurried, quite pensive, and filled with the desire to be learned; dreaming that she might well be a sufficient reason for young Candide, and he for her.
Describing what is going on in those bushes as "a lesson in experimental natural philosophy" is a euphemism, a vague description substituted for the truth, which a reader might infer to mean "romantically involved." The narrator claims that Cunégonde's reason for watching the couple in the bushes is her "great disposition for the sciences." The reference to "the sciences" is another euphemism, then. When she runs to find Candide to repeat the experiment she witnesses, the narrator continues the joke, saying it is only because of her "desire to be learned." Later, Candide and Cunégonde kiss, and this is how we are confirmed in our understanding of the euphemism used by the narrator. This shows that the narrator is humorous as well as respectful of readers.
Regardless of the point of view from which a story is told, the narrator helps readers enter the world of a story. That world may be very similar to our own, or it may be the world of a much different time, place, and culture. Great writers often mean more than what is apparent on the surface of their texts. Paying close attention to the point of view and cultural experiences shared in a work of literature can help readers uncover richer meanings.
Assignment
Craft a storyboard using Canva that illustrates key moments in Voltaire's "Candide" from different narrative perspectives. This visual project aims to demonstrate how shifts in point of view can alter readers' understanding and engagement with the text.
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Instructions
Preparation Phase:
Select four key events or scenes from "Candide" that are rich in descriptive detail and potential for varied interpretation.
Note down the original third-person perspective as Voltaire presents it, and then reimagine each scene from a first-person perspective of different characters within the story.
Storyboard Setup on Canva:
Choose a storyboard layout on Canva that allows for both images and text. Each scene will require two storyboard cells: one for the original third-person perspective and one for your reimagined first-person perspective.
Scene Creation:
Cell 1: Illustrate the original scene as described by Voltaire, accompanied by a caption that uses direct quotes from the text.
Cell 2: Redraw the same scene from the first-person perspective of a character within the story. Add a thought bubble or first-person narrative caption that reflects the character’s personal viewpoint and feelings.
Visual Elements:
Utilize Canva's library to find images or use the drawing tool to create your own illustrations that reflect the era, characters, and actions of each scene.
Experiment with different color palettes for the two cells to differentiate between the detached tone of the third-person and the emotional color of the first-person.
Candid Text
Point of View Analysis:
Beneath each cell, include a brief analysis of how the perspective impacts the reader’s interpretation of the scene. Consider how humor, satire, and cultural critique are conveyed through the different points of view.
Critical Thinking Slide:
Create a slide that challenges viewers to think critically about why Voltaire chose to write "Candide" from a third-person point of view rather than a first-person point of view. Prompt them to consider how the story would change if Candide himself were telling it.
Reflection Slide:
Design a final reflection slide where you explain what insights you gained about the importance of narrative perspective in storytelling, especially in satirical works like "Candide."
Submission:
Download your final draft as a .png file. Then upload it here in Google Classroom.
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