Tone in Candide

Tone Examples in Candide:

Chapter XXIV

"You see that already I have won half the wager..." See in text (Chapter XXIV)

This line, written as a humorous punch, both lightens the tone after Paquette's upsetting story and proves to readers that most people have, indeed, led a terrible life in this book. It also reveals to us something of Martin's character: one would expect that, after hearing a story like that, he would attempt to comfort Paquette and to lift her spirits, but instead he cracks a joke. This shows just how heartless his pessimism has made him.

Sinead, Owl Eyes Contributor

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