Only The Good Die Young

It is amazing how this parody has so much to say and you don't even realize the strong and bitter humor. I keep on reading and every time I find myself with something Voltaire wants to criticize. No one blames him, after all it is a parody. 

This novel was written in a time where men decided to exploit their potential, and stopped underestimating their reason. But men were oppressed by church power and conservatism, it is seen clearly when, "Pangloss and his pupil, Candide, were arrested as well, one for speaking and the other for listening in the air of approval" (36). This shows the inconformity of Voltaire, maybe his own personal experience of being oppressed of his free will, in a way, and his freedom of speech. Candide is a reflection of the time Voltaire was living. 

Another thing I noticed is how Voltaire goes back to the false heroism Candide was awarded to. The fact that, "Candide was flogged in time with the anthem;the Basque and the two men who refused to eat bacon were burnt; and Pangloss was hanged"(37), makes it hard to believe that after not doing anything, and wondering in life without something clear the one who died was Pangloss and not him. Voltaire is showing how we award those who are not really worth it and have not proven themselves to life. How we let pass great minds, forgetting how our world needs them. 

What really makes it absurd is that Candide ends up with the girl, "He had the surprise of his life, for his astonishing gaze it seemed that Lady Cunégode stood before him" (39). After all the great Philosopher dies, and he ends up with more luck than him. It is a shame how some deserve the luck and they just don't have it. But who are we to judge?

That is why Queen's song, No One But You (Only The Good Die Young) describes perfectly these chapters.

 hand above the water
An angel reaching for the sky
Is it raining in heaven -
Do you want us to cry?

And everywhere the broken-hearted
On every lonely avenue
No-one could reach them
No-one but you

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flying too close to the sun
And life goes on -
Without you...

Another Tricky Situation
I get to drownin' in the Blues
And I find myself thinkin'
Well - what would you do?

Yes! - it was such an operation
Forever paying every due
Hell, you made a sensation
You found a way through 

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
We'll remember -
Forever...

And now the party must be over
I guess we'll never understand
The sense of your leaving
Was in the way it was planned...

So we grace another table
And raise our glasses one more time
There's a face at the window
And i aint never, never saying goodbye...

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
Cryin' for nothing
Cryin' for no-one
No-one but you