Our meaning

I took “our meaning” to be interpreted as what we mean to convey to others through our everyday actions and words we use when talking and interacting with others in our society. Every person I believe wants to do well in his life, and to show others that he or she is a good person. So, it is only natural that I would wish to convey a sense of good, of doing what is right to people. But, thinking about how others perceive you is a dangerous and often a slippery slope to be led down. Thinking a little on how you are viewed in society is good; it is called decency and manners, and everyone should want to have some sort of decency. Thinking too much about how you are viewed by others is unhealthy, and it leads often time to the changing of yourself to fit the views of what you think others to want to see in you. You have to find the right balance so as to not to appear an unmannered prick who does whatever he wants, uncaring about others views or feelings, but not a two faced person, who changes depending on who he or she is talking to at the time or what they want others to see in them. If you can find the right balance, than you are conveying what you truly mean, what you truly want to show to others about how you feel and act.

Does the punishment fit the crime?

No. Candides punishments do not fit the crime. He is thrown out of his illustrious castle, the best of all possible worlds, his entire life as he knew is shattered, because he kissed Cunogonde. He is thrown out, and placed in such hazardous and ridiculous scenarios which usually involve death, more death, deceit, etc. that would scar a man for life. He is drafted into an army unwittingly, and drilled; he somehow exceeds then is almost put to death for wandering to far away. He learns that Cungonde has been disemboweled and raped by soldiers who have destroyed his used to be home. His old teacher is hung right in front of him, and he has killed two men, one of whom is a high profile person in a religious organization. All of these events happen one after another, in seemingly more and more ridiculous fashions, and all the time he must be thinking to himself “all because I kissed Cungonde” I am sure the king who threw him out of the castle couldn’t have known the hardships that would befall Candide. Candides punishments were more of being in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time and being so naïve it seems as though the universe itself was out to get him. Even though no one in particular can be named responsible for every ill event that Candide has had to endure, it appears it is celestial punishment that keeps befalling him. You think he would just give up, since the very heavens itself is out to harm him in new and cruel ways every 4 seconds, but he keeps going. Candide seems to not care if the punishment fits the crime, he just survives.