A personal favorite: Voltaire’s Candide

As this course is coming to an end, I reflected on the works of art and texts that I had the opportunity to examine and explore. I believe my favorite piece of work is Voltaire’s Candide. Not only did Voltaire expressed his views against Leibniz’s optimism, he did so with wit, style, and humor through Candide. Since Voltaire had seen the realities of natural disaster and human cruelty, he constantly mocked the belief of “the best of all possible worlds” as he placed Candide through every disaster and suffering possible. Even though Candide desperately clung onto the optimistic belief throughout the book, he finally realized that not all is for the best in this world. This discovery contradicted the teachings of his mentor, Pangloss, whose words and teachings he worshipped.
Another aspect of Candide that I especially enjoyed was its unpredictable events and situations. The events that Candide encountered are sometimes so outrageous and ridiculous that I sympathized him and despised his ignorance. However, it was through these events that readers are able to see the growth in Candide and highlight his qualities.
Voltaire’s Candide also succeeded in giving me a good understanding of satiric work and opposition of views basic to Enlightenment optimism. He addressed the question of how evil exist in a universe when created and governed by the good. Candide is Voltaire’s ridicule on blind optimism and the use of human reason in hope of dispelling evil.

Mozart cannot be underestimated

Having played many of Mozart’s piano pieces since five, I had never thought much of this music at a young age, since most of them sounded very similar to me¾the same happy, repetitive tunes. Even though his music did not interest me much, the catchy tunes often stayed in my head after playing. I often wondered why my piano teacher would make me play Mozart’s simple music even after I advanced to the next level. It was not until recent years that I realized the purpose of playing Mozart. I found out that underneath those simple notes, laid a style so complex and unique that no other composers can imitate. The notes may seem easy to read, yet it is difficult to play and express the feeling that Mozart is conveying through his music. For instance, the light, happy sound of Mozart’s music on the piano seemed almost impossible to replicate. The beginning and some parts look simple, but the accurate timing made it challenging and frustrating. As I play little into the beginning, there would come more and more notes, making the music extremely difficult to play at the same rhythm as before. Leaving a quick, clean sound after each note proved to be just as hard. Mozart’s music cannot be underestimated. After playing many of Mozart’s pieces, I find his piano music very enjoyable to listen to. It leaves me with a happy and uplifting feeling that cannot be achieved by the music of other composers.

Similarities between forms of absolutism

During the time of the 17th Century, Absolutism was a desirable form of government to monarchs due to the conditions their nations were under. For instance, under Absolutism, Louis XIV made France a centralized state and centralized all authority where the Church, the nobility, and his subjects were unable to limit his power. Absolute control allowed monarchs to shape their nations regardless of the methods taken. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that it was more than a coincidence in the fact that absolute rulers arose in many parts of the world at roughly the same time.

One of the similarities between Persian, Indian, Japanese, China, and European absolute rulers is that these rulers used much of their wealth to exhibit luxury and grandeur and to glorify their nations as well as themselves. Since it was important for a nation to be perceived as more powerful than other nations, absolute rulers arose in different places to compete for power. As mentioned before, Absolutism allowed rulers to be in charge of all aspects, including arts, money, music, and literature. This enabled absolute rulers to create some of the most magnificent hallmarks of history. For example, Louis XIV's palace of Versailles, Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal, and the Forbidden City of the Ming and Qing eras. These arts enhanced the greatness of the ruler and symbolized wealth and authority of the nation.

Many of the wealthiest states of the world were influenced by each other during the 17th century. For example, China's tea became something that the wealthy had drink in Europe. The Greek had influenced the arts of the French. These contacts with each other allowed both Europe and Asia to flourish and fight for greater power.