In demonstration of Voltaire's endeavor to satirize, and therefore, criticize the optimism espoused by leading thinkers of his day, we decided to reflect the plight of Candide in a modern day setting. Here he is relating his tale of grief and loss where everything he treasures is now gone; Candide has just been divorced, made unemployed, and without a car. In response, the ever-silly Pangloss exclaims that it is still the "best of all possible worlds." Clearly, this is no consolation to the devastated Candide, and as ever, proves that optimism is a silly hope, left better neglected.
In this cartoon, the protagonist of the story, John the Savage, attempts to convince the lowly Gammas of their unjust and inferior situation. He enumerates examples of their depravity: "You guys don't have rights, you're controlled by the government, and can't even think!" Alas, it is of no importance to the Gammas who find contentment in their soma. The cartoon brings attention to the dangers of indifference, and putting pleasure above the mind. This is a warning Aldous Huxley attempted to bring attention to.
Pride and Prejudice is a channel for Jane Austen's frustrations over the severe class conscious society she lived in. In this cartoon, a man as wealthy as Mr. Darcy abandons his true love, in favor of wealth. However, as shown in the final scene, he is miserable, despite having accomplished his objective. Austen points the readers' focus to the inferior importance of wealth when compared to that of love. The cartoon portrays, more explicitly, the devastating consequences for those who fail to realize this.
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© 2015 by Kristine, Diego, Hana, Isaac, Kristine