The Satire Show

Host: Good evening, ladies and gentleman! I'm your host Kevin and welcome to today's show: "Is this satire?" We have our two contestants here with us, Joy and Charles. How are you, Joy?

Joy: I'm doing great Kevin, thank you. A little bit nervous.

Host: Well, you have all the reasons to be. If Joy answers the questions right, she will take $200,000,000,000,009 home with her!

Now Charles, do you think you'll beat Joy and take the grand prize?

Charles: Well, yes Kevin. As a matter of fact I do. You see, Joy here is blonde. That automatically makes her stupid.

Host: I see your point Charles. Well, before we start playing, let me remind you there are three questions you have to answer. The first two questions are each worth $100,000,000,000,000. The last one is worth $ 9. Let's begin. The thirteenth chapter of the book Candide starts like this: "Having heard the old woman's story, the lovely Cunegonde began to pay all the respect due to a person of her rank and equality" (p.58). Now I expect you all have read Candide before.

Joy: I did Kevin. But, can you remind me what part of the story we are in?

Host: Sure thing. The old lady has just told Candide and Cunegonde she was, and has always been the daughter of a Pope.

Joy: Oh, yes. I remember now. This is...

Charles: Not satire because it never talks about a mythical woodland creature.

(Audience laughs)

Joy: You talk like a blonde yourself Charles. This is satire. It's ironic how the old lady's story suddenly makes Cunegonde respect her. So, yes Kevin. This is satire. If I may ad, the target here is aristocracy, for only respecting people who come from respected backgrounds.

Host: And you are right! Congratulations Joy! The next question. Later in that chapter, a wealthy nobleman asks Cunegonde to marry him. The reasons why he wants to marry her is because she is beautiful. The reasons why she thinks of marrying him is because he has money and a great mustache. Charles, do you want to try and answer this one correctly?

Charles: I'm sorry for my last answer. I thought you were asking something else. I think you need to get a new microphone or something because I can't hear you very well. That's why I didn't answer correctly, not because I didn't know. This is satire Kevin, because Lady Cunegonde is already married and she can't marry twice.

Host: Not quite Charles. Joy, any answers?

Joy: This is satire, but not because of what stupid Charles here said. It's absurd to marry someone because of their handsome mustaches. This part of the story is similar to fairy tales where they meet one day and marry the next. I'd say Voltaire's target is all those relationships based on convenience, wealth and looks.

Host: Correct again! Congratulations Joy! Now, for the last question worth $9. Joy, in chapter fourteen, the sergeant tells Candide and Cacambo the Colonel won't speak to them because "the Father Provincial, did not allow any Spaniard to open his mouth except in his presence, nor to stay more than three hours in the country" (p. 63). Is this satire?

Joy: Yes, it is. Voltaire is targeting religion, making fun of the Father Provincial and all those stupid conditions the church normally makes.

Host: You are right Joy! You won the $200,000,000,000,009. But wait, I just got a message from the director. He says there's one more question left. Who ever gets this one right will get all the money plus the other contestant's car. Now I ask you Charles. Candide is written by Voltaire. Is this satire?

Charles: No.

Host: You are correct! We have a new winner! Charles, you won the $200,000,000,000,009 and Joy's car! That's it for today folks! We hope you enjoyed.