When Candide, the Old Lady and Lady Cunegonde reach Buenos Ayres, they meet the Governor, who instantly falls in love with Lady Cunegonde. He expresses his desire to marry her and even though Lady Cunegonde loves Candide, she hesitates and asks the Old Lady for advice. She responds the following: “you have seventy-two quarterings to your coat of arms but not a farthing to your name; you have only yourself to blame if you do not become the wife of the greatest nobleman in South America…” (Pg. 59) By this I deduced that she was telling Lady Cunegonde to marry the governor and not Candide because he had all the money in the world while Candide had nothing. Basically she is saying that the most important thing in life is money and power, and this is not the first time she makes a comment like this one.
As I read that particular sentence, it reminded by of the song called “Price Tag” by Jessie J Ft. B.o.B. The message this song sends is the opposite of what the Old Lady is advising Lady Cunegonde to do. Using the word “price tag” to represent money, clothes, games (everything that can be bought) Jessie J urges the world to forget about all of that, and truly be happy. On the other hand, the Old Lady tells Lady Cunegonde that she would be foolish not to marry one of the richest man in the world.
During that time, and still now a days, the people that most worried about money were aristocracy or rich people. Even though they have so much, they still want more and more, and believe that money will buy them happiness. But truth be told, money can buy almost everything except happiness. This may be a stereotype, but a lot of poor people seem happier that some very rich people. They seem to truly give thanks and appreciate what they have, while rich people are constantly on the look out for more things, and don´t appreciate things like family or friendships.
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