Tyler Brooks
The idiom is it worth the candle is used to describe something that is not worth the effort or expense. The phrase is of French origin and dates back to medieval times when candles were expensive. As such, any activity that required candlelight was considered a drain on household expenses. The phrase is often used to describe something worthless or pointless, or an endeavor that won't repay the effort or expense involved.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Refers to something that is worth the cost, effort, or trouble |
| Origin | The phrase predates electricity when lighting a room after sunset was challenging and expensive |
| Literary Work | Worth the Candle is a work of literature by Alexander Wales. It is described as "profound, thought-provoking, and generally enlightening." |
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What You'll Learn
The phrase's origin and meaning
The phrase "is it worth the candle?" is believed to have originated in a time before electricity, when lighting a room after sunset was a costly affair and candles were expensive. The phrase refers to something that isn't worth the cost of the light or the effort involved—an endeavour whose returns do not justify its cost. It is often used in a negative context, indicating that something is worthless, pointless, or won't repay the effort or expense invested.
The phrase is often associated with early references to 'the game' or 'the play', implying that it wasn't worth lighting a candle for a trivial game of cards or a similar pastime. While there are no definite authorities for this interpretation, it is widely accepted and fits the context of the phrase's origin.
The idiom "not worth the candle" has endured through the ages, even as lighting technology has advanced far beyond candles. It serves as a reminder of the value of resources and the importance of weighing the costs and benefits of our endeavours. In modern times, the phrase may be used metaphorically to convey that something is not worth the figurative "light" it provides, whether in terms of time, energy, or monetary investment.
The phrase "is it worth the candle?" invites contemplation on the value and feasibility of our pursuits. It encourages us to consider the potential returns on our investments of time, effort, and resources. By invoking the imagery of candlelight, this idiom offers a timeless perspective on the balancing of costs and benefits in our endeavours.
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Its use in modern works
The phrase "worth the candle" has been used as the title of several modern works, including a book by Cthulhuraejepsen, a webtoon by Alexander Wales, and a series of reviews on Reddit and Royal Road.
The book by Cthulhuraejepsen, titled "Worth the Candle", is a webfic series about a teenager who, after the death of his best friend, finds himself in a fantasy world that seems to be an amalgamation of every Dungeons & Dragons campaign they played together. The story is told from the perspective of the main character, Juniper, who was always the Dungeon Master and never the player. The book explores the character's growth and transformation as he becomes more intelligent and charismatic over time. It also touches on philosophical, moral, ethical, and emotional topics. The book has received mixed reviews, with some praising the writing, world-building, and character development, while others found the main character passive and the story too long and dark.
The webtoon by Alexander Wales, also titled "Worth the Candle", features complex magic systems and characters who approach fantastic circumstances with analytical mindsets. Wales is known for creating compelling narratives and exploring meta-fiction in his works. The webtoon has received positive reviews, with readers praising its creativity, thought-provoking themes, and well-developed characters.
The phrase "worth the candle" has also been used in the titles of several reviews and discussions on platforms like Reddit and Royal Road. These reviews often analyse the use of the phrase in modern works, such as Wales' webtoon, and explore its relevance to the themes and narratives presented in these creations.
Overall, the phrase "worth the candle" has been incorporated into modern works in a variety of ways, including as a title for books, webtoons, and reviews, and has sparked discussions about narrative techniques, character development, and the exploration of philosophical themes.
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Worth the Candle by Alexander Wales
Wales' work is noted for its creative spin on the D&D universe, with rich and complex world-building, realistic and sympathetic characters, and a unique narrative approach. The story is described as profound, thought-provoking, and enlightening, with an exploration of philosophical, moral, ethical, and emotional topics. Wales' expertise as a dungeon master shines through, and the story is filled with magic, mystery, and challenges for the heroes to overcome.
Worth the Candle is also praised for its meta-fictional elements, with the protagonist being a storyteller trapped within someone else's story, aware of the storytelling conventions of the fantasy world he inhabits. This adds a layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative. The book is part of a series and is described as a masterpiece by some readers.
However, some readers have criticised the ending, finding it controversial and unsatisfactory. Despite this, Worth the Candle by Alexander Wales is considered a well-crafted and engaging work of fiction that has inspired other writers and left a lasting impression on its readers.
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Worth the Candle by cthulhuraejepsen
The story is rated R and has some dark themes, including extinction-level threats, and is therefore not suitable for children. It is a unique take on the "getting stuck in an RPG" genre, with a well-developed world and characters. The protagonist, Juniper, grows and transforms throughout the story, becoming more intelligent and charismatic, and his behaviour and thoughts evolve with his newfound strengths.
Worth the Candle has been praised for its strong prose and intriguing dialogue, with some readers considering it one of the best works of literature they have read. The story is profound and thought-provoking, with a creative spin on the D&D universe. It explores philosophical, moral, ethical, and emotional topics and has been described as insightful and cerebral.
However, some readers have criticised the character of Juniper, stating that he lacks a sense of wonder and excitement about being in a new world, and comes across as unrealistic and unlikeable. The story also has some long and drawn-out descriptions of scenes and surroundings, and the ending has been considered controversial, with some readers disliking how everyone in the universe got what they wanted.
Despite some mixed reviews, Worth the Candle by cthulhuraejepsen is an intriguing and well-crafted story that has inspired other writers and gained a dedicated following.
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Worth the Candle as a webcomic
Worth the Candle is a webcomic written by Alexander Wales, adapted from his 1.6-million-word-long web serial of the same name. The web serial gained a significant cult following in English-language LitRPG serialized web fiction spaces. The webcomic adaptation was published on WEBTOON in 2024 and acquired nearly 20,000 subscribers in less than a day.
The story follows Joon (or Juniper), a teenager who, after the death of his best friend, finds himself in a fantasy world—an amalgamation of every tabletop campaign he played with his friend. Throughout the world, he finds echoes of his own ideas and plots, feeling like he's always one step behind. The WEBTOON adaptation has dynamic action sequences, a well-designed gaming interface, and well-drawn characters.
Worth the Candle has been praised for its creative spin on the D&D universe, its exploration of meta-narrative, and its thoughtful approach to philosophical, moral, ethical, and emotional topics. The characters are realistic and sympathetic, and the world-building is complex and intriguing. One reviewer noted that the story is "not groundbreaking" but "shines in its execution," with "superb prose" and "intriguing dialogue." Another reviewer called it "profound, thought-provoking, and generally enlightening."
However, some readers have criticized the story for its dark themes and controversial ending, in which everyone gets what they want. Despite this, Worth the Candle has clearly made an impact on its readers, with one person commenting that they probably wouldn't be writing a litRPG web serial at all if it weren't for Worth the Candle.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase "worth the candle" means worth the trouble or effort involved. The phrase is usually used in the negative and is believed to have originated before electricity was invented when lighting a room after sunset was challenging and candles were expensive.
"Worth the Candle" is a work of literature that draws heavily from the D&D universe. It follows a teenager who, after the death of his best friend, finds himself in a fantasy world—an amalgamation of every Dungeons & Dragons campaign he played with his friend.
"Worth the Candle" is a part of the rational fic genre, which involves characters who are fans of decision theory, existential risks, game theory, rationalism, and utilitarianism, and make decisions based on these factors while navigating a fantasy world.
Reviews of "Worth the Candle" are generally positive, praising the book for its intriguing plot, superb prose, and intriguing dialogue. Some reviews also highlight the book's exploration of meta-narrative and its thoughtful approach to philosophical, moral, ethical, and emotional topics. However, some readers disliked the ending, finding it controversial and unsatisfying.
"Worth the Candle" is rated R and is likely not suitable for children. The book is also likely to be enjoyed by fans of the "rational fic" genre and those interested in exploring the mind of a nerdy teenage boy.
