1. Voltaire’s real name was Francois-Marie Arouet and was born in France in 1694. He is one of the most well known philosophers from the Age of The Enlightenment. After the death of his mother, Voltaire became close to his godfather, who was also a philosopher at the time. One of Voltaire’s main beliefs is that there was a severe imbalance of power between castes, whether it be in general society or in religious organizations such as Catholic Church. However he did not believe that this was the sole fault of the rulers, but he believed that the people were ignorant. Voltaire heavily criticized organized religion, especially Catholicism, and called the bible “outdated.” While Voltaire was not a sheer optimist he did denounce the pessimistic …show more content…
work of Blaise Pascal. Finally, Voltaire was a Deist, just as many philosophers were during the Enlightenment—he did believe in God (contrary to popular belief) but he rejected the belief in the need for text to do so. 2.
One of the main examples of satire and irony throughout the book is in how Voltaire attacks organized religion and belief in an all-loving God. For example the people in El Dorado do not pray to a God but since “He has given us all we need, and we return Him thanks without ceasing.” While this may be applicable to the El Dorado society, Candide had already experienced horrific hardships at the time, which makes it difficult for anyone who feels sympathetic for Candide to believe in an altruistic god.
Voltaire also satirizes complete optimism as a philosophy because of these horrible events. It takes Candide too many events to figure out that Pangloss’ philosophy is not the best for him.
Finally, Voltaire satirizes the caste system within Westphalia when Candide mentions that the Baron’s castle “had not only a gate, but windows” (10). During his travels, Candide recognizes the differences between the classes and differentiates between the small flaws in the upper castes with the hardships of the lower castes in order to emphasize this
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point. 3. Early in the novel, the reader learns that Candide is gentle-mannered, simple in spirit, and judges without bias, Pangloss instills the belief in Candide that there is no effect without cause: everything happens for a reason and that each result is the best of all worlds. Candide often responds to questions and statements with this line even if the answer has no relevance to the question. When at a charity event, Candide is asked the reason for his attendance, to which he “modestly” responds, “There can be no effect without a cause” (19). 4. The initial test of Candide’s optimism came when Candide and Cunegonde were separated. This catalyzed the deterioration of Candide’s philosophical optimism. After his disaster in the army, Candide and The Anabaptist (as well as Pangloss) set sail to Lisbon where the latter drowned despite Candide’s attempts to save him. Shortly thereafter, an earthquake hits and 30,000 people die. Ultimately the final event that causes Candide to wholeheartedly forger his optimistic ways was when Candide is robbed and is left with only two of his sheep. This on top of all of his negative events that occurred prior led Candide to rethink Pangloss’ theory. 5. Cunegonde begins her story by sleeping only to be woken up by a soldier who proceeds to rape her. The captain proceeds to kill the offending solider and takes Cunegonde as prisoner/slave, who got sold to Don Issachar. She is shared with the inquisitor that tried to kill Pangloss. Cunegonde avoids having sex with them. On the day that Pangloss gets hanged, Cunegonde recognizes Candide and rescues him with her maid. 6.
The Old woman is the daughter of Pope Urban X (not a real pope in order for Voltaire to criticize without too much scrutiny) and princess of Palestrina. She was apparently the most beautiful and rich as one of her robes was “worth more than all the magnificence of Westphalia” (47). She gets married to a man with equal handsomeness as her beauty; nut he died after his mistress poisoned him. IN order to help ease the pain they set sail to a Moroccan town called Gaeta, but they encounter pirates along the way and get strip-searched. When they arrive to Morocco as slaves, everyone is at war and everyone is killed except for her. She falls asleep and wakes up to a eunuch raping her. They exchange and he tells her that he’ll take her to Italy only to be sold to the Algerian government. Within the harem she is bound to, everyone starves, and the guards turn to cannibalism in order to survive. Russians break in shortly thereafter and kill the guards while selling the woman into Russian slavery. She ten escapes and finds work in
gardening. Voltaire heavily criticizes the institution of the Catholic Church through the Old Woman, as a priest (especially the pope) one cannot have kids because they cannot have sex. The old woman is the daughter of Pope Urban X as stated prior. Additionally, priests take a vow of poverty, but somehow the daughter of the pope’s robe is worth more than all of Westphalia. Finally, with all the money that the pope wrongly possesses, he somehow allows her to go through a bunch of hardships. 7. At the end of Chapter 15, Cacambo puts the Jesuit robe on Candide and believes that no one will be able to tell the difference. This is a direct criticism of the superficiality of the Jesuits and of organized religion as well. Voltaire believes that that religious people are two-faced because they will act holy just to get what they want, but they show their true colors in other situations—just as the baron proved himself a bigot. 8. El Dorado is situated among a plain “bounded by inaccessible mountains” (76). The town is full of beauty, which applies not only to the scenery, but the people as well. The town is very resourceful—when Candide and Cacambo go to dinner, they find out that the government paid for the meal, and the gold that they possess is worthless in El Dorado. All the significant flaws of Westphalia (earthquakes, people drowning, cannibalism etc.) are not present within El Dorado, which makes Candide start to believe that his own hometown is not the best place in the world. 9. While Candide’s views can be described philosophically optimistic, Martin’s are quite the opposite. Voltaire states that Candide’s main advantage is that “he always hoped to see Miss Cunegonde; whereas Martin had nothing at all to hope” (95). Martin reflects these views when Candide asks him if men have always killed each other. He responds by saying: “Do you believe," said Martin, "that hawks have always eaten pigeons when they have found them?” (101). Even though Candide agrees with Martin’s initial reasoning, he differentiates optimistically immediately by stating that humans have free will, while hawks do not. 10. Pococurante is a venetian senator that Candide and Martin go to in order to find happiness. He possesses a vast amount of literature and artwork from the Enlightenment (in which Voltaire is known to be an influential philosopher), which he criticizes significantly. Pococurante calls readers of the time “fools” and says that they “admire everything in an author of reputation” (130), rather than the quality of the work. 11. Candide finally reunites with Cunegonde once more, but is immediately disappointed to find out she grew ugly. Upon initial sight, Voltaire notes that Cunegonde is “embrowned, with blood-shot eyes, [a] withered neck, wrinkled cheeks, and rough, red arms.” (150). Even though Candide eager to marry Cunegonde during his travels, the feeling was gone. 12. Candide realizes that the old man is “in a situation far preferable to that of the six kings with whom we had the honour of supping” (156). He discovers that it is possible to be happy without a lot of money, and that his cause of unhappiness was for superficial reasons, such as Cunegonde being ugly. When he says we must cultivate our garden, he must take responsibility for his own happiness and not allow other events to control it. In order to make the best of all worlds, he must manage it himself.
Voltaire's experiences led him to dismiss the idea that this is the best of all possible worlds. Examining the death and destruction, both man-made and natural (including the Lisbon earthquake) Voltaire concluded that everything was not for the best. Voltaire uses Candide as the vehicle to attack optimism. Pangloss is meant not to attack Leibnitz, but rather optimism as a philosophy. Thus the reader cannot forget that all of Pangloss's ramblings are not Voltaire's personal attacks on Leibnitz, but in some way represent a characterization of the "typical" optimist. Pangloss, writes Voltaire, "Proved admirably that there cannot possibly be an effect without a cause, and that in this best of all possible worlds the Baron's castle was the most beautiful of all castles and his wife the best of all possible baronesses" (Voltaire 2). Thus we have established Pangloss as the champion of optimism.
Voltaire’s Candide is a satirical novel that addresses common issues in society through a series of outrageous events. Voltaire, the author, wrote about Candide who is extremely naïve and views the world from an optimistic point of view despite the constant troubles him and the people around him encounter. Voltaire points out specific struggles of society including views on philosophy, religion, social power, love, etc. He uses the outrageous events to awaken laughter in the audience but also spark thought on the issues we face in life every day. For example, Candide is stuck on the philosophical standpoint that everything in life happens for a reason and for the overall good. In chapter 16 of the novel, Candide assumes two naked women were being attacked by monkeys, so he proceeds to kill them in hope of saving the women. However, Candide was not aware that the monkeys were actually the girls’ lovers. “Master,” replied the knowing valet, “you have
Voltaire uses satire in order to attempt to bring about change by mocking the thinking of many Enlightenment philosophers of his time. Voltaire also utilizes other literary devices such as irony and sarcasm to make his satire more effective. One example of Voltaire’s use of satire is evidently clear in the way he talks about the belief of Candide and Pangloss as their world being “the best of all possible worlds”. Voltaire depicts both Candide and Pangloss suffering immense and repeated tragedies yet still believing that their world is “the best of all possible worlds”. Another clear example of satirical irony comes in Candide’s encounter with Eldorado. Candide and his “valet” Cacambo come accross Eldorado which is a seemingly perfect world that is
Autobiographer, essayist, playwright, poet, satirist, Enlightenment writer and philosopher – these are just a few of the hats worn by French born François-Marie Arouet, more famously known by the adopted pen name Voltaire. Beyond his written work Voltaire was an outspoken advocate for the freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state. He used his versatile literary work as a tool to criticize the Catholic Church and overall intolerant French society. Voltaire’s cynical writing reached its highest potential in his rapid-fire satire Candide, or Optimism. In the novella, Voltaire told the story of Candide – a young man on a quest for happiness and spiritual fulfillment who encountered tragic setbacks that eventually led to bitter disillusionment. The purpose of Candide was to mock philosophers of the
...reflected critically on the events of his life—even just the two examples used in this essay--, he would probably find that this is not the best of all possible worlds as it is rife with evil and suffering. With this novella, Voltaire made the point that some spend a lifetime justifying—not rationalizing—the events of the world because those same people are too busy attempting to prove one theory rather than develop others that may fit reality more. When Candide dismisses Pangloss at the end of the novella by saying, “Let us cultivate our garden,” he is rejecting Pangloss’ philosophy, turning over a new leaf, and taking charge of his own life and giving it its own meaning free of Pangloss’ influence.
Thus, the major theme of Candide is one of the world not being the best of all possibilities, full of actions definitely not determined by reason or order, but by chance and coincidence. To prove his point, Voltaire uses pointed satire directed at various organizations and groups prevalent in his time period. In particular, Voltaire takes aim at organized religion, in particular Catholicism, as well as aristocratic arrogance and war. All of Voltaire’s comments are precisely chosen to convey his point that those in power were completely corrupt in all their thoughts and actions. Throughout the entire book, Voltaire portrays religious men, such as monks and priests, as hypocrites who do not live up to the religious standards that they set upon others.
However, along the way Voltaire introduces characters with distinctive worldviews and philosophies. Unique to the story of Candide is the character Pangloss, a philosopher of metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-boobology and Candide’s teacher. In chapter one, Pangloss abruptly shares his philosophy that, “for since everything is made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end.” The tail goes on to say, “Candide listened attentively and believed innocently.” During their journey together certain situations cause Candide to question many of Pangloss’
In his novel Candide, Voltaire often criticized religious beliefs of the times. His criticism of religion surfaces throughout the entire story. The kindness of the Anabaptist that Candide met showed the silliness of religious prejudices. The old woman's story of her father, Pope Urban X, and the life of wealth she lived as a child shows the corruption of the Catholic clergy. Finally, the conversation Candide and Cacambo had with the old man in Eldorado shows the benefits of a simple religion, a contrast of the European religions of the time.
Voltaire’s Candide can be understood in several ways by its audience. At a first glance it would appear to be simply a story blessed with outrageous creativity, but if you look deeper in to the novel, a more complicated and meaningful message is buried within. Voltaire uses the adventures of Candide as a representation of what he personally feels is wrong within in society. Written in the 18th century (1759), known commonly as the age of enlightenment, Voltaire forces his audience to consider the shift from tradition to freedom within society. He achieves this by exploring the reality of human suffering due to traditions which he mocks throughout Candide. In particular he focused on exploiting the corruption he felt was strongly and wrongfully present within three main aspects of society these being religion, politics and morals. Each chapter represents different ways in which Voltaire believes corruption exists providing the audience with the reality of society’s problems due to its fixation on tradition. As a philosopher of the Enlightenment, Voltaire advocated for freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the separation between church and state. Voltaire successfully presents these ideas within Candide by highlighting why they are a significant problem in 18th century Europe.
In Candide, Voltaire sought to point out the fallacy of Gottfried Leibniz's theory of optimism and the hardships brought on by the resulting inaction toward the evils of the world. Voltaire's use of satire, and its techniques of exaggeration and contrast highlight the evil and brutality of war and the world in general when men are meekly accepting of their fate.
Voltaire's Candide uses anti-heroism as an object of mockery against the philosophers of the Enlightenment. Candide, the hero of the novel travels around the world where he encounters many difficulties. During his travels, he sticks to the teaching of his tutor, Doctor Pangloss, believing that "everything is for the best" (3). Voltaire points out the illogicality of this doctrine, "if Columbus had not caught, on an American island, this sickness which attacks the source of generation [...] we should have neither chocolate or cochineal" (8). The sheer stupidity of these illogical conclusions points out Voltaire's problem with most optimists: the illogical degree to which they would carry their doctrine. Voltaire would argue that noses were not designed for spectacles, but rather spectacles were designed for preexisting noses. Pangloss's interpretation of cause and effect is so ignorant as to be comical. While Candide tells an interesting story, it is more important as a satire. However, this does not prove Voltaire is a pessimist.
Candide is written to show human vices but also show Voltaire’s counter ideas to Leibniz’s optimism. Each one of the characters that Candide interacts with has their own specific folly that proves the world maybe isn’t all for the best. Pangloss is so optimistic that he is naive and conceded, the abbe in France is extremely greedy when she steals gems from Candide, and the Dervish who doesn’t question things is so passive that he isn’t very likeable. The ending of the novel concludes when Candide finds peace in the garden where he is working to escape the three evils in the world according to the Old Turk. Candide’s finding of peace can correlate with Voltaire being okay with life and the earth even though he sees suffering happen. Though the novel bashes on optimism, Voltaire’s acceptance life and of the world is a good example for anyone.
Throughout the book, Voltaire critiqued Leibniz theory that we live in the “best of all possible worlds.” Pangloss was our optimist philosopher, who contended for the Leibniz theory. He argued that, “since everything was made for a purpose, everything is necessarily for the best purpose” (Voltaire, 16). After Candide was beaten, his love raped, his tutor sick with syphilis; After earthquakes, shipwrecks, slavery, being exiled, and l...
The book Candide by Voltaire is a humorous satire constructed of many themes. Through his book, Voltaire expresses his views on life by criticizing many aspects of humanity at that time. He focused in war, religion, and love, but the main target of Voltaire's satire was a certain philosophy. All of the previous topics unite to ridicule the philosophy that, as the character Pangloss said, "things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end" (1).
Of course, because it is a satire, Candide continues to have a badly founded and overly optimistic view on the world, even though there are piles of evidence that would point to the contrary. Candide’s complete inability to form his own philosophies and views without adopting others’ is an element of the text because again, it is a satire, but also to highlight the absurdity of thinking that everything happens in order to maintain balance and keep things for the best. Candide’s naivety and almost painfully deliberate simplemindedness is used to represent mankind. At the time this was written, many people displayed similar much less exaggerated traits. By highlighting the complete absurdity of this way of thinking through Candide’s childlike repetition of other characters’ values and ideas, Voltaire illustrated that everything is not for the best in this not best of all possible worlds. He stated that one cannot simply float through life expecting good things to happen to him, not making any decisions for himself and relying on others for his ideas. It is crucial that we work for our happiness in life, that we cultivate our