Candide Essay Topics

Voltaire's Candide Essay
Voltaires's Candide
In Voltaires?s Candide, the main character, Candide, fails to live happily because he is looking
outside of himself and his circumstances to do it. Voltaire says through Candide's ultimate discovery
that happiness in many ways depends on a person's attitude. Voltaire's philosophy expressed through
Candide's final realization is that "We must cultivate our garden," which is the key to
happiness(p.585). By cultivating our garden, Voltaire means that we must make the best of our
situation in the present moment. We accept what we are given in life and work to make the best
of it. It all has to do with our perspective on life. We do not find happiness somewhere else or by
philosophizing about it, we open our eyes to the...show more content...
Pangloss?s philosophy explains in a superficial way why so many bad things happen to Candide
and other characters in the story. Because "everything is for the best of all possible worlds," the
bad and evil eventually lead to something good and are necessary for the good to happen(p.519).
Pangloss points this out to Candide at the end when he explains:
"All events are linked together in the best of possible worlds; for after all, if you had not been
driven from a fine castle by being kicked in the backside for love of Miss Cunegonde, if you hadn?t
been sent before the Inquisition, if you hadn?t traveled across America on foot, if you hadn?t given a
good sword thrust to the baron, if you hadn?t lost all your sheep from the good land of Eldorado, you
wouldn?t be sitting here eating candied citron and pistachios"(p.585).
At the same time, Candide struggles with why the evil happens if it is indeed the best of all
possible worlds: "And whatever Master Pangloss said of the matter, I have often had occasion to
notice that things went badly in Westphalia"(p.551). One reason that Candide should not follow
blindly whatever Pangloss says is that the beliefs are not his own. Candide needs to look within
himself for the key to happiness. What makes Pangloss happy will not necessarily make Candide
happy. Candide learns to search himself in the end when he discovers that the key to his own
happiness is "cultivating
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The Character Candide changes to become a more sensitive and compassionate person and how he
views life, which is important because it shows us how viewpoints and attitude can be affected by
experience. Candide is introduced to the story as an acquiescent youth with a simplistic view on
life. His perception on reality has been formed from an overly optimistic theory explained by his
friend and personal tutor Pangloss. The ultimate vision, which is Pangloss's theory, is extremely
provincial in thought but the experience of those he teaches is exceedingly limited. This
inexperience allows the hypothesis concerning "the best of all possible worlds" to influence Candide
's mannerisms as well as his perceptions ultimately leading to Candide's...show more content...
he still believes that there is no effect without a cause but since he is for the first time exposed to
the disasters of the real world, he sort of begins to doubt Pangloss's optimism. While Candide is
traveling with his sidekick Cacambo, he discovers that he is not high class enough to get married
to Cunegonde by the baron, but apparently it's reasonable for monkeys to have sexual relations
with young woman. This throws Candide off because the two are so contradicting. Candide
doesn't understand how people can see things so differently . All he's known is Pangloassian
theory and now he is encountering opposing theories of life. Cacambo sums up what the new
world has to offer by saying that "this hemisphere is no better than the other one." Candide is
beginning to understand that he is not going to find everything that he is looking for, and that he
is not going to find the best of all possible worlds because it doesn't exist. Candide, along with his
companion Cacambo, stumbles onto the secluded but physically speaking flawless land of
Eldorado. Not even here is Candide able to find everything that he is looking for. Eldorado, which
was originally the home land of the Incas, is completely sheltered from the rest of the world by the
means of unsurpassable mountains. It is here that people are able to escape the evils of the world.
Happiness in the real world is just a moment of happening which

Candide Essay
Candide Wealth and great materialistic possession brings happiness and success to most people's
lives. Although wealth does not always bring happiness, El Dorado was one society where all it's
inhabitants lived lives full of success and happiness. In Candide, wealth proved to guarantee a
person a step forward in life and some sense of freedom. Sometimes when one lives in an
environment consisting of total equality, one may prefer to leave and go to a different place where
they would be considered superior and everyone else inferior to them. The people of El Dorado were
so wealthy that they abused the things that they possessed that others would cherish. The children
proved this when they were playing at quoits covered with tattered...show more content...
Prayer was not a part of anyone's life in this society because they all felt that there was no need to
pray since they had everything they needed. We saw that this was a belief of the Revered Sage
when he said, &quot;We have nothing to ask of Him, He has given us all we want, and we
give Him thanks incessantly.&quot; (51). To me this way of thinking was very wrong.
Prayer is a big part of my life and I feel that even if one feels that everything is perfect, prayer should
not be eliminated from their lives. Stopping the praying may lead to great misfortune. As long as
you have God in your life you will be protected and cared for. Equality and happiness among every
single person in a society may lead to one's desire to escape to another society where they would
differ. Here in El Dorado Cacambo and Candide had the chance to be rich and happy alongside
everyone else in their society, but this was not what they wanted. In societies where everyone
seems to be equal, one may at times feel the want to escape to a place where they would be in
some sense different, special, and superior. If everyone were the same, their lives would not
include any type of competition, and no one would have goals to reach to be better than anyone
else. Candide and Cacambo knew that they would be happy be happy in El Dorado, but they
preferred not to stay and feel this sense of total equality among everyone else. We saw that Candide
did not want to stay and live in

Candide Essay
Candide is the illegitimate nephew of a German baron. He grows up in the baron's castle under
the tutelage of the scholar Pangloss, who teaches him that this world is "the best of all possible
worlds." Candide falls in love with the baron's young daughter, CunГ©gonde. The baron catches
the two kissing and expels Candide from his home. On his own for the first time, Candide is soon
conscripted into the army of the Bulgars. He wanders away from camp for a brief walk, and is
brutally flogged as a deserter. After witnessing a horrific battle, he manages to escape and travels to
Holland.
In Holland, a kindly Anabaptist named Jacques takes Candide in. Candide runs into a deformed
beggar and discovers that it is Pangloss. Pangloss explains that...show more content...
Candide announces that he plans to marry CunГ©gonde, but the baron insists that his sister will
never marry a commoner. Enraged, Candide runs the baron through with his sword. He and
Cacambo escape into the wilderness, where they narrowly avoid being eaten by a native tribe called
the Biglugs.
After traveling for days, Candide and Cacambo find themselves in the land of Eldorado, where gold
and jewels litter the streets. This utopian country has advanced scientific knowledge, no religious
conflict, no court system, and places no value on its plentiful gold and jewels. But Candide longs to
return to CunГ©gonde, and after a month in Eldorado he and Cacambo depart with countless
invaluable jewels loaded onto swift pack sheep. When they reach the territory of Surinam, Candide
sends Cacambo to Buenos Aires with instructions to use part of the fortune to purchase CunГ©gonde
from Don Fernando and then to meet him in Venice. An unscrupulous merchant named
Vanderdendur steals much of Candide's fortune, dampening his optimism somewhat. Frustrated,
Candide sails off to France with a specially chosen companion, an unrepentantly pessimistic scholar
named Martin. On the way there, he recovers part of his fortune when a Spanish captain sinks
Vanderdendur's ship. Candide takes this as proof that there is justice in the world, but

Candide Essay
Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire's novella, Candide, incorporates many themes, yet concentrates a
direct assault on the ideas of Leibniz and Pope. These two well–known philosophers both held the
viewpoint that the world created by God was the best of all possibilities, a world of perfect order
and reason. Pope specifically felt that each human being is a part of God's great and all knowing
plan or design for the world.
Voltairehad a very opposite point of view in that he saw a world of needless pain and suffering all
around him. Voltaire, a deist, believed that God created the world, yet he felt that the people were
living in a situation that was anything but perfect. Thus, the major theme of Candide is one of the
world not being the...show more content...
In many situations, it is the actions that make the impact...not the words. Voltaire saw the ministers
speak of brotherly with their mouths, but turn their back on those who needed the guidance and love
of which they preached.
Voltaire elaborated further on brotherly love by introducing the character of James, the Anabaptist.
James is described as, "A man who had never been christened...a creature without wings but with
two legs and a soul." (27). This very man took Candide in with an offering of bread, drink, money,
and the opportunity to learn a trade. James was the exact opposite of the minister in more ways than
just his kind actions towards Candide. The description of James said that he was not an angel, but he
did have a soul. By using this severe character contrast, Voltaire is saying that those who may not
hold high positions of power in the Church, many times show more Christian love than those who
do. I agree with Voltaire in that many times people look to those in authority to find guidance, when
in reality, they can find true love and fellowship right in their midst. During the Enlightenment,
officials in the Church were not the same people who truly touched the hearts and lives of the people
around them.
Beyond attacking men of faith, Voltaire depicts the Church as oppressive, corrupt, and he felt that it
was of no need to the general public. In chapter six, Pangloss is hanged for his speech and Candide
simply for listening with "an air of

Essay on Candide
CANDIDE
By
Voltaire
Throughout Candide the author, Voltaire, demonstrates the character's experiences in a cruel world
and his fight to gain happiness. In the beginning Candide expects to achieve happiness without
working for his goal and only taking the easy way out of all situations. However, by the end of the
book the character realized that to achieve happiness a lot of work, compromises, and sacrifices are
necessary.
Candide is a person of privilege who began life in the Castle of Westphalia. While a part of the
castle–life, Candide was taught by Dr. Pangloss. Pangloss is a philosopher who teaches there is a
cause for all things and that everything is all for the good,...show more content...
When he does meet Cunegonde life does not become any easier or richer. At this reunion, Candide
does begin to take his life's matters into his own hands. His first attempt at this accomplishment is
shown when he kills Cunegonde's rapists. Though life does not become any easier, at this point
Candide begins to grow from a naГЇve young person into a grown realist. Cunegonde suddenly
leaves Candide for a wealthy man. The man's wealth, however, proves not to bring happiness to
either Cunegonde or Candide.
Candide realizes he must take responsibility for his life. He must accept situations and try to
change obstacles that may be hindrances. Candide learns that labor will eliminate the three
curses of mankind: want, boredom, and vice. Candide realizes he must build his own life,
however simple it may be. When meeting a man that is happy with a simple garden to tend and a
family to love, Candide realizes life does not have to be full of wealth in order to be happy. He
realizes that everything in life is not evil, especially when a person strives to make changes and not
simply accept what comes their way. A reader of Candide should realize how accepting a situation
and not trying to charge or overcome its obstacles is only harmful. If a person does not attempt to
change a bad situation, then that person should be complain about the outcome. A person should
take responsibility and

Candide Essay example
Candide is a French satire novel written by Voltaire during the Enlightenment period. The novel tells
the life story of Candide, a young and honest man from Westphalia. He falls in love with
Cundegonde , the beautiful daughter of the Baron of the Thunder–ten–Thronckh. Later he is forced
to leave Westphalia therefore begins his adventures throughout many different countries. Throughout
his advantures, Candide's beliefs and experiences have changed dramatically. The novel reflects a
type of writing known as bildungsroman. Bildungsroman is a story in which the main character
moves from a state of innocence and inexperienced to a state of wisdom and maturity through his or
her experiences.
The beginning course of bildungsroman is that the...show more content...
One of the most important reason for Candide to want to marry Cundegonde is that he wants to keep
his promise and doesn't want the society view him as an untrustworthy man. He has sacrificed his
needs for the judgments of the society.
In bildungsroman, the character is usually be able to make a smooth movement away from
conformity throughout major conflicts such as individuality vs. conformity. During his adventures,
Candide acquires wealth and experiences about the world. These factors cause Candide to question
his belief in optimism. After Candide listened to Martin's philosophy of pessimism, he has changed
his views from optimism of Pangloss to Martin's pessimism. At the end of the novel, Candide
rejects Pangloss' philosophy and Martin's philosophy. He begins aware of both good things and bad
things. He starts to forms his own life opinions by becoming a gardener. This is an example of
individuality vs. conformity.
In this novel, Voltaireis able to use bildungsroman to moves Candide from an innocence and
honest man to a man of wisdom and maturity. After being forced away from Westphalia, Candide
is able to acquired some knowledge about the world. He is now matured enough to be able to
sacrificed his needs for his reputation. He has gained wisdoms to develop some opinions for
himself. Finally, the novel Candide can be considered as a bildungsroman because of these

Candide by Voltaire Essay
Candide Voltaire's most classic work, Candide, is a satiric assault on most everything that was
prevalent in society during the author's lifetime. The entire novel can be regarded as a bleak story
where every character compares life stories to see whose life is worse. Just when the novel cannot
get anymore morbid or depressing, it does, to a much greater degree. While Candide is generally
considered a universal denunciation, it is optimism that Voltaire is attacking to the greatest degree.
However, there are numerous other satirical themes throughout the novel worth discussing. These
other areas of mockery include aristocratic snobbery, religious bigotry, militarism, and human nature.
There is good reason that Voltaire...show more content...
While all these terrible things were happening, it is no wonder Voltaire had a little problem
swallowing the "all is for the best" pill. All the foolish optimism actually had the exactly opposite
effect on him, and Candide was his way of expressing his views. His satire of optimism can be
seen throughout the book, but most heavily through the character of Pangloss the philosopher.
Pangloss and his ludicrous optimism make an impression on the reader immediately and are
constantly reinforced throughout the satire. His logic is so flawed that he comes across as an
utter imbecile. He suggests that noses are shaped the way they are so that glasses will fit them.
He even goes so far as to suggest that the venereal disease he is infected with is a blessing because
the disease also is associated with the discovery of chocolate and the New World. He also views
himself being burnt at the stake and being chained in a boat good things. However, the real satire
poking fun of the whole European fascination with Leibnizian optimism does not lie in Pangloss'
stupidity, but in all the other characters reaction to Pangloss. With such absurd reasoning, one
would think his contemporaries would ridicule Pangloss. However, the exact opposite is true.
Pangloss is referred to as "the most profound metaphysician in Germany," and he is highly
respected. This is very direct assault at Leibniz and his followers. Voltaire really makes sure he goes
out of

Candide Reflection
Candide, by Voltaire, is a story told through the adventure of Candide and the life lessons he learned.
He learned that life isn't always about happiness, love, and truthfulness he been through rough stuff
that he wish he never wanted to but had to find his love for Cunegonde. The book told us in like an
adventure story about Candide going to place that had been terrible places and getting into fights
and killing them. The places he went weren't so much into happiness and glad that he was told by
Cacambo by his side that he learn that he was living in a terrible world he felt when he went into
theses adventures but he learn lesson of being a good gentle then a terrible man he was now.
Candide been through city and state to find people who had and run/escape from people who are
trying to hurt him as he was trying to find his love he lost Cunegonde. Lisbon, Capital of Kingdom
was the first place he went to get wipped and hurt from being captured as he saw his friend
Pangloss had been head chop off but the guiltius after he was whipped a old lady save him and
took care of him as he took him to see Cunegonde. There were a earthquake that happened during
his time of after he found Cunegonde and stayed with her. He learned a lesson from this terrible
attack on Lisbon after he found out as he saw dead people blood and limbs of people body part as he
was scared nervous that the world isn't happy that "God is either not entirely good or not all
powerful". The next places was

Candide Theme Essay
Themes of Philosophy and Religion in Voltaire's Candide
Philosophy and religion are two themes consistently satirized throughout Voltaire's Candide. Voltaire
tells the story of a naГЇve young man, Candide, hopelessly in love with the selfish and vain
CunГ©gonde. Candide's quest to reconnect with CunГ©gonde is accompanied by various
misfortunes that counter his personal optimistic belief that "everything is for the best". Candide's
encounters force him to reconsider his optimistic views in order to gain a better understanding of the
world surrounding him. Voltairenot only uses the story of Candide to reveal the folly of
continuously relying on vague philosophies rather than acknowledge the tangible world, but exposes
the hypocrisy of religion...show more content...
Religious men and leaders place emphasis on worldly ideas rather than genuine faith. In chapter
three, Candide comes across a protestant orator giving a speech on charity. When he asks the orator
for bread, he asks Candide if he believes the Pope is the antichrist. Candide tells the man he is
unsure and that his own answer does not belittle the fact he is hungry. The orator, despite having just
finished speaking on charity, turns Candide away for his beliefs. In this scene, Voltaire is ridiculing
the extreme Protestant sects of his time that were consumed by their hatred of Catholicism and
Rome. Religion is further satirized by the auto–da–fГ©, or act of faith, the learned men of Lisbon
perform. The men blame the "sins" of Candide and Pangloss for the devastating earthquake and
punish them via hanging and flogging. During the punishments, a sermon and religious concert are
given. The beautiful religious music accompanying the horrifying punishments emphasize the
hypocrisy of the church's appearance of holiness and the terrible events it oversees. Shortly after the
punishment is carried out, another earthquake occurs dislodging the rationalization of religion and
exemplifying that the sins of man, in this case Candide and Pangloss, are not the cause of disastrous

Voltaire's Candide Essay example
Voltaire's Candide
Throughout the novel, Candide, Voltaire repeatedly exploits the nature of humans to consider other's
situations and lifestyles to be better than that of their own. Voltaire uses Candide's journeys to
portray the human assumption that the grass is always greener on the other side. This theme is shown
in Candide's strife for companionship, his experience with wealth, and his interaction with other
characters. The situations that develop the theme do so in such a way that the reader is able to
understand and relate to the aspirations of Candide.
The first element used to convey the fact that Candide looks at others situations sees what he would
like to have is in his journey to find the ideal companion....show more content...
Count Pococurant has two women that are beautiful, stylish, and well mannered. The bottom line is
that both Candide and Count Pococurant are both envious of each other's situation. Candide wants
female companionship and Count Pococurant want to be free from his female companions. This just
shows that the two men see other's situations to be better than that of their own.
Another scheme Voltaire used to develop this theme deployed the use of wealth to show how
Candide thinks the grass is greener on the other side. Throughout the novel the financial situation
of Candide fluctuates dramatically. In the beginning of the novel, Candide does not have an
abundance of property. (22) Because Candide had no food or money to buy food, he sees those
that do to be better off than he is. Candide's visit to Eldorado allows him to leave with a very large
fortune and sheep to carry on his journey. (84) Candide is ablsolutely amazed with the amount of
jewels and gold in Eldorado and thinks that the money is his answer to happiness and the key to his
finding Cunegonde. After all, money was seen as power and freedom during that era of history.
Candide soon finds out that the money he dreamed of having is not the answer to life's problems.
This is apparent when the Dutch captain steals his quick fortune.(88) Now that Candide has

Candide by Voltaire Essay example
Voltaire was the author of the novella Candide, also known as "Optimism". The the novella, Voltaire
portrays the idea of Optimism as being illogical and absurd. In Candide, Voltaire satirizes the doctrine
of Optimism, an idea that was greatly used during the Enlightenment time period by philosophers. In
this narrative, Candide is a young man who goes through a series of undertakings and ventures
around the the globe where he experiences evil and adversity. Throughout his journeys, Candide
maintained the ideas of the teachings of his tutor, Pangloss. Candide and Pangloss believed in the
idea that "All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds..." (Voltaire4). This belief is what
Voltaire pointed out to be an irrational way of...show more content...
To Voltaire, this type of optimism was foolish.
Even though many people practiced this doctrine Voltaire did not aside with it instead, he implanted
doubts on the chances of achieving true happiness and real conformism. Voltaire's opinion was that
one could not achieve true happiness in the real world but only experience it in an utopia. With the
many hardships that Candide goes through ultimately leads him to abandon his attitude of optimism.
Candide's misfortunes and adversities often contrasted with his optimistic view on life. Noticeably,
Voltaire uses this satirical piece as a way to criticize this exaggerated optimism. This tale as stated by
William Bottiglia, " Has had a great effect on modern writers who confront mankind's inhumanity to
fellow human beings by presenting the human condition absurdly, ironically, and humorously..."
(Bottiglia 112).
The theme of criticism "the best of all possible worlds" is present through the whole story.
Throughout the novel, Voltaire uses optimism satire to contrast with the catastrophes and human
affliction in the story. When Candide finds a moribund and sick Pangloss, Candide asks who is
at fault for his tragedy and Pangloss replies that " The disease was a necessity in this 'the best of
all possible worlds', for it was brought to Europe by Columbus' men, who also brought chocolate
and cochineal, two greater goods that well offset any negative effects of the disease," (Voltaire 17).
With all the

Short Summary Of Candide
Candide falls in love with the baron's young daughter, CunГ©gonde. The baron catches the two
kissing and expels Candide from his home. On his own for the first time, Candide is soon
conscripted into the army of the Bulgars. He wanders away from camp for a brief walk, and is
brutally flogged as a deserter. He manages to escape and travels to Holland.
In Holland, a kindly Anabaptist named Jacques takes Candide in. Candide runs into a deformed
beggar and discovers that it is Pangloss. Pangloss explains that he has contracted syphilis and that
CunГ©gonde and her family have all been brutally murdered by the Bulgar army. Jacques takes
Pangloss in as well. The three travel to Lisbon together, but before they arrive their ship runs into a
storm and Jacques is drowned. Candide and Pangloss arrive in Lisbon to find it destroyed by an
earthquake and under the control of the Inquisition. Pangloss is soon hanged as a heretic, and
Candide is flogged for listening with approval to Pangloss's philosophy. After his beating, an old
woman dresses Candide's wounds and then, to his astonishment, takes him to CunГ©gonde.
CunГ©gonde explains that though the Bulgars killed the rest of her family, she was merely raped
and then captured by a captain, who sold her to a Jew named Don Isaachar. At present, she is a sex
slave jointly owned by Don Isaachar and the Grand Inquisitor of Lisbon. Each of CunГ©gonde's
two owners arrive in turn as she and Candide are talking, and Candide kills them both. Terrified,
Candide, the old woman, and CunГ©gonde flee and aboard a ship bound for South America. During
their journey, the old woman relates her own story. She was born the Pope's daughter but has
suffered a litany of misfortunes that include rape, enslavement, and cannibalism.
Candide and CunГ©gonde plan to marry, but as soon as they arrive in Buenos Aires, the governor,
Don Fernando, proposes to CunГ©gonde. Thinking of her own financial welfare, she accepts.
Authorities looking for the murderer of the Grand Inquisitor arrive from Portugal in pursuit of
Candide. Along with a newly acquired valet named Cacambo, Candide flees to territory controlled by
Jesuits who are revolting against the Spanish government. After demanding an audience with a Jesuit

Examples Of Satire In Candide
Candide– A Satire on Philosophy by a Philosopher
Satire is a comedic view to parodize a subject in order to put it into perspective. One of Voltaire's
most famous works, Candide, was written as a satire on different philosophies at the time. With the
events that reflect parts of Voltaire's own life, showing the development of aphilosophy in the main
character, Candide, Voltairesatirizes different aspects of the two popular philosophies at the time
regarding optimism. Optimism, being the level of hope a person maintains throughout the best and
worst of times, becomes a major part of the theme of Candide. Concerning a satire of the two
popular philosophers regarding the world, with a plot reflecting Voltaire's life of fleeing throughout
Europe, Voltaire's Candide reflects both his opinion in satire and his own philosophy as a solution to
the conflict.
Philosophy and reality do not line up for the most part. Their disconnect is where the main conflict
of the story lies. Over the course of his many travels and encounters with many colorful different
strangers, Candide's idea that this is the best of all possible worlds, stemming from his learning at
Pangloss's side, begins to make a shift. There is a startling disconnect between that philosophy and
Candide's gritty reality. It is only through realizing how...show more content...
Even while describing the horrors of a battle, Voltaire maintains a very calm tone, "Here, old men
covered with wounds, beheld their wives, hugging their children to their bloody breasts, massacred
before their faces" (Voltaire [Page #10]). The tone stays calm, even though Voltaire talks about
some very gritty, sad parts of reality. It begins to affect the reader with a bit of uneasiness. In the
parts where it discusses some of the worst aspects of humanity, in that same calm, unaffected tone, it
becomes a bit

Examples Of Optimism In Candide
Kyle Squarcia
August 17, 2015
Western Civilization
Professor Marr
Optimism in Candide Candide is a humorous, far–fetched story by Voltaire mocking the optimism
promoted by the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment. Candide satirizes the ideology of
philosophical optimism by using exaggeration, by making everything ridicule and absurd. It also
demonstrates the limitations of the characters that make fun of this idea. It is the story of a young
man's adventures throughout the world, where he witnesses evil and disaster. Throughout his
travels, he complies to the teachings of his tutor, Pangloss, believing that "all is for the best in the
best of all possible worlds," (Voltaire4). Candide is Voltaire's answer to what he saw as an absurd
...show more content...
The satire shows the inconsistencies in politics and the hypocrisy and ineptitude of rulers. The
governor is given multiple names and titles, such as Don Fernando to show the governor's
narcissistic pride. The suffering of the people who Candide meets also highlights the unimportance
of the leaders. This pettiness is illustrated when Candide talks to Martin, and they discuss who is
more to be pitied, and Martin says, "I can only hope presume that there are millions of people on
this earth who are many times more to be pitied than King Charles Edward, or Emperor Ivan, or
Sultan Achmed."
Candide is full of graphic accounts of the sexual exploitation of women. The three main female
characters were all rape and forced into sexual slavery. Voltaire uses these women's stories to
demonstrate the special dangers to which only women are vulnerable. Candide's brave devotion to
CunГ©gonde, whom he wrongly perceives as a paragon of female virtue, is based on blindness to
the real situation of women. The male characters in the novel value sexual chastity in women but
make it impossible for women to maintain such chastity, exposing another hypocritical aspect of
Voltaire's

Who Is Candide?
Candide was raised in Westphalia, in the Barony of Thunder–ten–tronckh. He studied under
Professor Pangloss, who taught him that we live in the "best of all possible worlds." In the
beginning, CunГ©gonde, the Baron's daughter, witnessed Pangloss having sex with her mother's
chambermaid. Captivated, she sought to do the same with Candide. Unfortunately, they were
discovered, which caused Candide to be kicked out of the castle. The ejection from the castle could
symbolize the Biblical Fall. Like Eve, CunГ©gonde comes across the forbidden knowledge of sex,
and shares it with another person.
After the war Candide participated in with the Bulgarians he had very little he therefore made his
way to Holland, because it was supposedly a rich country. He had lost contact with Pangloss, his
professor. In Holland, he begged for food and money but only receives threats. Finally, he speaks to
a priest who is preaching on charity, the priest asks if he believes that the Pope is the Antichrist.
During this time, there was a huge divide between Catholics and Protestants, which results the
rudeness of the priest. Seeing how horrible Candide is being treated, a kind Anabaptist, took him
home, cleansed him, fed him, and helped him recover. Candide, relieved, expresses his renewed faith
in Pangloss' optimism.
Shortly after this horrific event Candide comes across a man with syphilis, who turns out to be his
professor Pangloss. Pangloss tells Candide that Bulgarians invaded his home town, raped

The Message Of Candide
INTRODUCTION
French philosopher Francois Marie Arouet, also known as Voltaire, is one of the leading figures of
the Enlightenment epoch and famous for the fight for freedom, tolerance and knowledge. One of
his the most prominent philosophical writings is "Candide, ou l'Optimisme". This widely translated
satirical novel was published in 1759 as a response to the "Lettre sur la Providence" by Rousseau,
which shows an optimistic doctrine same way as Leibnizian theory. The main message of "Candide"
remains relevant nowadays, that is to say, an abstract theoretical discourses provide no response to
various forms of evil manifesting in this mundane world. The philosophical tale consists of the
development of this central idea without difficult...show more content...
In this case, the act of expulsion involves a young baron and Candide: "Martin concluded to throw
the Baron into the sea; Cacambo decided that he must be delivered to the Turkish captain and sent
to the galleys; after which he should be conveyed by the first ship to the Father General at Rome.
This advice was found to be good; < ... > and they had the pleasure of tricking a Jesuit, and
punishing the pride of a German baron." The causality of this expulsion is actually the same as in
the first chapter, since he would not let Candide to get married, but the result – quite

Candide Essay
Candide Essay
Compare/Contrast of 2 Characters
Throughout the story of Candide, the author Voltaire uses many of the characters to portray
important things in life. The two characters that Voltaire used the most were Candide and Pangloss.
Voltaire used these two characters to represent a particular idea or folly that he had about the world.
In the story Candide, Voltaire is always portraying his own ideas by using the characters to illustrate
his own ideas. Candide and Pangloss represent the main idea of the story, which is Voltaire's folly of
optimism. Even though they both represent the main idea of the story Candide and Pangloss have
many similarities and differences.
Before getting into the comparison and contrasting here is a...show more content...
Pangloss is the teacher of Cunegonde and Candide. Pangloss is a philosopher and supposed to be a
very educated man. Pangloss teaches Candide all about this certain philosophy that he himself lives
by. Voltaire explains Pangloss's philosophy like this, Pangloss gave instruction in
metaphysico–theologico–cosmolo–nigology. He 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. It is clear, said he, that
things cannot be otherwise than they are, for since everything is made to serve an end,
everything necessarily serves the best end. Observe: noses were made to support spectacles,
hence we have spectacles. Legs, as anyone can plainly see, were made to be breeched, and so we
have breeches. . . . Consequently, those who say everything is well are uttering mere stupidities;
they should say everything is for the best(pg. 4) What Voltaire is trying to explain here is that
Pangloss thinks that everything happens for a reason and even though it may be something bad, it
happens for the best. Pangloss teaches this philosophy with a strong emphasis and he really believes
in it.
In comparing these two characters, Candide and Pangloss have many similarities. One of the main
reasons for this is because Pangloss is Candide's philosophical teacher and Candide

Candide Essay example
Candide
Candide, written by Voltaire during the 18th century is a celebrated novel known for it's strong
criticism of the Middle Ages and Enlightenment expressed by Voltaire. During the transformation
from the Middle Ages to The Enlightenment, social, religious and political ideas were rejected and
emphasis was placed on rationalism. Three examples of this notion that are expressed in Candide
are as follows.
Social conduct that was normally practiced during the 18th century was thrown out of the window
during the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers were famous for piercing criticism. Civilians
were steadily gaining the newfound knowledge presented by various prodigies during this century.
Most people were beginning to think for...show more content...
This was also expressed by Voltairethrough a character of Candide. In the book, when Martin tells
the story of his life, he refers to two religious ideologies. The Surinamese and the Socinians. He states
that the Surinamese clergy persecuted him because they thought he was a Socinian. The Socinians
were a Christian sect formed during the Reformation. They rejected the divinity of Christ, the trinity,
and original sin. Many people of this era were beginning to do the same thing. At one point, almost
everyone practiced the Catholic religion. All things changed though, communities were beginning to
allude to new religions thus shunning the Catholic religion. Some even declared that they did not
believe in God at all. One of these newfound religions, which Martin claims to be, is Manichaeism.
These followers believe in the basis of good and evil rather than all good and the all–mighty God.
This way of thinking shocked other people of the communities, but little did they know that it would
be something expanded upon and fought for in the centuries to come.
Politics, during the 18th century, were not what someone of our modern day would think they were.
The nobles ran all cities, created and controlled all laws. Those who were in such positions to make
these decisions believed to have been lucky enough to be born into wealth and dignity. This

Theme Of Violence In Candide
A focus in the majority of literature including Candide, is human's tendency towards violence.
Embedded in the works of literature discussing violence are the possible motives and reasons
behind the horrific actions people are capable of; in many ways through interpretation the reader is
given a window into the psychology of violence. In each piece of literature by examination the reader
is left to put the pieces together for the overall message on humanity, but sometimes even when
putting the pieces together it is difficult to see the whole picture because much of the understanding
in weighted topics such as these require more insight than just an average person's knowledge of the
inner workings of human's minds. This is where psychology and english go hand in hand, each
enhancing the other, making muddled concepts and questions more explicit. Such as Candide and
"Human behavior: Killer instincts: Nature News", Candide provides the situations and the article
gives the insights to better understand Voltaire's pointed commentary on violence, in addition it
allows the reader to thoughtfully produce their own opinions on the subject. Woven into the storyline
of Candide is constant shocking occurrences of violence. Voltaire's repetition and emphasis on this
seems to suggest that he himself, can not get over the ridiculousness of the erratic violence
especially in his time. What is vital to viewing these moments as more than the exaggerated, dark,
and absurd misfortunes that

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