Candide, by Voltaire

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“Candide” by Voltaire is a novel that captures the tumultuous life of Candide, the simple, illegitimate son of the baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh’s sister. Living in the castle in Westphalia, Candide’s realm of knowledge encompasses the ideas presented to him by Pangloss, his tutor, who believes that the world they inhabit is the “best of all possible worlds.” (Voltaire 15) Candide carries the optimism of Pangloss’ belief with him as he is banished from his castle and enters an uncharted terrain. In the unfamiliar world of hardship, suffering and poverty, he discovers the inaccuracy of the many ideas Pangloss presented to him. Through the texts “Candide” by Voltaire, “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the validity of Pangloss’ philosophy can be tested.

Pangloss’ view of the world refers to Leibnez’s theory , which attempts to explain the existence of evil in the simultaneous presence of God. According to him, God, being omniscient and omnipotent, possesses the ability to see all the possible worlds. He chooses the best of these worlds for us to live in, therefore, all the evil in the world is essentially not evil at all; it was foreseen, understood, and thus, created by God. However if this theory were true, then the world would be pre-determined and humans would have no free will. On the other hand, the story told by the Bible describes Adam and Eve as people who were punished for having free will and eating the apple. If the world were indeed pre-determined by God, then Eve eating the apple from the tree of knowledge would be the pre-determined, too. Since God did not intend for Eve to consume the apple, her action was one of free will. Pangloss’ view is considered heretic because hi...

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...nde’s brother to give him her hand in marriage, as he lacks a position of power. Both the old woman and Cunegonde’s transition from the wealthy to the mistress of men shows the transiency of wealth. The storylines capture the uselessness of being in positions of wealth and power as neither truly benefits the one in possession of it.

The land of El Dorado is shown as the least jaded and corrupt of lands. Religious intolerance is non-existent, as the inhabitants follow only one religion; wealth is immaterial, as the gold all around them has no monetary value for them and there is no hierarchy of power in the land. It is perhaps a world like the one of El Dorado that can rid the world of turmoil and suffering. Denouncing religion, abdicating power and living a simple life may be the answer to relieving the inhabitants of the world from the atrocities that freckle it.

Candide, Death Of Ivan Ilyich, And The Metamorphosis
1380 Words | 3 Pages
The author, Voltaire, wrote in the Enlightenment period, a literary movement characterized by the rising concern of philosophy, science, and politics. Voltaire’s writing was influenced by the Enlightenment movement to create awareness of global issues. This is evident in the repeated tragedies Candide stumbles upon. Social issues, corrupt authority figures, and war are real world topics that Voltaire chooses to address in Candide. The satirical nature of Candide allows for an in-depth discussion between the characters regarding the problems they face and the problems of the people they meet, creating a perspective that the audience is forced to look through. It is also a coming of age story, not just for Candide, but for the rising awareness in global issues. Voltaire’s inclusion of the issues of his time reflect the severity of those issues. Satire is used as a reaction to a society’s hypocrisy. Candide as a satirical piece reflects what people have neglected to pay attention to. Coming into a new era of awareness and responsibility leads Candide to reflect on the live he lived in Westphalia and the people he encountered across
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Literary Criticism Of Candide
2241 Words | 5 Pages
She came from modest nobility and ended up cooking and cleaning for all the men who owned her, completing “menial tasks that a romance heroine would never undertake” (Lynch 42). The status of her virginity demonized her. Romantic heroine’s insides are often reflected on the outside. They are beautiful because of their virtue, so “Cunegonde’s ugliness [suggested] her lack of it.” (Lynch 43). Even though her virginity was forcefully taken, she suffered the consequences of being a loose woman. She was bought and sold into slavery. The skills she learned were tools for survival. Besides using her body, she was able to take care of a home. It was unfortunate because becoming a cook “[seemed] to redeem her ugliness somewhat” (Betts 287). Voltaire was commenting on the limits options for women in the eighteenth century. They could either be a wife or mistress. Cunegonde had to perform both roles with just her optimism to keep her going; ““it seems justifiable to say that her final destiny as the supplier of appetizing food parallels her ability to arouse sexual appetite” (Betts
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A Series of Unfortunate Events in Voltaire's Candide
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...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.
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Candide, by Voltaire
795 Words | 2 Pages
Somewhere out there in the world, a car is being stolen, a child is stealing from his mother's purse, or a bank is being robbed. Why are people stealing and taking things for their own claim? Often the trait of greed is the reason for why a person partakes in such act. The trait of greed is impossible to be seen through appearance but rather by human behaviors itself. In Candide, by Voltaire, greed is expressed in a satirical manner through the actions of the characters in the novel. Through this trait, people are driven to make sacrifices and believe that happiness and satisfaction are only found when they are enriched with wealth.
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The Nature of Unhappiness in Candide, by Voltaire
1316 Words | 3 Pages
Candide is well known for its critique of optimism by Voltaire. The title character, along with his companions, bears many hardships throughout the novel and philosophizes about the nature and necessity of good in the world. Whether there is truly any good in the world is debated between the characters, particularly between the very discouraged Martin and Candide, who carries with him the optimistic words of Dr. Pangloss, a believer in the good nature of the world. While the characters debate why man must carry such burdens, Voltaire shows us that it is dealing with the bad that makes us human. While discussing Cunegonde Martin says to Candide, "I wish" that she may one day make you happy. But I very much doubt she will. ‘You are a bit hard,’ said Candide. ‘That’s because I’ve lived,’ said Martin.
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Women in Voltaire’s Candide
1058 Words | 3 Pages
Cunegonde is the daughter of a wealthy German lord. She is described as “extremely beautiful” (Voltaire. 5) and is repeatedly referred to as “the fair Cunegonde.” (39). She is the typical damsel-in-distress: a woman who is completely reliant on male protection and often fainting at the sight of anything the least bit distressing. She is a vapid beauty and completely obsequious to whomever she happens to belong to at the time. However, Voltaire does not blame her foolish naiveté on her femininity. Candide himself is terribly innocent and is unable to make decisions without the advice of a third party. In a way, Cunegonde accepts her situation in life better than Candide does. She knows that as a woman in the eighteenth century she has few options if she wishes to survive and she is not above using her beauty to her advantage. She never questions or philosophizes like many of the male characters. Her acceptance of the sexual slavery she finds herself in belies an understanding of the limited options women had at the time.
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Religion, Politics and Morals in Voltaire’s Candide
1292 Words | 3 Pages
Each chapter of Candide is a part of the story which Voltaire carefully expresses his concerns and criticism of 18th century society. Chapter 11 “The History of the old women” in particular criticises the pre-modern era in regards to religion. The enlightenment period called for freedom of religion from many philosophers ...
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Criticism In Chapter 5 Of Voltaire's 'Candide'
1176 Words | 3 Pages
In chapter 5 of Candide, the Enlightenment and the birth of tolerance were on full display. In Candide, the Enlightenment thinkers’ view of the optimum world is challenged through the shipwreck and the satiric explanations of the Lisbon Bay and Lisbon Earthquake. Voltaire continues to use ironically tragic events to test Pangloss’s optimistic philosophy, which attempts to explain evil. The use of grotesque and naive behavior between individuals in this chapter makes the reader question Pangloss’s irrational thinking with the cause and effects of the events.
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Free Candide Essays: The Search for Truth
1501 Words | 4 Pages
Voltaire's Candide is a novel which contains conceptual ideas and at the same time is also exaggerated. Voltaire offers sad themes disguised by jokes and witticism, and the story itself presents a distinctive outlook on life. The crucial contrast in the story deals with irrational ideas as taught to Candide about being optimistic, versus reality as viewed by the rest of the world.
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Candide: A Satire On The Enlightenment
596 Words | 2 Pages
Candide is an outlandishly humorous, far-fetched tale by Voltaire satirizing the optimism espoused by the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment. It is the story of a young man’s adventures throughout the world, where he witnesses much evil and disaster. Throughout his travels, he adheres to the teachings of his tutor, Pangloss, believing that "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds." Candide is Voltaire’s answer to what he saw as an absurd belief proposed by the Optimists - an easy way to rationalize evil and suffering. Though he was by no means a pessimist, Voltaire refused to believe that what happens is always for the best.The Age of Enlightenment is a term applied to a wide variety of ideas and advances in the fields of philosophy, science, and medicine. The primary feature of Enlightenment philosophy is the belief that people can actively work to create a better world. A spirit of social reform characterized the political ideology of Enlightenment philosophers. While Voltaire’s Candide is heavily characterized by the primary concerns of the Enlightenment, it also criticizes certain aspects of the movement. It attacks the idea that optimism, which holds that rational thought can inhibit the evils perpetrated by human beings.
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Essay on Voltaire’s Candide: Relevance of Candide’s Message Today
961 Words | 2 Pages
Voltaire's Candide is a philosophical tale of one man's search for true happiness and his ultimate acceptance of life's disappointments. Candide grows up in the Castle of Westfalia and is taught by the learned philosopher Dr. Pangloss. Candide is abruptly exiled from the castle when found kissing the Baron's daughter, Cunegonde. Devastated by the separation from Cunegonde, his true love, Candide sets out to different places in the hope of finding her and achieving total happiness. The message of Candide is that one must strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept problems in the belief that all is for the best.
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Comparing Voltaire's Candide And Mary Shelley
1175 Words | 3 Pages
Voltaire. Candide. In Candide, Zadig and Selected Stories.Trans. Donald Frame, New York: Penguin Group, 1961.
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Candide
1305 Words | 3 Pages
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.
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Loss of Innocence in Candide by Voltaire
832 Words | 2 Pages
...mise to only love their husbands or wives and now he had been unfaithful to her with the Marquise. This action by Candide demonstrates how Candide has adapted to the world and how people also adapt to the things that exist.
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The Meaning of Eldorado in Voltaire’s Candide
2476 Words | 5 Pages
Voltaire, Francois-Marie Arouet de. “Candide.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. Shoter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 100-59. Print.
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Candide, by Voltaire

Candide, Death Of Ivan Ilyich, And The Metamorphosis

Literary Criticism Of Candide

A Series of Unfortunate Events in Voltaire's Candide