Voltaire's Use Of Optimism In Candide

Voltaire’s written novella Candide contains three dominant themes: the belief in eternal optimism, religious hypocrisy, and the superiority and arrogance of the nobility. This humorous novel most commonly uses the literary device of satire, in which the reader is able to take note of Voltaire’s views on the topics around him in a new tone.

The absurdity of optimism or over reliance of optimism is demonstrated several times throughout the book. We learn Pangloss’ theory of eternal optimism when he says, “in this best of all possible worlds, His Lordship the Baron’s castle was the finest of castles and Her Ladyship the best of all possible baronesses”(Voltaire 4). This quote is the first introduction of Pangloss’ theory, later to be a recurring topic throughout the novella. For example, Jacques (the anabaptist) nobly throws himself into the sea

The French Revolution heavily connects to this mistreatment because the third estate was so mistreated by the nobility, much like in Candide. Despite all of Candide’s good doings, he is of no value to Cunegonde’s family for he is not part of the nobility. At the end of the book, after Candide has saved the Baron, payed for him and his sister to get out of slavery, and he saved him a hundred different ways, the baron still believed that since he is not of the aristocracy, he has no value. His good doings have served him no purpose and it doesn't matter how far Cunegonde has fallen below candide, she is still of the nobility and in the eyes of the baron, that makes her superior. When Candide informs the Baron of his intention to marry Cunegonde, the baron says, “‘Never,’ said the baron, ‘will I tolerate such baseness on her part, nor such insolence on yours. … no, my sister shall never marry unless it be a baron of the