Optimism In Voltaire's Candide

Words: 1102

Pages: 5

Open Document

Are you optimistic? Indeed, optimism is represented in Voltaire’s Candide, as the main character, the young Candide, sees the world with a positive and hopeful perspective. Specifically, inspired by Dr. Pangloss, he believes that each cause has an effect, such as relating the construction of a bay with a death. Also, according to his view, Candide lives in a perfect world, and looks for an explanation for each atrocity in his life, even if there is no practical logic. Moreover, even though he suffered a lot, Candide is still optimistic, looking for the positive side on each tragedy. Certainly, Voltaire represented Candide’s optimism sarcastically by representing it with no logic, in order to make a satire about people who have an impressive …show more content…
However, Voltaire represents one tragedy after another tragedy, and extremely harsh situations for Candide, such as being exiled, and being tortured by the Bulgars. The reason is that the author wants to destroy and even make of fun of this concept in Candide. Furthermore, as Dr. Pangloss tells Candide that Cunegonde was dead, the guy says “I’ve had some experience of this love, this love that rules our hearts, which is the soul of our souls; all it got me was a kiss and twenty kicks in the ass. How could so beautiful a cause have produced in you such an abominable effect?” (Voltaire 8). Specifically, he finds a completely illogical explanation for the Bulgars to had raped her, as his departure from the castle would not have avoided such barbarity, for the mere fact that she would still have someone to love. Indeed, Voltaire uses the explanations in order to make fun of optimism, creating the idea that this philosophy is

The Role Of Optimism In Voltaire's Candide

idealism of optimism displayed within the story Candide. In today’s society, we are taught to look forward to more fortunate outcomes in life, and to discover the advantages even in the most detrimental situations. By definition, optimism is a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome, or can be interpreted as the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world (dictionary.com). In the story Candide by Voltaire…

Words 1352 - Pages 6

Cultivating Our Garden By Voltaire's Candide: Optimism

to have their happiness. The infamous satire Candide by Voltaire dispute Philosophical Optimism’s theory "Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.” Voltaire uses satire as a way to express his opinions about European society in the eighteenth century. A novella of young man named Candide as he goes through adventure and witness evil and cruelty. The main character Candide, is innocent by living in a world full of illusion. Candide used to lived in a world…

Words 365 - Pages 2

Essay about The idiocy of optimism and the vanity of philosophical conjecture

Voltaire’s Candide is one of the most widely read novels in the west and as such has been established as one of the listed works that form the Western Canon. Written in the age of enlightenment it expresses the suspicion and skepticism of concepts grounded in faith or tradition, and exchanges faith and religion for individualism and scientific reasoning. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 and the Seven years’ War had a profound effect on Voltaire’s writing, his assessment of societal norms and…

Words 1015 - Pages 5

Satire Exposed In Voltaire's Candide

Voltaire’s Candide follows the journey of a young and naïve man named Candide, who, after living in ignorance for his entire life, is thrust into the world and forced to experience its horrors and graphic violence. Voltaire structures Candide as a satire, meaning to bring attention to our world and its problems, focusing on the violence of war and the hypocrisy of society. Candide is a satire, a genre of literature that is a response to the hypocrisy of a society; therefore, reading a satirical piece…

Words 1035 - Pages 5

Candide Exam 1 Essay

Stanley Phan David Gross September 29, 2014 HIST 1020 Voltaire’s Candide Candide is introduced as a naive teenager in Voltaire’s novel. As a young man he is easily influenced by stronger characters such as his tutor, Pangloss. In the beginning of the book, Candide is very innocent and is easily influenced by Pangloss. Pangloss is stuck in his optimistic philosophy and “best of all possible worlds” idea. Pangloss’s philosophy mocks the ideas of some Enlightenment thinkers of a perfect world created…

Words 471 - Pages 2

Essay On Candide

Optimistic Than Meets the Eye: Voltaire’s Sarcasm for Optimism Voltaire did an amazing job writing a novel that would have pleased a reader looking at it from any point of view. Have you ever been reading a novel and thought this is inspiring, before finally realizing that the writer is simply being sarcastic? This was the case for me when I read Voltaire’s Candide. The man seemed to almost make fun or attack the thought of optimism. I am going to explain how you might think optimism is what is happening…

Words 1323 - Pages 6

Examples Of Satire In Candide

Throughout Candide, Voltaire uses satire to critique optimism, a popular philosophy of Leibniz who emphasizes the ultimate goal of reaching the greater good. However, there are many misconceptions of what the greater good actually is. In the 18th chapter of Candide, Candide and Cacambo encounter the land of Eldorado, a land abounding with gold, rubies, emeralds, and the finest of all riches. Voltaire describes the land as an enchanting country which some see as the greater good amongst chaos and…

Words 782 - Pages 4

An Analysis Of Voltaire's Candide

Voltaire was one of the most well-known philosophers during the era of European Enlightenment. One of Voltaire’s most famous works is his satirical tale Candide (1759) which ridiculed superstition, religious persecution, war, and an uncritical optimism about the human condition. Historians around the world today have different interpretations about Voltaire's messages. In Candide by Voltaire, Voltaire's message is to be more realistic in life rather than being inattentively such as believing everything…

Words 249 - Pages 1

Candide essay

Voltaire’s Candide is a piece of genius satire that is relatable to nearly any era of the world, especially in today’s world. It is a great comment on the political and social state that our world seems to always be struggling with. While the characters of the story believe that this is the “best of all possible worlds, it is clear that Voltaire does not agree with that statement. He employs a clever use of satire to show just how disgusting the world truly is. Starting with…

Words 651 - Pages 3

Candide: Candide and Possible Worlds Essay

library served this function during the 18th century, when writers satirized ideas through books and plays. Voltaire was one of these writers, and found it enjoyable to poke fun through the use of literature. Throughout his novel, Candide, Voltaire satirizes the optimism and order of 18th century society, forcing the reader to laugh at and realize just how absurd all of his/her ideals are, and, therefore, question his/her beliefs. Voltaire challenges the positive attitude of philosophy at the time…

Words 1064 - Pages 5