Voltaire is well known for his major role in French philosophy and his partaking in writing. Over Voltaire’s life time he was able to accomplish writing over 50 different pieces of literature that includes treatises of politics, science, and philosophy, plays and novels and managed to write several history books topics ranging from the Russian empire to the French Parliament. He is most well known for his attacks on the established catholic church and advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state.
Voltaire spent most of his adult life in/around paris, he had trouble with the authorities for is critiques of the government which ultimately lead to two imprisonments and temporary exile from england. Voltaire’s writing style is very reflective of the enlightenment period, more people were willing to speak out against issues and to go against the social norm, in a way writers of the enlightenment were part of a counterculture movement. The enlightenment was a time of realizing the the importance of oneself.
The writers and thinkers of the enlightenment realized that it was time to go against tradition, during this time period you see a lot of outspoken individuals who would risk their lives for the etterment of society and the opportunity to light a “fire” and start a movement. Voltaire’s view on society is highlighted by his sarcastic tone and uses of satire. His constant prodding at the philosophy of optimism helps bring to light the dangers and faults of being an optimist. Voltaire uses eccentric characters to help bring to life his ideas. The characters within Candie partake in very exaggerated events, the portrayal of these events act as a form of satire. Voltaire very commonly uses satire to ridicule or discredit the 1700’s. Voltaire very commonly discredited the ideas of war, religion, and philosophy.
Although there are different types of satire voltaire most commonly used irony, applying it not only to statement but to events,structure and characters. The targets of Voltaire’s satire are varied. First in importance is the philosophy of optimism; others include religion, kings, war, social pride. For his purpose Voltaire depended especially upon exaggeration, but he also used the contrasting device of understatement. Voltaire’s primary purpose in writing Candide was to destroy the theory of Optimism, and for this purpose exaggeration served him best.
He opposed gross absurdity with even more absurdity the story epeatedly told by Pangloss and retold by his disciples versus the conclusions to be drawn from the experiences that actually happened. Candide is driven from what he and others at the baron’s castle was “the best of all possible worlds. ” The carnage of the Bulgar-Abar conflict, the tempest and earthquake, the apparent death of Cunegonde and the actual death of her parents, the experiences during the Inquisition; are all events described in very exaggerated terms. One of the first instances in which voltaire uses exaggeration is the very first story in which he introduces the baron and candide. Life at the castle of
Thunder-ten-tronckh is that of a utopia, a life of perfect happiness. It is described as a “most beautiful castle. ” Candide is introduced as the “gentlest of characters” who combined sound judgment with simplicity of mind. The baron is described as a great, powerful lord in Westphalia; the baroness. His wife is the best of all possible baronesses. Pangloss is presented as the wisest philosopher in the realm.
Already the absurd is opposed to the absurd. We learn that this most beautiful and agreeable of all possible castles, as Voltaire calls it in the last sentence in the chapter, is crude enough, what with its one door and indow. The baroness is obese and not as great as she was once described. the baron is no longer looked upon as a “great powerfull lord” but more so as a primitive character. But all this exaggeration prepare the reader for the events which are to follow. Voltaire uses exaggeration as a prelude to adverse fortune throughout the rest of the book.
The author used a variety of forms to oppose Optimism. The saying “best of all possible worlds” repeated many times only to be refuted with satire nearly every time. Most commonly understatement was used. Candide is a master of understatement. Often, after xperiencing terrible danger and suffering, his immediate reaction is that Pangloss might possibly begin to doubt his own philosophy. After hearing the old woman’s story in all its terrible detail, he says: “It’s a great pity that the wise Pangloss was hanged, contrary to custom, in an auto-da-fe he would have told us admirable things about the physical and moral evils that cover the earth, and I would have felt strong enough to venture a few respectful objections. ” (46).
Also his immediate reaction when he learned that the Oreillons, believing him to be a Jesuit, intended to roast or boil him and then eat him was, “All is well, I on’t argue about it; but I must admit that it’s a cruel fate to have lost Lady Cunegonde and then be roasted on a spit by the Oreillons. ” At the inn in a Spanish village, the old woman expressed her conviction that a father had stolen Cunegonde’s money and jewels. Candide says that he should have left them enough to finish their journey. There is ironic understatement also to be found in the account of Candide’s losses at cards in Paris. When he is confused as to why he has never held any aces. Candide’s understatements, in a way contradict pangloss’s philosophy of optimism and foreshadow candide’s sheer innocence.
Candide’s innocence is used throughout the story to show the changes within characters. John locke’s ideas are shown within candide as a person is born with a “blank slate” and the person’s outside interactions help form who they are. This is shown in how candide starts very innocent and susceptible to merely anything. Through the story candide begins to change into a mature man. Throughout his travels he develops a new philosophy for life. His eyes open to reality, He sees that everything does not happen for the best as pangloss had told him in the Baron’s castle. In Europe and in America, he encounters misery.
He meets a number of people from various branches of life. He comes across many philosophers ranging from the extreme optimism of Pangloss to the pessimistic ideas of Martin. He experiences the love with Miss Cunegonde but learns that he can’t accept it because of the differing social classes. One of the changes Candide experienced was his really optimistic mind he often said “everything is for the best”( first seen on page 3). It was a phrase of his teacher Pangloss He taught that everything was for the best and Candide, having never heard any other philosophies, and being very gullible to his surroundings.. agrees blindly.
During the story candide sees a man who saved his life by nursing him back to health thrown overboard. Candide is ready to jump into the raging waters after him but Pangloss stops him. He demonstrates that “the Bay of Lisbon had been made… for the Anabaptist to be drowned,”(p. 11). This is the beginning of the clashing with Candide’s ideologies: if this is the best of all worlds, how was this man who was so kind and generous thrown to his death and Candide was not meant to save him? Candide begins to doubt in this philosophy. Candide eventually learns how to achieve happiness in the face of misadventure. He learns that in order to attain a tate of contentment, one must be part of society where there is collective effort and work. Candide spends a great deal of time traveling the world and learning of many different ideologies in “metaphysics. ”
Finally, he decides to settle down and live by farming his own garden-this symbolizes his surrender to simple self-preservation. After a long and difficult struggle in which Candide is forced to overcome misfortune to find happiness, he concludes that everything is not as good as it seems the way Dr. Pangloss, his tutor had taught him. During his adventures he realize that things not always happen for the best, he nderstand that it just happen in his innocent mind. However, Candide always keep in his heart goodness and love. Also, he knows that at the end, he is going to find the best for his life. “We are destined , in the end , for another universe, no doubt that is the one where everything is well. “(p. 391). Also, Candide begins to experience human suffering in many different ways as love, loneliness and disasters.
He understands that no matter who are you, always going to experiment the both sides happiness and sadness because is part of human life, “It’s true, and you see how people make mistakes who have not received a easure of education”(p. 402). Make mistakes is of humans and those mistakes make the experience, that later help us to take decisions. Furthermore, others important characters that contribute for Candide’s change are The Old Woman and Martin. Both of them help Candide to get more knowledge in outside world and contrast the Panglos’s philosophy. The old woman, she was a suffered woman that had to survive of many obstacles. ” My last post was as servant to the Jew don Issachar; he attached me to your service, my lovely one; and I attached myself to your destiny, till I have become more concerned with our fate than with my own. “(p. 396).
In the other hand Martin is a very pessimist man who had been experienced bad situations; he was really offended with life. It was another event that makes Candide changes his philosophy. In his amazing journey he finds that every event in the world has a reason, and whether there are positive or negative moments you have to live them. ” There is no effect without a cause, all events are linked by the chain of necessity and arranged for the best. I had to be driven away from Miss Cunegonde, I had to run the gauntlet, I have to beg my bread until I can earn it; none of this ould have happened otherwise”(P. 381).
However, by the end of the story the protagonist realized that to achieve happiness a lot of work, compromises, and sacrifices are necessary. Though life does not become any easier, at this point Candide begins to grow from a naive young person into a grown realist. 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.
