Candid College Essay Example
Candid College Essay Example

Candid College Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 9 (2401 words)
  • Published: July 31, 2016
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

In Candid, Voltaire illustrates the idea of cultivating one's inner self as creating a garden that represents beauty, kindness, and vibrancy. This concept holds great significance in a world where we often encounter harshness, cruelty, and unpredictability. Every day presents various challenges and risks that we strive to overcome. However, it is essential that we confront these obstacles with compassion and without harboring any ill feelings in our hearts. The importance of this message is highlighted in Candid during the 18th century, which was also referred to as the Age of Enlightenment.

Candide, the illegitimate son of a Baron's sister, was sent to live with the Baron at his exquisite castle in Westphalia. The Baroness, weighing around three hundred and fifty pounds, was greatly respected and carried out her duties with

...

grace, which further increased the respect she received. Her daughter Cunegonde, who was seventeen years old, had a rosy complexion and a fresh and plump appearance, making her all the more tempting. The Baron's son proved himself to be just as deserving as his father. The tutor Pangloss held an esteemed position in the household and young Candide, with the honesty typical of his age and character, followed his teachings diligently.

Voltaire (1997: 86) stated that Candide was taught by Pangloss, who is considered the greatest philosopher of the province and the entire world, that he resided in the most ideal world possible. According to Pangloss, "since everything is made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end" (Voltaire 1997: 42). As time passed at the castle, Candide embraced Pangloss' optimism but it didn't last long. Eventually, Candide

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

became infatuated with Cunegonde's beauty and had a private encounter with her within the castle. However, this intimate moment was witnessed by Cunegonde's father, the noble Baron, who promptly expelled Candide from their household.

Without any provisions or money, Candide was quickly enlisted into the Bulgar army. However, tired of the monotonous army life and influenced by Pangloss' belief in human freedom, he simply walked away. Unfortunately, he was caught and subjected to the gauntlet. Exhausted by the second round, Candide pleaded for death but was unexpectedly pardoned by the Bulgar king who happened to be passing by. Several months went by and Pangloss and Candide were appointed as accountants for a generous Anabaptist. Together, they embarked on a journey towards Lisbon. As they approached the city, their ship was caught in a storm and sank.

All the passengers on board the ship drowned except for Candide, Pangloss, and a wicked sailor. Just as the three of them reached the shore, a massive earthquake and volcanic eruption occurred, causing the destruction of the city. The sailor started looting and plundering through the wreckage. Despite Candide and Pangloss's attempts to assist the survivors of the city, it was they who were apprehended by a superstitious mob and chosen as human sacrifices in order to prevent any further earthquakes. While Candide was inspecting the troops, the old woman arrived to warn him that a Spanish ship had arrived in the harbor and its officials had disembarked to arrest the murderer of the Grand Inquisitor.

Unable to save Cunegonde from the governor's grasp, Candide and his servant, Cacambo, fled once again. They joined forces with

Paraguayan troops and were surprised to find that the colonel leading them was none other than Cunegonde's brother, the son of the late Baron. Realizing this, they quickly devised a plan to rescue her. However, when Candide expressed his desire to marry Cunegonde, the colonel became furious, claiming that Candide had no right to her because he was not of royal lineage. In a fit of anger, Candide stabbed the colonel with his sword and they escaped to the South American frontier once again.

Candide and Cacambo woke up in a perilous situation, facing threats from the Oreillon natives. Fortunately, they managed to convince their captors that they were not Jesuits and were eventually released. After this ordeal, Candide continued his journey alone, but misfortune struck again when a dishonest ship captain stole all of his remaining sheep and jewels, leaving him with nothing. However, luck smiled upon Candide when he encountered Martin, who had some money. Together, they embarked on a voyage to Venice. On their way there, they witnessed a battle between a Dutch and Spanish ship.

While the Dutch ship was sinking, Candide discovered that it belonged to the rogue who had stolen his sheep. Surprisingly, he managed to retrieve one of the jewel-laden animals before the ship sank. All these events are interconnected in the best possible world; because, without being expelled from the noble castle and enduring kicks for his love of Mademoiselle Cunegonde, without being imprisoned by the Inquisition, without wandering America on foot, without stabbing the Baron with his sword, and without losing all his sheep from Eldorado, he would not be enjoying candied citrons and

pistachios here.

All the events mentioned above are crucial in comprehending Candid's benevolent character. Voltaire's novel Candide is widely acknowledged as his most ingenious work. In its era, it served as a potent instrument for scrutinizing Europe's debauched and depraved society. The novel vividly and satirically portrays the horrors of 18th-century life, including civil and religious conflicts, sexually transmitted illnesses, oppressive leaders, and the unfair punishment of blameless people - problems that still endure today.

Voltaire disagreed with certain Enlightenment ideas regarding social class. Some Enlightenment thinkers proposed the idea of an enlightened monarch as a substitute for a drastic societal reform. Instead of rejecting the divine right of kings, the concept of an enlightened monarch depended on the belief that rulers had the capability to protect their subjects' rights using their power. The monarch's authority could be expanded to achieve this protection. As a result, the Enlightenment name could be exploited to validate despotism.

Witch-hunts and organized campaigns of religious persecution persisted until the 18th century. Despite Enlightenment philosophy promoting reason as a solution, irrationality and fear continued to cause harm. Candide exemplifies this through the character of the Grand Inquisitor, who conducts auto-da-fes to prevent earthquakes, among other instances. Voltaire's work may be challenging for modern students to grasp as it references specific worries of his era.

To gain a better understanding of his wit and relevant context, it may be beneficial for readers to consult supplementary readings such as a history of the Enlightenment, a biography of Voltaire, or the writings of other Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Leibniz. Voltaire uses the constant misfortunes of Candide to raise meaningful questions

about suffering. Initially, Candide eagerly embraces Pangloss' philosophy in the beginning of the novel. However, as he nears the end of his life, he rejects this Utopian theory and concludes that the only solution to a life plagued by constant bad luck is diligence in labor.

Voltaire's work emphasizes that man's understanding of evil in the world is limited. He stresses that survival, not happiness, is the ultimate goal in life. In his book Candide, Voltaire tells the story of a young man who goes through a journey from innocence to wisdom. Along the way, he encounters challenging travels, severe misfortune, corrupt individuals, and unforgiving nature as he searches for the meaning of life. Despite experiencing both happiness and suffering and oscillating between optimism and pessimism, Candide and his childhood love Cunegonde remain committed to seeking "Universal Good" (Butt John 2004: 1).

Despite the serious and tragic themes present in the story, it is approached with a light and comedic touch, resulting in a refreshing tone. The protagonist, Candide, is a young and naive man who resides in the castle of the Baron of Thunder-Ten-Tronckh in Westphalia. However, he is exiled from the castle after being caught kissing the Baron's daughter, Cunegonde. This event sets off a series of adventurous and often horrifying experiences for Candide as he travels the world in search of Cunegonde. Ultimately, this journey leads him to attain enlightenment and wisdom.

The text challenges the notion that evil, suffering, and vice are inevitable. It argues that these problems are caused by human actions and can be resolved through intelligent and deliberate efforts. The text promotes activism, rationality, and

diligence in seeking human well-being. Voltaire mocks Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz's optimistic philosophy by satirizing his ideas with the character of Dr. Pangloss, who believes that everything is always for the best in this world.

Voltaire's text examines a range of issues, including religious intolerance, superstition, war, violence, cruelty, greed, social inequalities, and economic injustice. It also addresses bigotry, prejudice, European colonialism, imperialism, and nationalistic chauvinism. The novel employs satire to criticize Candide's lack of nobility when he is forced to leave the Baron's castle. Additionally in the story, Cunegonde initially attracts Candide. The description of Candide's actions and expulsion from the castle may contain significant biblical references that continue throughout the narrative. These references may also appear elsewhere in the text.

In chapter 3 of Voltaire's work, he discusses the meaning behind the statement "volleys of musket fire removed from the best of worlds about nine or ten thousand rascals and the bayonet was a sufficient reason for the demise of several thousand others" (Voltaire 1997: 76). Voltaire also asks about the definition of an auto-da-fe and expresses his thoughts on such practices. Moving on to Chapter 17, Cacambo states that the new world is no better than the old and proposes that he and Candide should return to Europe. Voltaire aims to convey a message through this statement. Throughout his adventures, Candide learns important lessons and discovers who the true enemy is. Voltaire explores the source of all evil in this narrative.

Candide's belief that he has saved the lives of two girls is questioned. Voltaire satirizes this episode and explores the justification of Candide's actions. Candide's perception of

the girls' lovers as dangerous animals reflects historical attitudes of white Europeans toward others. Furthermore, there is irony in Candide's gratitude toward the Oreillons's customs. Eldorado is compared to the rest of the world, emphasizing its uniqueness. The significance of Eldorado being hidden away and almost impossible to reach is explored. Additionally, people's attitude toward gold and jewels in Eldorado carries symbolic importance.

Candide gains valuable knowledge and encounters significant occurrences while in Eldorado. He ultimately chooses to depart from Eldorado, encountering numerous obstacles during his pursuit of his aspirations. Despite the difficulties, Candide persists and develops. His well-known remark about tending gardens possesses a profound significance that connects to the time period when Voltaire, the writer, existed. Referred to as "The Enlightenment," this era marked notable progressions in philosophy, science, and medicine. The French Revolution is frequently regarded as the climax of this epoch.

Enlightenment philosophy centers around the conviction that reason and logical thinking can lead humanity towards a better social system. The political ideology of Enlightenment thinkers is characterized by a yearning for societal transformation. These advocates sought to overthrow superstition, fear, bias, as well as critiquing both aristocracy and the church. Voltaire's Candide expresses his enduring disdain for Christian power regimes and the arrogance of the nobility, while also critically examining certain aspects of the Enlightenment philosophical movement.

Voltaire's Candide challenges the optimistic belief that rational thought can overcome human evils. The novel, written during the Enlightenment, reflects Voltaire's stance on its values. Using an absurd tone and storytelling, Voltaire elicits laughter while also forcing readers to confront the unrealistic and nonsensical aspects of reality through exaggerated and

irrational events in the narrative.

Voltaire's novel Candide uses irony and satire to emphasize its theme. The novel employs metaphor to showcase the concept of optimism seen in Eldorado and Pangloss. Eldorado, a mythical city made of gold mentioned in previous works, symbolizes utopian ideals and the boundless potential of human reason. In contrast, Pangloss consistently promotes Leibnizic optimism throughout Candide by embracing the belief that the universe operates in perfect order and harmony. According to this philosophy, everything that happens in this world is considered to be for the best as it is believed to be the most ideal existence imaginable.

In Candide, the characters, including Pangloss, are constantly reminded that the earth is imperfect and good people can suffer needlessly. Voltaire's intention in the novel is to criticize optimistic thinkers like Leibniz and Pope. He uses an absurd tone and storytelling techniques to make readers laugh. However, these exaggerated events also highlight the unrealistic and irrational aspects of the real world.

The overall theme of Candide is underscored by its usual ironic and satirical tone. Throughout history, humanity has endured numerous interesting and exciting periods such as wars, epidemics, and conflicts. The question of why we must experience these events remains unanswered. Our mind can only think of a few historical examples that attempt to provide an answer. What can rescue us? What can truly bring us pleasure? What can teach us to live correctly? How can we all feel happy and optimistic?

Voltaire suggests that both optimism, portrayed by Panglos, and pessimism, embodied by Martin, should be disregarded. Voltaire argues that it is impossible to eliminate cruelty from

the world; nevertheless, being cautious can safeguard certain domains. The concept of tending to our garden draws inspiration from Epicurus's conviction that chance governs the universe. Despite this perspective, even atheists in the eighteenth century embraced the notion of an organized cosmos. In his other writings, Voltaire defends faith in a Supreme Being against these atheists.

Voltaire expresses a skepticism similar to Hume (1711-1776) in this passage, which goes against the prevailing beliefs of the Enlightenment era. Voltaire strongly advocates radical Empiricism and argues that by observing facts, many widely accepted theories of the time can be proven wrong. Despite our universal desire for a perfect society like Eldorado or Paradise, the protagonist Candid rejects this idea and seeks something else.

He firmly believes that kindness, love, and a positive mindset can conquer anything in the world. With this belief, he fights to keep his soul's garden untainted by reality. The answer to a timeless question is within each person's soul - an enticing and lovely island filled with kindness, vitality, and charm. It is important to nurture this island while also having enough determination to ward off evil. Only then can one truly comprehend the true meaning of "optimism."

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New