Term Paper on "Candide by Voltaire"

Term Paper 3 pages (1031 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Candide" by Voltaire. Specifically it will discuss Candide's movement from a state of innocence to one of experience, and what Candide gains and loses through these experiences. Candide and his mentor, Pangloss, are the "eternal optimists" in this satirical novel of life, love, and philosophy. Candide's experiences in the novel should lead him to become bitter, distrustful, and full of hatred for those who have mistreated him, but like "Pollyanna," Candide remains remarkable cheerful and upbeat throughout his adventures. He loses his innocence in a way, but through all his experiences, he always remains positive in the face of opposition and horror. In fact, his optimism is a satire on both religion and philosophy, and so, by the end of the book, Candide's experiences would have certainly affected others, but Candide, because of his naivete and incurable optimism, allows all his experiences to roll off his back. Ultimately, Candide loses nothing through his experiences, although he is less naive than when he started out. He still puts his faith in others, and sees only what he wants to see in the world around him.

At the beginning of the novel, Candide is a naive youth living a life of privilege in a rich Baron's castle. He loves the Baron's daughter, Cunegonde, and admires the castle philosopher, Pangloss. Evicted from his home for kissing Cunegonde, he begins a series of adventures that indicate just how naive he is, and how he always views the world with optimism, no matter what happens to him. He has the peculiar talent of only acknowledging the good things that happen to him, while ignoring the bad. Early in the novel he tells one of his "saviors," "Master Pangloss has well said that all is for the best in this world, for I am infinitely more touched by your extreme generosity than with the inhumanity of that gentleman in the black coat and his lady'" (Voltaire 12). He repeats this throughout the novel, and so, he does not learn to be bitter or unhappy when he is treated unfairly. Rather, he simply concentrates on what is good in his life, and so, he never really changes from the naive young man sent out on his own, he simply grows older and experiences more adventures.

Unfortunately, as this passage later in the book proves, he never matures past this ability to ignore the bad and only see the good. Later, he says, "You see,' said Candide to Martin, 'that crime is sometimes punished. This rogue of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved.' 'Yes,' said Martin; 'but why should the passengers be doomed also to destruction? God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest'" (Voltaire 101). Again, Candide concentrates on the good of the incident, rather than the bad, and he never overcomes this weakness in his personality.

Of course, Pangloss, who continually shows up throughout the novel, is responsible for Candide's attitude. He has taught the boy to be optimistic in the face of everything, and practices it himself. After the earthquake… READ MORE

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