Candide, Optimism and what Voltaire really meant
François-Marie Arouet is one of literature’s greatest minds. Voltaire, his famous pen name was the personification of the Enlightenment. Voltaire was a writer too great to be intimidated by the powerful; he regularly went after the church, kings and even his contemporaries. Voltaire’s courageous attacks and sharp wit were never more on display than in his magnum opus, Candide or Optimism. Biting, intelligent and often time’s quite humorous Voltaire’s satire felt nothing was sacred in 18th century Europe. At the novels core however, Voltaire challenged the optimism of Alexander Pope and Gottfried Leibnitz. Since its publication many have wondered what exactly Voltaire purposed to be the solution, …show more content…
The main character of Candide is counseled throughout his journey by his mentor Pangloss, who provides optimistic support often reciting his mantra “this is the best of all possible worlds.” By the conclusion of the novel Candide has witnessed natural disasters, disastrous absurdity, and man’s evil nature. He has learned that whatever is, is not necessarily right with the world. During an exchange with a wise Turkish farmer Candide asks about his farm; “I cultivate them (his 20 acres) with my children, and the work keeps us from three great evils, boredom, vice and poverty.” (pg159) This is when Voltaire reintroduces Pope’s garden analogy of life, but unlike Pope who suggests the garden is prefect as is. Voltaire instead has Candide decide there is work to be done in this garden. This is stated in the last words of the novel; “I know also, we must cultivate our garden.” (pg159)
Voltaire’s brilliant novel Candide satirized much of eighteenth century Europe, but at its core it challenged the optimistic view of the world proposed by Alexander Pope and others. Voltaire, a deist, believed that man should strive to make the world a better place through reason and science, an essential ideal of the Enlightenment Period. To Voltaire, if our world is a “garden” we must work to cultivate
François-Marie Arouet is one of literature’s greatest minds. Voltaire, his famous pen name was the personification of the Enlightenment. Voltaire was a writer too great to be intimidated by the powerful; he regularly went after the church, kings and even his contemporaries. Voltaire’s courageous attacks and sharp wit were never more on display than in his magnum opus, Candide or Optimism. Biting, intelligent and often time’s quite humorous Voltaire’s satire felt nothing was sacred in 18th century Europe. At the novels core however, Voltaire challenged the optimism of Alexander Pope and Gottfried Leibnitz. Since its publication many have wondered what exactly Voltaire purposed to be the solution, …show more content…
The main character of Candide is counseled throughout his journey by his mentor Pangloss, who provides optimistic support often reciting his mantra “this is the best of all possible worlds.” By the conclusion of the novel Candide has witnessed natural disasters, disastrous absurdity, and man’s evil nature. He has learned that whatever is, is not necessarily right with the world. During an exchange with a wise Turkish farmer Candide asks about his farm; “I cultivate them (his 20 acres) with my children, and the work keeps us from three great evils, boredom, vice and poverty.” (pg159) This is when Voltaire reintroduces Pope’s garden analogy of life, but unlike Pope who suggests the garden is prefect as is. Voltaire instead has Candide decide there is work to be done in this garden. This is stated in the last words of the novel; “I know also, we must cultivate our garden.” (pg159)
Voltaire’s brilliant novel Candide satirized much of eighteenth century Europe, but at its core it challenged the optimistic view of the world proposed by Alexander Pope and others. Voltaire, a deist, believed that man should strive to make the world a better place through reason and science, an essential ideal of the Enlightenment Period. To Voltaire, if our world is a “garden” we must work to cultivate