The Importance Of Symbolism In Voltaire's Candide

Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz shook the world with his early 18th century essay entitled Monadology. This essay revolves around one key philosophical concept; if the deity is truly perfect, then the universe that the deity created is a reflection of its perfection. In conclusion, whatever happens is for the better in the plan of the deity. This philosophical concept is still widely accepted today, especially among religious groups. Despite being part of the Enlightenment, Voltaire attacks the optimistic philosophy of Enlightenment thinkers in Candide. He does this by using symbolism, characterization, philosophy, themes, and hyperbole to develop a satirical piece that contradicts, not only, Enlightenment philosophy, but Leibniz`s philosophy more specifically. Symbolism is used in this novel as an indirect way for Voltaire to reject Leibniz`s philosophy. One prominent symbol is the protagonist`s …show more content…
This over exaggeration is introduced from the beginning when Candide describes the castle that is ruled by the most powerful lord in Westphalia, and is occupied by Pangloss, the wisest mentor, who teaches metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-niology. Soon the audience finds out the Baron is nothing but rude, and that his mentor is a leech. This same type of hyperbole where the title is lengthened is used later to name the governor of Buenos Ayres, Don Fernando d’Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza. Both of these examples serve to mock the vainness of these characters. This is also shown in the dramatization of El Dorado, where a servant to the king is one hundred and seventy two years old and they have the money to give travelers “more treasure than all of Asia, Europe, and Africa could scrape together” (48).These aspects of the city are used to elevate it to the representation of the perfect world, which Voltaire is set out to make fun