Compare And Contrast Optimism And Candide

Suzette Beaudoin
Professor Johnson
HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance through Modern
8 November 2014

Optimistic vs Pessimism The French author, Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, wrote the novella Candide which is also known as “Optimism” (Racine 421). During Voltaire’s time, his works were very popular in Europe. Candide, which is his mockery, seems to be still studied today. Voltaire, in Candide, seem to strive to point out the myth of Gottfried William von Leibniz’s philosophy. He seems to criticize the worldly superiority, which is the theory of optimism, and the violence of war. In Leibniz’s theory, he thought that God had the ability to pick from an unlimited number of worlds, and he picked this world,
“the best of all possible worlds”. (Racine 425) Voltaire was in disagreement with Leibniz’s theory, so he created the character Martin. He created Martin to be a typical pessimist, and to be Candide’s best friend and advisor. Martin was always trying to prove to Candide that the world does have a little quality, morality and happiness. As a cheerful couple walked by singing, Candide said to Martin, “At least you must admit that these people are happy.” (Racine 468) Martin quickly replied, “I bet they aren’t.” (Racine 468) Martin was forced to characterize the two seemingly content people as unhappy. Martin has a pessimistic outlook on life, which is opposite of Leibniz’s theory. He thought that this world was the best. The evil that Martin had in him kept him from seeing the good that existed in the world. Leibniz’s theory was realized that this world is the best, in the land of Eldorado. In reference to Eldorado, Candide stated “This is very different from Westphalia and the castle of My Lord the Baron.” (Racine 452) Eldorado seems to be the perfect city which showed the world of flaws that Candide lived. Voltaire’s criticism of Leibniz’s theory that this world is the best, seems to show in Martin’s skill keep his mind on the evils in the world and the differences between reality and Eldorado. Dr.
Pangloss, a total follower of Leibniz’s philosophy, was a character created by Voltaire to accentuate his criticism of optimism in the novella. Dr. Pangloss belief was that everything had a purpose and things happened for a reason. Dr. Pangloss thought that the terrible Lisbon earthquake and fire were for the best. Over thirty thousand lives was taken in the disastrous earthquake. Dr. Pengloss stated, “All this is for the best ... since it is unthinkable that things should not be where they are”. (Racine 432) The philosophy of Dr. Pangloss was that there was the purpose behind the earthquake. He belief was that there was a rational reason for the earthquake, even though he no substantial evidence to support his theory. Dr. Pangloss also used this theory when the Anabaptist fell overboard. Candide was about to save the man and Dr. Pangloss “prevented him by proving that the bay of Lisbon had been formed expressly for this Anabaptist to drown in”. (Racine 431) His belief seems to be that the bay was there to take a man’s life was not highly likely. Again he was unable to show any evidence that showed that it was the best. Voltaire’s seems to be mocking the theory of optimism with Dr. Pangloss’ belief that the earthquake and the man dying are for the best. The statements of Dr. Pangloss’ that the Theory of Optimism do not show any proof of validation other than things is for the
best. In Candide, Voltaire mocks the evil in the war.
The Bulgarians and their cruelty were used by Voltaire, as the basis for his mocking on war. A good example was when Candide was given the choice “to be flogged thirty-six times by the entire regiment or to receive summerly a dozen bullets in the brain”. (Racine 423) Candide begs for them to kill him after two run through the gauntlet. He had rather die than to be beaten. This seems to speak of the cruelty of the punishment. He was condemned to this punishment because of simply taking a walk. Another mockery of war in Candide was when the Bulgarians’ burned the Abare village “in strict accordance with the laws of war”. (Racine
427) In Candide, Voltaire reveals that the soldiers not only kills other people, they also rape, exenterate, and mutilate innocent women and children. The reason the Bulgarians raided the village and harmed innocent bystanders was because it was an international law. Their savagery acts were not properly justified, but they proceeded as if nothing was wrong. When Candide arrived in England, he witnessed another brutality related to war. He witnessed the execution of an admiral because he failed to win a battle. A reply to Candide’s question was, “…it is useful from time to time to kill one admiral in order to encourage the others”. (Racine 467) Voltaire witnessed something like this himself, when an Admiral was court-martialed. He was court-martialed for the same reason. Voltaire tried to stop the execution, but the Admiral was still killed. (Racine 423) Candide was partially written for entertainment, but it was also written to mock the views of Leibniz’s philosophy. Voltaire’s view toward the world was that he had the idea that changes can be done to eliminate the evil in the world. His goal was achieved in mocking Leibniz by breaking down Pangloss’ philosophy in using Martin as a contrast to Pangloss and the cruelty of war.

Work Cited
Racine, Jean. “Candide.” The Norton Anthology Western Literature. London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2014. pp 421-482.