Optimism In Voltaire's 'Candide'

Throughout Candide, the main theme concentrated on optimism. However, did not possess the same definition we practice today. Optimism, during Voltaire’s era, was derived from Leibniz philosophy interpreted as, “the best of all possible worlds.” (Candide, p. xiv) Since God was perfect He must have created a perfect world. On the other hand, redemption centers on the attempt to put right what once went wrong.
All through, Candide, Pangloss lived by and mentored Candide according to the optimism philosophy. Subsequently, each challenge and/or conquest each character faced produced a cause and effect and was designed to serve an end. From one adventure to the next Candide was put to the test which started with his exile from Westphalia in Germany.
With each challenge, Candide attempted to right his own wrong deeds. For instance, Candide felt he had redeemed himself the sin of murder, upon saving two innocent girls. “God is praised, …., I have delivered these two poor creatures from great peril; if I have committed a sin in killing… I have certainly made up for it by saving the lives of these two girls.” (Candide, p. 39) From this passage, Voltaire conveyed the importance of redemption and how it played an important role in the optimism point of view.