The Perception Of Blind Optimism In Voltaire's Candide

"The Enlightenment era" was the name of a movement which embodied the power of reason and rational thought. Most enlightened thinkers attacked the nobility, the church, and the belief in petty fallacies and fears. Candide reflects the thoughts and sentiments of Voltaire who is considered to be a truly enlightened thinker. This paper will further analyze the character Candide, and Voltaire's usage of the novel to present his views on blind optimism and the double standards of religion.
At the beginning of the novel Candide is introduced as "honest mind with great simplicity of heart" (520). He is told from is mentor Pangloss, that everything is always of the best in their best of all possible worlds. This attitude of "everything-happens-for-reason" is exactly what Voltaire is trying to mock. Showing Candide endure all sorts of hardships and troubles, yet keeping a positive outlook on life, illustrate how "unreasonable" it is to have the same position as Candide. Voltaire was attacking those who believed that everything was a part of god's plan. This belief is similar to that
of John Calvin's predestination.
The suffering of the two characters, Pangloss and Candide, serve no purpose in the greater scheme of things. For example, Pangloss' illogical reasoning for the syphilis outbreak was simply "if Columbus had not caught, on an American island, this sickness which attacks the source of generation [...] we should have neither chocolate or cochineal"(526) .Voltaire utilizes statements like this prove how ridiculously illogical it seems to carry this doctrine. Throughout the story, Candide struggles with his faith in optimism and times it is reinforced with things such as the aide of Jacques. At the end of the novel, Candide is finally fed up with Pangloss' philosophy of optimism that he's been blindly following. "Oh Pangloss, cried Candide, you have no notion of
these abominations! I'm through, I must give up your optimism after all. What's optimism? said Cacambo. Alas, said Candide, it is a mania for saying things are well when one is in hell" (552). Candide is not only a character, but he also represents a type of person in which Voltaire is trying to make a mockery of. Candide's personality and beliefs about life are challenged by his misery throughout the novel. Thereby, Voltaire uses his character to poke fun at the foolishness of optimism.
Voltaire also employs this novel to satirize religion. The religious leaders (while they were continuously preaching charity) in the story all refuse a helping hand to Candide in his time of need. Only Jacques the Anabaptist extends help and takes him in. Voltaire also illustrates the religious intolerance and oppression throughout the novel. Pangloss was persecuted by the inquisition for expressing his views and beliefs. Candide became guilty by association. Voltaire also points out the immorality of these religious leaders with the Daughter of the Pope, the jewel stealing friar, and the Inquisitor who has a mistress. Voltaire mocks mainly the religious leaders rather than the common believer. Jacques that Anabaptist is probably the most humane character in the book. Voltaire also has a problem with the belief that god is perfect. The author doesn't see why there are both good and bad people alike are suffering. Based on this fact, Voltaire believes that god has stopped caring for the world. Using Candide and his misfortunes, Voltaire destroys the philosophy of optimism and provides his own solutions. In the last line of the story Candide states "We must cultivate our garden" (580). This ending provides insight to Voltaire's philosophy. The only way to be truly content in life is through hard work and diligence.