Voltaire's Truth

Voltaire ends the story in a curious manner that revokes the character’s views and instead clearly expresses his. Voltaire shows that regardless of a person’s position in society they are just as likely to suffer misfortunes. “That old fellow…seemed to have done much better for himself than those six kings we had the honour of supping with.”(p.143) Although the kings were of a high position, that didn’t save them from experiencing hardships and the fact that the other was just a commoner didn’t condemn him to an everlasting amount of troubles.

            Similarly, the different characters in Candide all had their share of evils. Regardless that they were all different, one the daughter of a Pope and Princess, one the greatest philosopher in all of Westphalia, another a beautiful young lady turned ugly with time, another a simple servant and so on, none led a life free of difficulties. They all had their own tragic tales to their names and they all ended up toiling on the very same farm.

            Voltaire’s last concrete lesson is that all the characters’ views were ultimately wrong. Life can’t be seen through Martin’s eyes where, “a man is badly off wherever he is.”(p. 139) According to him everything is dark, tragic, and misfortunate, yet since this is how it is everywhere, there is nothing to do on the matter. Voltaire of course says that this view is wrong. Yet, he also disproves Pangloss’ theory. According to Pangloss, “everything would turn out right in some marvelous way,”(p.140) because after all, “this [was the] best of all possible worlds.” Throughout the story, he maintained that everything that happened was for the best and therefore, one should just accept all occurrences, since that was the best and only way for them to happen.

            The truth according to Voltaire is that life is similar to Adam and Eve’s situation in the garden. “When man was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was put there ‘to dress it and to keep it’, to work.”(p.143) We must take an active role in our lives and never sit back and observe like Martin and Pangloss suggested. Life is difficult, but we can improve it by working. This is why Voltaire decided to finish the book with the analogy of a farm. Candide seemed to understand that they “must go and work in the garden.”(p.144) By doing this, their farm would bear heavy crops and so would their life in general. Voltaire’s call for action is that we must work to improve our lives and the world around us, we must take control of our own fate and future. 

What is Money?

What is money? Is it a solution or a problem? Would you call it a blessing or a curse?

           When Candide reaches Paris he comes down with “a slight illness”(p.97) However since he is quite wealthy, “he was soon attended by two doctors whom he had not sent for, some intimate friends who would not leave him, and two ladies given to good works who saw that his broth was properly warmed.”(p.97) What kind of intimate friends could Candide possibly meet the instant he set foot in Paris and what kind of honest doctors could be so keen to cure a sick stranger? I’ll tell you, avaricious friends and interested doctors, that’s who. At first glance an outsider might believe that these people are friendly and helpful, yet a more detailed look will prove the exact opposite.

            As this happened, “Martin remarked: ‘I remember being ill myself during my first visit to Paris. I was very poor. But then I had no friends, no kind ladies, and no doctors, so I soon recovered.’ “(p.97) Could this mean that the doctors, friends, and ladies only aided Candide because of his rich standing? Most definitely! The only reason they even so much as thought about Candide’s wellbeing was because they realized he was affluent.

Furthermore, those that helped Candide seemed more eager to keep him sick then actually cure him. When Martin was ill and didn’t receive support he quickly recovered. On the other hand, despite all the assistance Candide obtained his sickness only gained strength. “By dint of medicines and bleeding, Candide’s disorder now became serious.”(p.97) As a result, of Candide’s large amount of money he suffered a lot more than he would have initially.

Later on, when Candide searches for a passage to England, “Three diamonds helped to make the Norman the most obliging of men.”(p.109) Of course he ultimately receives what he was looking for, yet at a much too high price. Sadly, Candide has fallen into a routine of achieving his goals by bribing and paying off others. However, he really shouldn’t have to pay his way through life and this shouldn’t be the only way for others to willingly help him.

When Candide encounters Paquette in the company of a monk he gives them money and says, “That will make them happy.”(p.117) Yet Martin disagrees and says, “It would not surprise me if those piastres of yours made them even more unhappy.”(p.117) In the end, “Pacquette and Brother Giroflée did not return to thank him.”(p.124) Proving that Candide was wrong, money isn't a way to solve problems. In fact, it never is. Many times greedy and malicious people gravitate toward it and unfortunately wealthy people many times find themselves in undesirable circumstances. Some even find themselves resolving to bribery as a means to achieve goals. Money is a difficult subject that must be treated with care and precaution, because if not it can easily lead to evil and misfortunes. 

Watching War

“The ship’s telescopes revealed two vessels fighting about three miles away; but the wind brought them both so close to the French ship, that the passengers had the pleasure of watching the fight in comfort.”(p.93)

How do people pleasure in watching a battle? Much less find comfort in the way others ruthlessly kill each other?

As Martin and Candide voyage to Bordeaux they calmly come across this scene. Apparently, it is the most common thing to watch two ships tear each other to shreds, not do anything about it, and not fear that your ship might be attacked next. Who knew? Truthfully though, the flawed logic in this is outstanding! In reality battles are brutal and bloody and in fact the most unpleasant thing to witness.

Although at first they refer to the battle with words such as pleasure and comfort, later they seem to contradict their prior opinions. As the losing ship is swallowed by the sea, Martin says, “You see how men treat each other!”(p.93) To which Candide responds, “There is certainly something diabolical about that.”(p.93) It is true, there is definitely something diabolical about that, but even more diabolical is the fact that onlookers can observe with such apathy.  To watch fellow human beings killed and not grieve their death. To simply look on as if,  “all is for the best.” (p.20) Meanwhile, accepting this as “sufficient reason” (p.33) for their tragic fate.

Thing is, these two ships shouldn’t have been fighting in the manner that they were. Yet, it’s even a greater crime for Candide and Martin to have observed with the seemingly bored composure that they did. 

ElDorado is...Dorado

The late Dr. Pangloss tutored young Candide and cultured him in philosophical knowledge. One of his most repeated theories was that, “This [is the] best of all possible worlds…[and] that all is for the best.”(p.20) Candide had a hard time grasping this idea, sometimes questioning its validity (and with good reason). However, when his adventures took him to the country of Eldorado he says, “It is probably the country where all goes well; for there must obviously be some such place. And whatever Professor Pangloss might say, I often noticed that all went badly in Westphalia.”(p.77) Then a month later, he and his travel companion, Cacambo, decide to leave Eldorado.

This is the most irrational decision imaginable. The people of this country are generous and welcoming, the stones on the roads are gold, emeralds, and rubies, and everything is lavish and lovely. Who could ask for anything more? Yet, Candide and Cacambo seem determined to leave this quasi-paradise.

The king of the country also shows his bewilderment at this decision. “‘This is a foolish scheme of yours,’ said the King; ‘I realize that my country is not much to boast of, but a man should be satisfied with what works moderately well.’”(p.23) Of course this is an ironic understatement because for Candide and Cacambo this country is the most magnificent they have ever seen. Yet, the King is right when he protests that they should be satisfied.

This dissatisfaction is all too common among humans. They are blessed with wonderful things, yet they continue to seek for improvements. Like the saying, “the grass is greener on the other side”. However, most times this proverb is completely false. When Candide left the country, a captain promptly robbed him of his riches. Candide had been planning to strike it rich and prosper after leaving Eldorado. Yet ironically enough, he is quickly stripped of all his wealth. In his case, the grass was clearly not greener on the other side, if anything it was dead and lifeless. Sadly, Candide committed the all to common mistake of not realizing a blessing until it’s gone. 

The Shining Splendor of Immoral Men

The immorality of men is plentiful and true with men of all origins, religions, and social standings. When a Bulgar soldier attacks Cunégonde’s family he sees her faint and takes advantage of this to rape her. Then, a Bulgar captain walks in and since the soldier doesn’t salute him, he kills him and proceeds to capture Cunégonde for his own benefit. “A Bulgar captain came in. He noticed that I [Cunégonde] was bleeding and that the soldier made no attempt to move. This lack of respect for an officer so enraged the captain that he slew the brute across my body.”(p.41) In this situation, the Bulgar soldier shouldn’t have been assaulting Cunégonde or her family and the Bulgar captain should have stopped the atrocious sight not because he was offended by the soldier’s lack of respect, but instead out of compassion. Later, this same captain sold her as if she was a simple piece of property for his own gain and a willing man bought her as if the first act was just. “At the end of three months…he sold me to Don Issachar, a Jew with business connections in Holland and Portugal.”(p. 41)

Afterward, another man, the Grand Inquisitor, also developed a liking for Cunégonde and forced Don Issachar to share her with him by threatening him with an auto-da-fé. Here the Grand Inquisitor wrongly uses his power to achieve his goals and scare others into doing as he wishes.

Candide ends up murdering both the Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar, and as a result Candid, Cunégonde, and the old woman who was with them, must flee and set sail for the New World. During their trip someone steals their money and diamonds, leaving them with no means to continue their journey. The old woman says, “I strongly suspect that reverend friar who slept at the same inn with us yesterday at Badajoz…I remember that he entered our room twice and left the inn long before we did.”(p.47) This robbery is twice as immoral, because not only did he take their riches, but he was also a friar, meaning that he was supposed to abstain from material possessions and have no desire for such. This also sheds light on the corruption found within religion. This same kind of corruption is exhibited when the old woman tells the story of her misfortunes. She says, “I am the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina.”(p.49) Popes are supposed to be celibate, and therefore shouldn’t be conceiving illegitimate children. This shows that this certain Pope went against his vows and was corrupt in his form of conduct.

The many men who show immoral actions throughout this story are important because they all have different backgrounds, beliefs, and social statuses. It effectively proves that mankind, as a whole, can and will act in immoral ways under various circumstances.

In the Name of Love?

Oh the senseless actions that man takes in the name of love! In Candide by Voltaire, Candide claims to be in love with Cunégonde; similar to the way Romeo claims to be in love with Juliet, in Romeo and Juliet. In both cases, the men are confusing their so-called love with infatuation and lust. Although they seem willing to take tragic measures to demonstrate their love, neither actually feels it. In Romeo and Juliet, he hears news of Juliet’s supposed death and seeks a poison to kill himself, because for him life without Juliet is no life at all. "Come, cordial and not poison, go with me to Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee."(Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Act V, Scene I) At the beginning of the play Shakespeare implies that Romeo falls in love quite easily, since before meeting Juliet, Romeo loved another girl named Rosaline.  However, he still feels he is courageously committing suicide in the name of true love when he drinks the poison.

Similarly, Candide feels he is being heroic when he kills Don Issachar and the Grand Inquisitor. Cunégonde asks Candide if he has lost his mind and why he has done such a thing. Candide replies, “Dearest lady…a jealous man in love doesn’t know what he is doing.”(p.45-46) Although, he tries to pass off his actions as passionate and loving, before he kills the Grand Inquisitor, he decides to commit the crime for a very different reason. “His reasoning was as follows: ’If this holy man calls for help, he will assuredly have me burnt, and Cunégonde, too, in all probability. I have been mercilessly whipped at his orders; besides, he's my rival.”(p.45) Candide was actually looking out for himself, he killed the Grand Inquisitor out of fear and revenge, not love.

Romeo and Candide both believe that they are brave fighters, who took extreme action to preserve love. However, they are neither in love nor right by justifying their deeds as being in the name of love. 

Absurdly Optimistic

Optimism is a peculiar concept. It’s absurd, yet peculiar nonetheless. Voltaire demonstrates this through his writing in Candide. The positive saying “everything is for the best.”(p.35) is clearly a faulty and ignorant way of thinking. Although, those who employ this saying might be making an honest attempt at keeping themselves or others upbeat and content, more than anything it’s a way of brushing problems under the rug.

Reality isn’t a perfect scenario, far from it. It’s full of misfortunes, agony, and tragedies. War, is a perfect example of how flawed society is. “Finally, the bayonet provided ‘sufficient reason’ for the death of several thousand more.” (p.25) Bayonets are weapons that were created to maximize killing potential. Two groups in discordance, who unfortunately aren’t able to settle their problems in a peaceful manner, result to waging war simple because they have the means to do so.

Voltaire also explores the idea of hypocrisy. When Candide finds himself alone with nothing but the clothes on his back, he asks different characters to aid him. “At last he approached a man who had just been addressing a big audience for a whole hour on the subject of charity.” (p.26) By reading this we immediately believe that Candide will finally get the help he’s been searching for. Who better to lend him a helping hand than a man who strongly supports charity? However, as we read on we quickly learn that this is not the case. Instead, this supposedly charitable man asks Candide if he believes that the Pope is Antichrist and when Candide answers that he simply doesn’t know the man refuses to help him. Not only is this hypocritical, but it’s ironic that the man who preaches about charity turns down those who ask for his help.

Irony is also expressed when Dr. Pangloss is hanged and Candide is ‘flogged’ along with other so claimed offenders in the name of preventing future earthquakes. On the day of the procession as the criminals were being sacrificed another earthquake took place, completely contradicting the reason the event was held.

After Dr. Pangloss is hanged, the good Samaritan, James (who helped both Candide and Dr. Pangloss) drowns while trying to save another man, and Candide learns that Lady Cunégonde and her family were all violently attacked by Bulgar soldiers, Candide finally begins to question the idea of optimism. He says, “If this is the best of all possible worlds…what can the rest be like?” (p.37) Optimism is truly and simple absurd.