Voltaire s Candide The Folly Of Human Suffering

There are two sides to every story. Indeed, while optimism may be initially perceived as a practical philosophy, Voltaire’s Candide proves this to be false. Originally published in 1759, Candide was written by Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (otherwise known by his pen name Voltaire) and employs satire in order to show the folly in Gottfried Leibniz’s prominent philosophy, Optimism. This philosophy reasons that, because god created everything and is perfect, than it follows that anything that may take place on earth (be it natural disasters or other forms of human suffering) is perfect as well. Many of the characters in Candide are representative of certain philosophical values, and Voltaire uses these characters in order to prove his own opinions to the reader. While many people may simply view Martin as a more practical foil to Pangloss, further examination of the text could contradict this. Through Martin’s advice and actions to Candide and others in comparison to th ose of Pangloss, Voltaire shows their philosophies to be ineffective for its indifference to human suffering. Furthermore, through this Voltaire also illustrates that looking at all aspects of a situation, and not just those that support one’s own opinion, allows for one’s ability to accurately perceive the world. While Pangloss serves to represent the philosophy of optimism, Martin’s character serves as a foil to his character in order to represent how these ideas are applied to pessimism. Furthermore, hisShow MoreRelatedWhat was the historical significance of Voltaires Candide and its relevance during the Enlightenment?1445 Words   |  6 PagesWhat was the historical significance of Voltaires Candide and its relevance during the Enlightenment? In his work, Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century, a period known as the Enlightenment. This Age of Reason swept through Europe, offering differing views on science, religion, and politics. The following essay will outline the philosophical theory of Pangloss, a character of the novel and suggestRead MoreCandide, And Years After Voltaire s Death1596 Words   |  7 PagesFranà §ois-Marie Arouet known as Voltaire, born 1694 was a French Enlightenment writer and philosopher. Voltaire produced works in many forms including plays, poems, novels, and many other works. His most famous work is Candide, and years after Voltaire’s death (1778) Candide is still an amazing book to many readers. The story begins in Westphalia, where the protagonist, Candide, lives in the castle of Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh. Candide is the illegitimate nephew of the Baron, the town suspectsRead More`` Candide `` : A Satirical Adventure Through The Writings Of Voltaire2648 Words   |  11 PagesThe book â€Å"Candide† takes readers on a satirical adventure through the writings of Voltaire. His novel is a humorous yet ridiculous mockery of the Old Regime ideologies in which he critiques the political, social, and religious beliefs of this time; Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz’s ideas in particular. He believed that people perceive imperfections in the world only because they do not understand God’s grand plan. Voltaire does not accept the existence of a perfect God, absence of choice and blindRead MoreMWDS Candide4817 Words   |  20 Pages Major Work Data Sheet: Candide Title: Candide Author: Voltaire Date of Publication: 1759 Genre: Satire, ‘Conte Philosophique’ (Philosophical Fiction) Biographical information about the author: Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, was born in 1694 in Paris, France. Though his father wanted him to become a lawyer, Voltaire long held a great passion for writing, and rather than going to law school, spent his time extensively composing poetry, essays, and historical studies. His widespread