Path to Righteousness in Candide
In the year 1759, Francois-Marie Arouet De Voltaire produced Candide; one of Literature’s greatest standing examples of satire. The tale chronicles the journey of our hero, Candide, and many of his friends and enemies. ... Candide’s adventures are laden with extreme tragedies and abuses. ... This character gains the reader’s compassion because he can see that Candide is one of the few genuine people in such an evil society. Yet, his exceedingly positive philosophical upbringing keeps him from seeing the path to a decent lifestyle. ... A few lessons have been learned by Candide when he makes this statement. ... Candide was raised on these philosophies, and knows of nothing other than this optimistic outlook. ... This constant battle within himself keeps Candide from enjoying anything about life because he is either in hell, or searching for a magical solution out of hell. ... Seeing his beautiful Cunegonde turned ugly, finally, proves to Candide that there is never a ray of sunshine to be chased down. Being smacked into reality, Candide is able to realize that there is no divine intervention helping him to a life of total happiness. When he is on his little farm, things are not perfect but they are indeed tolerable for once, and Candide realizes that is because of his own decision to work on the farm, and accept what he has been given. It is certain, from reading Candide, that Voltaire believed humanity has always been calamitous. ... Yet, when Candide says to Pangloss “we much cultivate our garden,” it becomes obvious that Voltaire has not lost hope. ... Candide asks curiously about all of the evil in the world and the dervish responds, “What does it matter whether there’s good or evil?