Candide

Voltaire's Candide is a novel which contains conceptual ideas and at thesame time is also exaggerated.   Voltaire offers sad themes disguised byjokes and witticism, and the story itself presents a distinctive outlookon life.   The crucial contrast in the story deals with irrational ideasas taught to Candide about being optimistic, versus reality as viewed bythe rest of the world.                 The main theme which is presented throughout the novel is optimism. Out of every unfortunate situation in the story, Candide, the maincharacter, has been advised by his philosopher-teacher that everythingin the world happens for the better,   because "Private misfortunescontribute to the general good, so that the more private misfortunesthere are, the more we find that all is well" (Voltaire, p. 31). Pangloss, the philosopher, tries to defend his theories by determiningthe positive from the negative situations and by showing thatmisfortunes bring some privileges.   As Candide grows up, wheneversomething unfortunate happens, Pangloss would turn the situation around,bringing out the good in it.   Candide learns that optimism is "Thepassion for maintaining that all is right when all goes wrong "(Voltaire, p.86).                 According to Rene Pomeau, "Voltaire-Candide...have made him [Candide]acquainted with the bad and the good side of human existence.   The moralof Candide is born out of its style; it is the art of extractinghappiness from the desolate hopping-about of the human insect" (Adams;Pomeau p.137).   Pomeau explains that Candide shows both sides ofhumanity; how both great and terrible events are standard in a humanlife.   Also according to Pomeau, the whole point of the story is todebate between good and bad;   for example,   as Candide becomes moreindependent,   he starts to doubt that only good comes out of life.                 Pangloss is a very hopeful character in the story because he refuses toaccept bad.   He is also somewhat naive and believes that he could makethe...