Essay on Voltaire’s Candide: Relevance of Candide’s Message Today

Relevance of Candides Message in Todays World Voltaires Candide is a philosophical tale of one mans search for adjust happiness and his ultimate acceptance of lifes disappointments. Candide grows up in the Castle of Westfalia and is taught by the learned philosopher Dr. Pangloss. Candide is abruptly exiled from the fastness when found kissing the Barons daughter, Cunegonde. Devastated by the breakup from Cunegonde, his true love, Candide sets out to different places in the hope of finding her and achieving replete(p) happiness. The message of Candide is that one must strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept problems in the belief that every(prenominal) is for the best. Candides misfortune begins when he is kicked out of the castle and experiences a series of horrible events. Candide is unable to break anything positive in his ordeals, contrary to Dr. Pangloss teachings that there is a cause for all effects and that, though we might not understand it, everything is all for the good. Candides unending trials begin when he is forced into the army simply because he is the unspoilt height, five feet five inches. In the army he is subjected to endless drills and humiliations and is more or less beaten to death. Candide escapes and, after organism degraded by good Christians for being an anti-Christ, meets a diseased beggar who turns out to be Dr. Pangloss. Dr. Pangloss informs him that Bulgarian soldiers attacked the castle of Westfalia and killed Cunegonde - more misery A charitable Anabaptist gives both Candide and Dr. Pangloss money and assistance. Dr. Pangloss is vulcanized of his disease, losing one of his eyes and one of his ears. The Anabaptist takes them with him on a journey to Lisbon. piece aboard the ship, the ... ... that in life there will be many another(prenominal) obstacles which can and should be overcome. Life has its difficulties but the world would be a miserable place if people passively accepted that everything tha t happened to them was for the best - shrugging complete responsibility. Voltaire believes that people should not allow themselves to be victims. He sneers at naive, judge types, informing us that people must work (be active) to make their happiness. whole shebang Cited and Consulted Durant, Will, Ariel Durant. The Story of Civilization Part IX The Age of Voltaire. New York Simon and Schuster, 1965. Frautschi, R.L. Barrons simplify Approach to Voltaire Candide. New York Barrons Educational Series, Inc., 1998. Lowers, James K, ed. Cliff Notes on Voltaires Candide. capital of Nebraska Cliff Notes, Inc. 1995. Voltaire. Candide. New York Viking Publishers, 1996.