Marie Arout – Voltaire Essay, Research Paper

There is said to be no greater figure who has summed up the Enlightenment age than the French philisophe Francois Marie Arout who worked under the pen name Voltaire. Voltaire was not only a philisophe of the Enlightenment, but was a playwright, historian, poet, and writer as well. During his career which lasted about 60 years in 18th century, his writings consisted of essays, poems, satires, and philosophical tales, all of which carried the same theme of Ecrasez l intame, or crush infamy. This theme attacked all forms of intolerance and dogmatism in religious, political, social, moral, and artistic aspects of life during the Enlightenment age (Hurt 289). One satire novel which defined Voltaire and some of his beliefs was Candide, which was a tale that not only attacked the Leibniz philosophy of optimism, but also described the political, and social moods of the 18th century when the novel was written.

Candide, or The Optimist, is attacking the Leibniz philosophy of optimism, and therefore the subject of the satire is the problem of how one should live their life having to face the evil of the world. Although Voltaire did not reject all of the Leibniz philosophy, and was known to compliment editors of Leibniz s works, it is clear that in this novel Voltaire is satirizing the optimist idea of the best of all possible worlds was the world in which the greatest number of possibilities is realized (Ayer 140).

Voltaire opens Candide by stating Pangloss s philosophy of optimism, that there is no effect without a cause; and that is the best of all possible worlds, according to him Westphalia (Voltaire 293). Unfortunately, Candide was exiled from Westphalia with the teachings of Pangloss, and he then traveled to a neighboring town where he met two generous Bulgarian soldiers who seemed to exemplify Pangloss s teachings.

Come then, Sir, sit down along with us; we will not only pay your reckoning but will never suffer such a clever fellow as you to want money. Mankind were born to assist one another (Votaire 295).

After hearing this, Candide devotes himself to these sensible soldiers. However, Candide s best of all possible worlds consisted of brutal beatings, endless drills, and horrific treatment. Continuing his travels, Candide continues to exhibit his belief in Pangloss s optimistic philosophy that everything is for the best. Arriving in Holland as a beggar, Candide is ignored until an Anabaptist named James took Candide into his home. The next day, Candide is approached by another beggar that turns out to be Pangloss, who was now suffering from syphilis. After Pangloss and Candide reunite he finds out that Westphalia was invaded by the Bulgarians. James, Pangloss, and Candide then left Holland by water for Libson. While on the way, James was swept away by a tidal wave while trying to save a sinner. Shortly after, an earthquake destroyed Libson. Candide is now filled with confusion and disgust due to loss of the Anabaptist James, along with the other natural disasters, that he looks to Pangloss for an explanation.

For, all this is for the very best end; for if there is a volcano at Libson, it could be on no other spot; for it is impossible for things not to be as they are, for everything is the best (Voltaire 301).

After this bombardment of unbelievable misfortunes, Candide begins to show doubts, but is once again reassured by Pangloss before his death. Candide realizes that even Pangloss has learned to accept, and not question his terrible misfortune of his illness. Pangloss then accounts his dreadful disease to Columbus s journey to the New World to benefit Europe and bring back chocolate (Ayer 142).

Voltaire then ends Candide s travels after he has suffered through life s tests like losing Pangloss, losing James, and the continuos natural disasters, violence, and war he has been subjected to. Candide then meets a new friend Cacambo and finds his utopia dreamland, called El Pangloss. In this country, there are no signs of violence, hatred, starvation, war, or natural disasters waiting to happen. Candide believes that this place is a better place than Westphalia, and that this is the best of all worlds. Regardless, of this perfect place, Candide insists on continuing his journey.

Throughout Candide s travels, he could not relate any place with the idea that we are in the best of all worlds, until he discovered El derado. This discovery was a key point in Voltaire s satire, and with this discovery, Candide s faith in Pangloss s theories are fully restored, which will allow him to endure the future endeavors he has yet to face (Sareil 131).

Next, Candide meets a character by the name of Martin who is the complete opposite of Pangloss. Martin is a pessimist, and on their voyage to Bordeaux, Martin and Candide begin to discuss reasoning.

when I cast my eye on the globe, or rather gulbule, I cannot help thinking the God has abandoned it to some malignant being.

Candide replying,

And yet there is some good in the world,

Martin answering,

maybe, but it has escaped my knowledge (Voltaire 332).

Martin s life was long and he had seen a lot. His Pessimistic outlook came from along line of meetings with selfish, greedy people. Martin believed men had always been bloodthirsty, greedy, hypocritical, foolish beings, and actually compared man to a predatory bird. Candide did not argue with Martin s philosophy. Martin also believed in free will, and reasoned that good and evil are two equal forces. Martin then stated the he believed that although God sometimes punishes the guilty, the devil punishes innocent people in great numbers.

Voltaire s introduction of Martin into the satire is necessary for Candide s self-discovery. During Candide s journey he encounters many tragedies. Along with these tragedies, Candide meets many different types of people, each of which have experienced an incredible amount of hardships. Yet regardless of their hardships, each of them seems to realize that without these unfortunate happenings in their lives, they would not be the people that they had become. Candide then begins to realize that by discovering the world, he is also discovering himself. Therefore, being subjected to such a variety of people and their experiences, he is learning about each of their methods of reasoning towards the way the world works (Sareil 145).

In the final chapter, Voltaire makes the point that Candide, or no other man for that matter will ever fully understand the evil in the world. His experiences have become his teachings, and it seems that he is comfortable with his new way of thinking. Candide then begins to follow what he believes in, and made the point that life should not be made any harder than necessary. He also made clear that one should use their common sense, and know the boundaries of their knowledge. Candide then combined the reasoning of Pangloss and Martin, as well as the others he encountered and that led him to believe that one must cultivate his own garden.

It is clear that Voltaire is refuting the Leibniz philosophy of optimism. One must cultivate his own garden, as stated by Candide, attacks not only optimism, but pessimism as well, and leads one to believe that Voltaire is trying to convey that one must not be wholly optimistic, or pessimistic, or skeptical, or cynical (Sareil 143). Voltaire s writings were extremely influential. He was a writer who truly understood the present, and used his artistic ability to state philosophies, and stimulate the Enlightenment age.