Candide by Voltaire
Voltaire is a French writer who says “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.”
Voltaire is mocking a German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz who believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds
Candide is a satire on optimism
Optimism is a mental attitude or world view derived from the term best, which means to expect the best outcome
Candide
Young man whose name means pure and innocient
Pangloss
Guide for Europe
Candide’s tutor and companion
Extreme optimist
Name means “wind bag”
distorted, exaggerated representation of a certain kind of philosopher whose personality is inseparable from his philosophy
willfully ignores any evidence that contradicts his initial opinion
produces illogical arguments to support his preconceived notions, justifying the consumption of pork by saying that “since pigs were made to be eaten, we eat pork all year round.”
encourages a passive and complacent attitude toward all that is wrong in the world since this world is the best one possible, than there is no reason to make any effort to change things perceived as evil or wrong
Cacambo
Guide for New World
Candide’s servant from the New World
No interest in philosophy, but in adventures and relentless thirst
inspires perfect confidence, both in his intelligence and his moral uprightness.
knows both native American and European languages, and deals capably with both the Jesuits and the Biglugs
suffers fewer gross misfortunes than any other character, less out of luck than because of his sharp wits, and he lives up to Candide’s trust when Candide sends him to fetch Cunégonde.
he is no optimist himself and his wide experience of the world has led Cacambo to conclude that “the law of nature teaches us to kill our neighbor.”
Voltaire’s faith in human nature and our faith in humanity
Martin
Guide for Europe and Turkey
Elderly scholar
Extremely pessimistic
believes...