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 whiz mans search for true 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 castle when found gorgerin the Barons daughter, Cunegonde. Devastated by the separation from Cunegonde, his true love, Candide sets out to different places in the apply of finding her and achieving total happiness. The message of Candide is that one must strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept problems in the belief that on the whole is for the best. Candides misfortune begins when he is kicked out of the castle and experiences a series of shocking events. Candide is unable to see anything positive in his ordeals, contrary to Dr. Pangloss teachings that there is a cause for all effects and that, though we might not infer it, everything is all for th e good. Candides endless trials begin when he is forced into the army merely because he is the right height, five feet five inches. In the army he is subjected to endless drills and humiliations and is almost beaten to death. Candide escapes and, after being 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 cured of his disease, losing one of his eyes and one of his ears. The Anabaptist takes them with him on a journey to Lisbon. While aboard the ship, the ... ... that in life there allow be many obstacles which can and should be overcome. Life has its difficulties but the orbit would be a miserable place if people passively recognised that everything that happened to them was for the best - shrugging off responsibility. Voltaire believes that people should not allow themselves to be victims. He sneers at naive, accepting types, informing us that people must become (be active) to make their happiness. Works Cited and Consulted Durant, Will, Ariel Durant. The Story of Civilization Part IX The shape up of Voltaire. New York Simon and Schuster, 1965. Frautschi, R.L. Barrons Simplified Approach to Voltaire Candide. New York Barrons Educational Series, Inc., 1998. Lowers, James K, ed. falling off Notes on Voltaires Candide. Lincoln Cliff Notes, Inc. 1995. Voltaire. Candide. New York Viking Publishers, 1996.