by Christopher Hounslow

Created on: September 11, 2010

Voltaire, one of the shining beacons of The Enlightenment, wrote Candide over a period of three days. The novel is fantastical in its exploits, and Voltaire uses his satirical skills to tell the tale of a naïve young man, and his trials and misfortunes before finding happiness. The novel is not, as some have expounded, a story of the triumph of optimism, but a study in how, through adversity, happiness and equilibrium can be found.

 Our Hero, Candide, has been raised in the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronkh, and was tutored by the philosopher, Dr Pangloss. This tutors only theory is that ‘as this is the best of all possible worlds, everything is therefore for the best’; optimism at the highest level. Candide has also fallen in love with the Lady Cunegonda, daughter of the Baron. Expelled from the castle for kissing his love, Candide is tricked into joining the Bulgarian army. He soon meets Dr Pangloss again, who tells him that the castle has been captured by the Bulgarians, and that all are dead, including the Lady Cunegonda. But not everything is as it seems in this novel, and characters that die are rarely dead for long. Indeed, Candide’s mentor, Dr Pangloss dies at least three or four times.

 So begins Candide’s many adventures to find his great love, Cunegonda. His marvellous journeys take him through Europe, Africa, South America and even Surinam. He discovers El Dorado, makes and loses his fortune, witnesses wars and earthquakes, becomes a great prince, and is ruined. During this time he is reunited, and again parts, from his love on numerous occasions. At one time they are even married.

 But Candide’s journey is also a philosophical one. Whilst he is constantly guided by the optimistic teachings of Dr Pangloss, he meets and listens to other, thought-provoking, people with a different philosophical outlook. He learns Christian charity from James the Anabaptist. From the Old Lady, Cunegonda’s servant, he learns of how the love of life can still hold you, even after the most terrible deprivations. Martin, the philosophical pessimist, teaches Candide the exact opposite of Dr Pangloss’ philosophy, and the noble Procurante shows him that all the wealth in the world will not make you happy. Finally, from the six dethroned Kings at dinner, he learns how the mightiest may fall from Grace.

  So, Candide’s adventures and journeys are both real and philosophical. During the course of the book his temperament is changed, such that he falls out of love with Cunegonda when he sees her for what she really is, but falls in love with Zenoide and her quiet unassuming ways. Candide’s journeys conclude when he and his friend, Cacambo, set up house with Zenoide. His philosophical journey also concludes, a journey from optimist to realist. This journey is shown as completed with Candide’s final words, which are also the final words of the book: ‘All things are not so well with us here as in Eldorado, but yet they are pretty well’.

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