Theme Of Optimism In Candide

The Folly of Optimism

The Enlightenment period was a time of new ideas and philosophies. One of the philosophies to emerge from this period was Philosophical optimism. The theory revolved around causes and effects and the belief that we live in the “best of all possible worlds” and that everything happens for the best (Voltaire). Voltaire was an enlightenment writer/philosopher and he was largely influenced by both early enlightenment and the current enlightenment philosophers and writers of the era. However, he vehemently disagreed with many of the ideas, most specifically the theory of philosophic optimism. Throughout Voltaire’s novel, Candide, the optimism of the main character is tested repeatedly to exemplify his belief that philosophical optimism is illogical considering the events that occur in this world. Voltaire satirizes philosophical optimism throughout the entire novel, primarily by using using irony and exaggeration.

The phrase taught by Pangloss and repeated by his disciples(Candide and Cunégonde), “the best of all possible worlds”(Voltaire) is juxtaposed to the worst possible situations and events. The story begins in a utopian castle and the first instance of tragedy is when Candide is banished from Thunder-ten-tronckh for kissing Cunégonde. But Candide is quick to regain his belief that everything is in fact, for the best because a few men offer to dine
Each example he gives is almost backwards; the nose was not designed for spectacles, but spectacles for the nose and stockings were designed for legs, not legs for stockings. By placing these incorrect sentiments at the very beginning of the Novel, the reader is already forced to question the optimistic beliefs of the character Pangloss and they are able to recognize the level of sheltered-ness and neviete of both Candide and Cunégonde who blindly believe the philosopher’s