The Influences of Candide’s Development Essay example

The Influences of Candide’s Development The story Candide or Optimism, written in 1759 by Francois Marie Arouet De Voltaire, is about a young man who experiences many misfortunes and who is exceptionally naà ¯ve. His development throughout his journey in life is contributed and influenced by the people he comes in contact with. In the story, Candide has the opportunity to experience many different views on philosophical optimism by meeting different people who have all suffered from different experiences and misfortunes. Some of these people, such as Pangloss, Cacambo, and Martin are individuals who had a major impact on Candide’s development and perspective of life. Candide is a good-hearted but an extremely naà ¯ve young man. His mentor†¦show more content†¦Pangloss, just like Candide is an unrealistic character. He too, is somewhat hopeful and refuses to accept bad, believing he could make their world a better place with his none sense optimism. As Candide continues to come in contact with all these misfortunes, it shows that Candide was a faithful young man, and indeed was a true believer in Pangloss’ theory that all was well in their world. Pangloss also taught Candide that â€Å"things cannot be otherwise than they are, since everything is made to serve an end† (521). Pangloss’ philosophy is stating that everything has a purpose and everything that happens, happens for a reason. No matter how bad things might be going, it is for a good cause and can only be as bad if one believes it to be. Cacambo is also one of Candide’s companions on his journey. He also acts as an advisor and a guide for Candide and helps him develop some knowledge towards the ways of the world. Unlike any other character in the novel, Cacambo is honest and highly intelligent. Cacambo shows confidence through his intelligence and moral unrighteousness. He is a good man, as well as kind and generous. Cacambo pushes Candide to view th e world as it really is, instead of following Pangloss’ philosophy of â€Å"the best of all possible worlds.† He wants Candide to understand that bad things happen in the world and that everything is not good. During the journey, Cacambo is always able toShow MoreRelatedVoltaire s Candide : A Satirical Work Wrought With Black Humor And Caricature Like Characters Essay1727 Words   |  7 Pagesanything in life since no matter what man does it can only result in a state of unhappiness. Martin’s influence on the easily impressionable Candide is very evident throughout their encounters.Through a combination of his life experiences and Martin’s influence, Candide begins to adopt Martin’s downtrodden perspective and starts to acknowledge that all is not in fact well, marking a dramatic shift in Candide’s worldview. Balanced between the two extremes of optimism and pessimism lies meliorism. MeliorismRead MoreSocial Issues of Poverty and Class Distinction during the Enlightenment Period2339 Words   |  9 Pagesreunited with his beloved and regain a qualified kind of redemption. It is in the misfortunes that Candide and others suffer in the novel that Voltaire cuts through the pretensions and hypocrisies of the Age of Reason (Cohen). The philosopher Pangloss, Candides tutor, insists that they live in the best of all possible worlds and maintains that view through various sophistries, but reality tells a different story. Candide meets characters who view the world quite differently, most notably Martin, who assertsRead MoreThe American And French Revolutions Essay1930 Words   |  8 PagesCandide might have been considerably adjusted concerning illustration A Broadway musical previously, 1956. At the point when Voltaire was a young fellow, the French gentry ruled with an iron clench hand. In the meantime, in any case, the scholarly development known as the Enlightenment was spreading thoughts regarding the equity and essential privileges of man and the significance of reason and logical objectivity. Franà §ois-Marie Arouet, later known as Voltaire, was destined to a white collar class family