Optimism: The Secret Killer

            Optimism is a topic that is discussed throughout Voltaire’s, Candide. Optimism is a main theme throughout this book. Optimism is defined in philosophy as the doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds. In chapter one, the narrator said, “He proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause, and that, in this best of all possible worlds” (Voltaire 4). Pangloss uses the example that since noses were made for spectacles then spectacles were made and this was a credible reason for Pangloss to believe in optimism. This quotation explains Pangloss’ thoughts on optimism and also shows how Voltaire used satire to portray his opinion on the philosophy of optimism. He used irony and hyperbole to show his thoughts on optimism. The stories and things that happen to Candide along his journey are all things that should make him unhappy and see the bad things in the world but instead he keeps up his optimism. I think that the character that most closely relates Voltaire’s thoughts on optimism would be Martin’s view on optimism.

            Throughout the book and Candide’s journey, Candide encounters many horrific things. He encounters many deaths and also kills people along his journey back to Cunegonde. Voltaire uses all of these incidents to show how crazy that Pangloss’ theory of optimism is and how his theory is incorrect. In Chapter five, there was a huge storm and the ship wrecked and Candide’s friend, James, that had helped him very much was drowning. “Candide drew near and saw his benefactor, who rose above the water one moment and then was being swallowed up for ever. He was just going to jump after him, but was prevented by the philosopher Pangloss, who demonstrated to him that the Bay of Lisbon has been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned” (Voltaire 17-18). In this passage, Candide is in the middle of this storm and starts to help out this man that has been helping him but Pangloss tells him to stop because this place was made to kill this man. Pangloss tried to make this up to just being planned this way and that this was not a mistake so that people can not conclude that God is not perfect. This makes Pangloss make connections that should not be made like the formation of the bay and the drowning of an innocent and nice man. There is no connection about these two and this is not a good reason for someone to believe in optimism.

            Pangloss also tried to use cause and effect on multiple occasions to show that all things happen for the best. In the beginning of the book, Pangloss sais, “ ‘It is demonstrable’ said he, ‘that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for all being created for an end, all is necessarily for the best end. Observe, that the nose has been formed to bear spectacles¾thus we have spectacles ” (Voltaire 4). Pangloss tried to use an example of cause and effect that has nothing to help with the thought of “this is the best of all possible worlds”. Pangloss tried to use any example to help back his theory of everything happens for a reason. Towards the end of the book, Pangloss said, “‘There is a contenation of events in this best of all possible worlds: for if you had not been kicked out of a magnificent castle for the love of Miss Cunegonde: if you had not been put into the Inquisition: if you had not walked over America: if you had not stabbed the Baron: if you had not lost all of your sheep from the fine country of El Dorodo: you would not be here eating preserved citrons and pistachio nuts’” (Voltaire 137). Pangloss is saying that all of these misfortunes and all of these hardships were essential for Candide to get back to Cunegonde and that it was fate for him to go through this for the greater good. Pangloss believed in fate and that you had to endure certain things to get what was planned for you and that was the reason that he used cause and effect to prove optimism.

            Martin never had a positive thing to say about philosophy. He was the complete opposite of optimistic. Martin would try and discourage the idea of optimism in Candide’s mind. In chapter twenty-two, Candide is talking about how the bad things in the world was just described as shadows on a painting but Martin said, “‘Your hanged man mocked the world” said Martin. ‘The shadows are horrible blots’” (Voltaire 95). Martin always tried to discredit what Pangloss said and always tried to make Candide see the world for what it really was. Martin had more of the viewpoint that I think Voltaire had as well.

            Throughout the book, you can see how Voltaire used to make his view of the philosophy of optimism known. He thought that optimism is foolish and the pessimism is the better view on misfortunes that effect you through your journey of life. He used irony on many accounts that made optimism look like a foolish thing to have. Many people that would have gone through all of the things that Candide went through would never have had a positive attitude or kept up the optimism as long as he did. I think that the character of Martin is more of what Voltaire would base his opinion on. Voltaire does not believe in a “best possible world” and made it known in his book, Candide.