CKQ+Jane

1. Why is this not the best of all possible worlds? But, at the same time, //Candide// is not an entirely hopeless novel. What 'rays of hope' do you see? As you post your responses to the key question also mention 'rays of hope' that you see in the novel.


 * religion
 * kings
 * governments
 * war
 * avarice (greed)
 * social pride
 * dishonesty
 * slavery
 * inhuman treatment of others
 * disease
 * cataclysms

In these chapters, it have proven that the best of all possible worlds doesn't exist. Even though Pangloss and Baron came back amazingly, there are still misfortunes depicted in these chapters. First of all, the sufferings and the processes which both Pangloss and Baron went through was not fortunate at all. In Chapter 28, it is shown that they all had suffered difficulties until they met at Constantinople. For example, after Baron got wounded by Candide, he was sent to the prison and the army. Also, Pangloss, after being severely wounded from hanging, got helped from the woman amazingly and arrived at Pangloss. All of this happened while Candide was facing the happiness in his life. Although he didn't have Cunegonde with him, he had money, met Martin, helped the poor and even had relationship with Marquet. These shows that Pangloss' view of life - best of possible world- doesn't exist.

Moreover, by the ugliness of Cunegonde, it has shown that nothing remains permanetly and best of all possible worlds doesn't exist. In chapter 29 line 11- 16, her appearance is described as "all weather- beaten, her eyes bloodshot, her breasts sunken, her cheeks lined, her arms red and chapped, was seized with horror...". Moreover the strong refusual of Baron on marriage, Cunegonde's brother is another obstacles that Candide had to face. He strongly disagrees their marriage by saying, " You may kill me all over again but you will never marry my sister while I am alive."

However, Candide was not the only one whose life was not the best of all possible world. Cacambo, who was a faithful friend of Candide was not satisfied with his normal life as a farmer. Also Pangloss, who loves to show his pride and lecture, wanted to go to German University. Moreover, the old woman questioned that if all the sufferings and experiences are better than doing nothing. These shows that people want more and more, not being satisfied with the given situation. Even though they received stable work and job, they complained which proves that the best of all possible world doesn't exist.

In Candide's own definition of best world is where he can live happily with philosopher Pangloss, the philosophical Martin, the faithful Cacambo, the old woman and his true love Cunegonde. Even though they were all unsatisfied with the given situations, Candide' s hope of living together was happened and the "rays of hope" is shown. For example, he had found his love and married with her which he wanted for a long time through experiencing and visiting other countries, trying to find her.