CKQ+James

__**Key Question:**__ //Optimism://

This novel of //Candide// does not represent the best of all possible worlds because this world is a "perpetual battle field" (65) as the wise man at the dinner party says. Everyone fight for useless things and argue for "senseless quarrels" (65). How can a world of battle field where everyone fights be the best of all possible worlds? In addition, the appearance of Eldorado in chapter eighteen and a little in chapter nineteen also make this not the best of all possible worlds. How can a region with uncountable amounts of jewels, individual equality, and complete happiness be better than the world of such malignancy and deceit with captains stealing valuable jewels through tricks and magistrates fining poor Candide for almost nothing! The world is also not the best of all possible worlds because it contains the most powerful weapon, money. This money is not only hard to earn just like the Negro who works for Monsieur Vanderdendur cannot earn any money throughout his life, but money is also hard to keep or maintain as captain raided Candide's valuable sheep. This world with slavery, deceits, jealousy, devils, and all evil things cannot be considered as the best of all possible worlds.

However, there are some 'rays of hope' that we see in //Candide//. The first hope he sees is the sheep that the king of Eldorado gives him. With this sheep full of jewels, he can pay for anything and acquire all possible things in the world. The other 'rays of hope' that Candide sees is the hope of rejoining with his love, Cunégonde. His love towards her has always been his hope throughout this life even as he gets raided or encounters hardships.