CKQ+Ian

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.

A best of all possible worlds will be a "utopia", a concept broached by a philosopher Thomas More. However, E.M. CIORAN suggests that "Utopia is the grotesque en rose, the need to associate happiness -- that is, the improbable -- with becoming, and to coerce an optimistic, aerial vision to the point where it rejoins its own source: the very cynicism it sought to combat. In short, a monstrous fantasy. " in his book, //History and Utopia//. I believe that a Utopia is improbable and Voltaire believes so, too. Utopia is a dream and a fantasy. However, there are some "rays of hope" that could bring into reality the fantasy as close as possible. Some "rays of hope" are shown by Voltaire when he described the castle. The castle was magnificent and beautiful. It will seem like it is the "best of possible world"; however, it was not, due to reputation. The image and the reputation of yourself limits your behavior, causes you to lie, causes crime, etc. A man will do anything to maintain his social image and to make his social image as good as he could.

When Voltaire quotes about guns and violence at the beginning of the Chapter 3, he is describing how the "best of all possible world" is not possible. War is a fight of constant disagreement and if there is a constant disagreement, the society will not be "the best of all possible world." It needs to have a perfect harmony and accord in order it to be the best of all possible world. A war will go to an opposite direction from "the best of all possible world." Therefore, Voltaire is asking for a reform and maximize the "rays of hope."