CKQ+Kyu

Key Question

In Candide, Voltaire is satirizing the idea that this is 'the best of all possible worlds." Therefore, Voltaire wants to you answer the following question:

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.

Requirements: - 3-5 examples - your examples should include evidence that demonstrates why this is not the best of all possible worlds or who should be responsible for revolution - remember to look for 'rays of hope' or 'stability' - as in the example above, quote your evidence and explain how it answers the key question

The world in Candide is far from perfect. In the world that Candide lives, there are so many problems that Candide encounters that illustrates the problems of the society. Such problems are racism, social hierarchy, greed, and other matters such as inconsistency and loss of humanity. Everyone, not only the minority should be responsible fot the revolution because as the following quote, "If there are more people in a country who should be locked up than in another, is something beyond the limit of my feeble understanding. All I know is that by and large the people we are now going to see are disposed to be very gloomy," says, its the majority who is suffering throughout the whole book. However from this very quote itself, we can also discover a ray of hope due to the fact that someone actually recognizes the need of the majority to step up. There are also evidence of revolution relating to happiness; 'Until now I have encountered only unfortunate wretches throughout the inhabited world, except El Dorado'. This shows how little people are happy in the current society of Candide's and this apposes the basic right of humans; the rights to persuit happiness. Finally, the decline of Monarchy also illustrates the idea and timing for revolution. One of the Kings that Candide says 'They called me "your Majesty", who now barely call me "Sir"; I once minted my own coin, and now do not own a farthing.'. This shows the decline of the power of the Monarch which will give sufficient chance to the peopel to rebel.