CKQ+Jenny

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.

Here are some specific categories to look for:
 * religion
 * kings
 * governments
 * war
 * avarice (greed)
 * social pride
 * dishonesty
 * slavery
 * inhuman treatment of others
 * disease
 * cataclysms

From chapter 28 to 30, we can see that Candide's life is not the best of all possible worlds. As an example, on page 89, the very first line of chapter 30, it said "At the bottom of his heart, Candide had no desire to marry Cunégonde;..., and Cunégonde was urging him on so keenly that he could not react.'" This line shows that Candide doesn't want to marry Cunégonde anymore, but he has to. This is so not the best of all possible worlds. Cunégonde has become really ugly, but she still wants to marry her love, Candide, even though she knew that she is ugly.

However, Candide was not the only one whose life was not the best of all possible worlds. On page 90, it said "Cacambo,..., was worn out with toil and cursed his lot. Pangloss was in despair at not being able to shine at some German university." Cacambo was unhappy, even though he became free by Candide and got a job as a worker in a small farm, and he "cursed his lot." Pangloss, who always believed that everything is best of all possible worlds, also was not satisfied. Instead of being gratified about being alive from all the "hanging, dissecting, being beaten, and making to row in a galley,"(page 88) he still wanted to be an important figure in a German university. This example also shows avarice, because Cacambo and Pangloss are wanting more and more, instead of being satisfied with what they have and believing that their lives are best of all possible worlds.

On page 92, "'So what must we do?' said Pangloss- 'Keep your mouth shut,' said the dervish.- 'I flattered myself,' said Pangloss, 'that you and I might have a little discussion about effects and causes,..,..,....'- At which the dervish slammed the door in their faces." I think this is an example of inhuman treatment of others. It is rude to just slam the door in front of someone's face, especially when that someone is talking. The dervish should at least answer the question properly to Candide and Pangloss. Instead, he told them to just keep their mouths shut.

The examples of the "rays of hope" are found in page 88 and page 93. On page 88, it was said that "The first thing they saw was Cunégonde and the old woman, who were hanging towels out to dry on a line." It is an example of the "rays of hope" because Candide finally met Cunégonde after his long trip, even though Cunegonde became ugly. Another example is on page 93, "Everyone made himself useful, including Brother Girofleo,..." Candide and his friends finally found a job that was appealing to them. It was a job as a farmer. Even though the farm works were hard, they were all satisfied it. Pangloss and Candide once again agreed that it was the best of all possible worlds.