CKQ+Joshua

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

In Candide, Voltaire is making fun of optimism, the best of all possible worlds. First, what does it mean by ‘the best of all possible worlds’? In my opinion, I think it is a utopian society where nothing could go wrong. This means that there is Equality, Freedom, and Peace. However, none of this is in in the world of Candide.

There are not a lot of equality shown in Candide. For example, Cunegonde was very ugly when she united, “Cunegonde all weather-beaten, her eyes bloodshot, her breasts sunken, her cheeks, lined, her arms red and chapped, was seized with horror.” (page 88) This statement compares Cunegonde with her old times. She is very ugly and is not loved by Candide like before. Voltaire is saying that women are judged by their appearances. Chapter 30 clearly states that Candide does not have any affection towards Cunegonde like he had before “At the bottom of his heart, Candide had no desire to marry Cunegonde... could not retract” (page 89). Her awful looking face and body is disliked by Candide; men are attracted to physically beautiful women, which shows un-equalness among females. This is not an utopian world where it is the best of all possible worlds. How can it be the best of all possible world when some girls are disliked because of one’s ugly face?

Another factor of this reading is Greed. The baron shows a lot of his greedy characteristics in these chapters; He never lets Candide marry with his sister Cunegonde, because Candide doesn’t have a lot of money and power. Baron say to Candide, “Never shall I be reproached with condoning this infamous union: my sister’s children would be unable to show their faces in the Chapters of Germany!”. This shows how much Baron is greedy; this is nature of human beings, which is to be greedy for money and power.

The statement ‘the best of all possible worlds’ isn’t always wrong. A person that has ugly face might have talent in a different area. For example, Cunegonde is very ugly, but she is very talented at pastry making, “Cunegonde was still very ugly, but she became an excellent pastry-chef”(page 93). This shows how God is sometimes fair; people have different talents! This was an ray of hope, how societies now can develop if they emphasize each person’s talents. Ugly people that are really smart will not lose their hope of living their lives.