It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.

French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)

Voltaire

Candide

Voltaire: pen name for François-Marie ArouetBorn into a middle class French family

November 21, 1694Father strict authoritarian—lawyerKnew Cardinal Richelieu and Duke of Sully

At 10 sent to a Jesuit school to study lawLeft school at 16-intent on spending his life as

a writerSpent time as a diplomat at The HagueWrote poetry, banished from Paris,

imprisoned for a poem critical of Louis XV

Author Background

Wrote for over 60 years of time; filling over 70 large volumes

Defender of freedom“I do not agree with a word you say, but I

will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Defended the rights of men to write and say what they wished

Was intolerant in his criticism of his enemies, however

Believed in rule by reason—not a democrat; wanted rule by an enlightened despot

His Writings

Allowed freedom of speech and other basic freedoms

Did what needed to be donePopular with the massesFrederick the Great of Prussia

Example of this type of rulerVoltaire desired freedom for the enlightened,

not for the rest of humanityHad little interest in the common man

Enlightened Despot

Voltaire major intellectual influenceWriting influenced an entire generation of

French RevolutionariesDuring later part of his life carried on a long

correspondence with RousseauDiffered on many pointsHis influence is seen in much of Rousseau’s work

Saw himself as a critic—many see him as more destructive than constructive

Saw rampant irrationality—called for specific reforms over grandiose schemes—more realistic

French Enlightenment

Voltaire sought religious freedom as well as other basic rights

Unlike Rousseau who wanted to end all religion; Voltaire realized that “common men” were not ready for such changes

Instead he called for freedom—but only for those who knew how to handle in—not for all

Believed in education; agreed with Locke’s idea of the tabula rasaFaulty education was major problemBetter education would solve most of the difficulties

facing us

Ideals of the Philosophes

Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot

Gottfried Wilhelm von

Leibniz

His philosophy of optimism serves as the inspiration for the novel.

Also, Leibniz was a mathematician most known as the co-founder of calculus with Newton.

Highly critical of Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism

Candide is full of political and philosophical satire of the many controversies during the 1750s

Readers will see the idea that we “live in the best of all possible worlds,” and apparent folly, misery and strife are actually harbingers of a greater good we cannot perceive, is hogwash.

Voltaire’s satire contrasts ironically tragedy and comedy by using actual events which occurred during this time period.

Voltaire’s criticism

Alexander PopeVoltaire’s criticism wasn’t

directly aimed at Pope.Pope also had an optimistic

principle that “all is right.”Leibniz’s states “this is the

best of all possible worlds.”Some critics feel Voltaire

spared Pope out of respect.A later work by Voltaire,

Poème, could be a response to Pope’s work.

Voltaire was also commenting on cultural relativism Michel de Montaigne’s On CannibalsEssay that argued that European culture was

no closer to God or morally “right”Shakespeare also used this concept in his

play The Tempest Voltaire shows other cultures in comparison

to European society as his main character Candide has a series of misadventures

Other influences on novel

OptimismHuman condition: what is the best way to approach life?Candide is brought up on the philosophy of optimismWill ultimately reject this at the end of novel

Free WillDistinction between man and animalsSocieties need to form around concept of working

together for a common goodEvil

Is evil inherent to humans or a matter of perspective?Debate between Candide the optimist and Martin the

pessimist reflects this.

Major themes of novel

Political and Religious OppressionReligious leaders who commit acts of immorality and

depravityMistreatment of citizens, slaves, women by members

of authorityPowerful institutions which only harm citizens

instead of protecting themPower of Lust

Exploitation of women and workers due to lust for money.

Acts of war and cruelty in the new world due to lust for money.

Lust for power and position in society lead characters to ignore common sense and basic kindness.

More themes

CandideName derived from the Latin word, candidus,

means whiteWhite symbolizes innocenceAlso means candid—he looks at the world and tells

us exactly what he seesPangloss

Absent throughout most of the book, but influence is seen through Candide.

Word comes from Greek pan and glossa means all languages—another way of saying “windbag”

Character modeled after Leibniz, Pope, and other optimistic thinkers of the period

Candide and Pangloss

MartinCandide’s companion through bookOpposite of Candide, thinks all is for the worstIn the end, Candide will reject both Pangloss &

MartinCacambo

Candide’s guide in the new worldName resembles cacao Name implies a half-breed origin, he is a wily

American half-breedFoil for the Baron-perfect lineage, but morally

impureCacambo’s character is pure

Candide’s Companions

Name chosen for sound and its meaningAlliterative effect of Candide, Cunègonde, Cacambo

Name of many medieval queensRepresents chivalric love and hard-headed realismSeveral views/perspectives of Cunègonde

Candide sees her as pure and virtuousWe see a beautiful, shrewd wenchAt end she will be an ugly dishwasher for Prince of

Transylvania—arms red and rough from hard workOne of the few dynamic characters

Innocent young girl in beginningWise woman of the world at endAt first she is coy with Candide, at end demands he

marry her

Cunègonde

Old WomanClassic type in French litServes 1st as Cunègonde maid; Cunègonde will

become her double by end of bookAbigail serves this way for CacamboVoltaire uses her voice to add his reflections

PacquetteServing-girl turned prostituteName means “daisy”Her misfortunes parallel her mistress

Cunègonde

Characters

PococuranteName means “caring little”Jaded man of the world which Candide would

have become if he had no difficultiesMartin believes there is pleasure in not being

pleasedPococurante shows us that even the best is for

the worstBrother Giroflée

Name means “wallflower”Symbolizes stupidity of primogeniture and the

nature of vocations in the church

More

Name of Barony chosen for soundRepresents the pomposity and pettiness of

small baronies in that part of EuropeVain, blustering tyrant probably just like his

fatherSon is warrior-saint of the Jesuits

Kills with abandon, no vocation, enjoys life in Paraguay

Candide discovers him & pays for his freedomDown on his luck, homosexualGalley slave yet refuses to allow Candide to

marry his sister, Cunègonde who is of noble birth

Represents the narrow-minded views of European nobility which will lead to destruction of the class

Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh

Written as an allegory of the human conditionCharacters are not meant to be identified

with but to stand for a particular ideal or characteristic

Each character acts as a symbol to further the satire

Pangloss symbolizes folly of blind optimism and excessive speculation.

Lisbon earthquake of 1755 represents devastating natural events for which no rational explanation can be found.

Symbols in novel

An important symbol in novelEviction from the castle garden could be seen

as eviction of man from Garden of EdenEl Dorado could represent a false Garden of

EdenAt end of novel Candide and Cunègonde find

pleasure in working their own land/garden.Many critics see the garden however as

Voltaire’s support for Diderot’s Encyclopedia Could be considered a garden of knowledge

Gardens

Voltaire’s chateau at Ferney

http://librivox.org/candide-by-voltaire/http://www.paperstarter.com/candide.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwMlWy

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