Candide satirizes the philosophy of optimism that states “all is for the best.” When Candide is kicked out of his home for presuming to fall in love with the Baron’s daughter and travels the world suffering one misfortune after another, he struggles with his philosopher’s teachings that “all is for the best”. How can wars and earthquakes be for the best? How is suffering for the best?
Poor, innocent Candide travels from Europe to the Americas and back gaining and losing wealth, dining with kings one moment, thrown into prison the next, escaping certain death everywhere misfortune takes him, until he finally learns life’s greatest lesson, that happiness is brought not by wealth or kingdoms, but rather the man who lives an honest, hardworking life enjoys riches far beyond measure. Man was born to work, not to rest, therein life is made bearable. “We must cultivate our garden.”
Voltaire’s classic satire is a delight to read, resonating in humour and life lessons 250 years after it was written.
Till next time, happy reading!
L J
| TBR = 16 | WPL = 25 |
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