CANDIDE 5
Running head: CANDIDE 1
Candide
Student’s Name
Institution’s Affiliation’s
Introduction
Candide is a French satire written by Voltaire who was a philosopher in the age of enlightenment. Voltaire was influenced by the atrocities of society and was moved to present the art as a source of criticizing the un-conducive environment for improving life in society. The book was written in the 17th century based on the social, political and environmental conditions (Voltaire, 2012). For example, the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the war in Germany and the executions of people like John Byng and English Admiral. The writing of Voltaire was focused on criticism of Leibniz principle of sufficient reason which showed that nothing could be the way it is without purpose. This paper describes Voltaire’s targets in the book and analyses the specific incidence of satire with illustrations from the book.
Targets of Voltaire
The first target of Voltaire’s writing of Candide is the social organization of society and man’s interaction with society. At the beginning of the book, Voltaire presents the life of Candide in society. The book novel notes that Candide was living with the German baron as a nephew through the paper also notes that Candide was not a legitimate nephew. Candide was also assigned a teacher, Pangloss, to offer him tutorials. The social interaction pushed Candide to fall in love with baron’s daughter, and at one time the two were found kissing. The German baron expelled Candide.
Voltaire also targets the unfairness in society because he elaborates how life is unfavorable to the ordinary people in the community. Candide cannot get married to Cunégonde because he is just a commoner. The romance between them is the primary reason as to why he is expelled in the Baron’s home, and the unfair society life starts to follow him, and things are not the same again but hopes for the best as he was told previously by his tutor.
Additionally, Voltaire targets the war in society and the atrocities that war causes in the life of others. In the incidence when Candide goes to Landon, he meets Pangloss who explains to him that Cunégonde and her family was brutally murdered. In this case, one notes that the war affects the society negatively hence an atrocity that separates the community. On the other hand, Candide loses another friend Jacques when they were on their way back to Lisbon. Based on these illustrations, one can observe that society is unfavorable and has atrocities that the author centers the story of Candide.
Satire illustrations
The satire that can be noted in the book Candide is Optimism as an Ideal. Candide has been translated as all for the best of optimism. However, the ironically Candide never finds life simple but keeps on with the faith that at one time things will be alright with him in the world. The philosophy of Pangloss to Candide is satirized because he promises Candide an affluent lifestyle because of the place where he is raised. However, after living the baron’s home, the hard times follow in Candide’s life. Life fails to Candide and does not have the affluence but now difficult.
Conclusion
Voltaire in his book Candide presents the earlier life of the 18th century and illustrates the political and religious life of the society. The books develop the story using Candide’s life where he finds the society life is unfair but allows room for change and development hence so optimistic in life. The book also presents the book with the style of satire.
References
Voltaire. (2012). Candide: A Dual-Language Book. Courier Corporation.