Candide is a piece written by Voltaire and is still relevant today. The piece was written in order to warn the public of consequences of radical optimism. Voltaire is known for his satirical work that is suggestive, and Candide is one of his masterpieces which demonstrate mastery of literature. Candide, the main character, is a young man who is naïve and also trusting and is banished from home. Despite the bizarre disaster that fills his life, he holds to his optimism fast. This is an example to the audience. Voltaire makes an emphasis of radical optimism dangers through incorporation of themes, tone and satire utilization in Candide. Theme and tone in the classical literature work indeed brings relevance in the modern world.
The two elements in the story brings classic to the new generations’ life which as they read they relate to. This satiric story unites modern leaders of new generation to the distant past in the way they identify with the novel’s themes and tone as a whole. As expected, Candide has an incorporation of different themes and Voltaire embraces each of it individually in order to explain well the dangers of radical optimism. The main themes used in the story are childlike naivety and belief as well as radical (destructive) optimism. All these are embodied in the characters. Candide belief in teachings of Pangloss and his childlike naivety that made him suffer through various disasters till he was wished to adopt another philosophy was the reason behind embedding the e two themes; his inexperience with world and naivety are further illustrated through the way he is unable to construct his own.
The ignorance portrayed is the source of dangers that are behind radical optimism because it prevents logical, informed and rational thoughts about the world. Candide remains trusting and naïve even after getting enlisted in the army that destroyed his old home, apparently raped and slaughtered Cunegonde, his love. His constant disasters are due to his naivety, and warning that Voltaire is presenting to the audience is emphasized through the repetition. Tone in Candide is humorously hopeless because the characters cling to Pangloss idea; everything is for best. Time after time, the blind optimism is negated through the disastrous experience by Candide and the other characters. Despite this disaster, there is pressing on by the characters throughout their lives on positive attitudes that are hopeless. The reader definitely is inclining to giving up on hope before any of the character does through the doomed reality that the characters endure.
With its theme and humorous hopeless tone, Candide in timeless way relates to modern reader. Its relevance to today’s world is due to the fact that Pangloss’s philosophy is widely accepted now among people. Most people believe that everything is for best, with everything they are going through. Candide display of optimism is a worldwide optimism which is not limited to one generation or one era. Through use of religion today, support groups, self-help material, and other countless measures, the hopeless concept of optimism is perpetuated by modern people as portrayed in Candide. Despite some of the Candide events not actually occurring in today’s world, a lot of people have suffered traumatic caliber in their live and have continuously believed that it is fate that is guiding their lives or believing that nevertheless they will definitely end up happier.
Works Cited
Portrfield, Jason. Voltaire:Champion of the French Enlightenment. New York: The Rosen
Publishing Group, 2006. Print.
Wootton, David. Candide and Related Texts. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company,Inc.,
2000. Print.
