Rising Above a Corrupt World in Voltaires Candide Essay -- Candide Vo

Rising Above a Corrupt World in Voltaires Candide decree can be, and is, corrupt in many different ways. Within our lives we are subject, but not limited to, corruptions within religion, corruptions of morals, and corruption within the government. Voltaire, the author of Candide, uses a nave protagonist to illustrate his view of the world. Candide, surrounded by a corrupt society, and bombarded by various character defining events, is able to come to a higher understanding as to his philosophy of life. Candide, by Voltaire, is a story about an optimistic young man who encounters various misfortunes on his search for an example world. Having unfortunately been kicked out of his home for the love of Lady Cunegonde, Candide suffers through many natural and unnatural catastrophes during his travels. However, holding on to his claim that all is for the best, Candide travels the world abroad with a totally nave attitude. Constantly being reunited with many of his peers, Candide suffe rs the unrelentingty of the Bulgar army, a tempest, a shipwreck, an earthquake, and an auto da fe. Candides optimism, stemming from his tutor Dr. Pangloss, keeps him totally determined to mention his lost love, Lady Cunegonde, and an ideal world. However, Voltaire takes Candide around the world to discover that, contrary to the teachings of his distinguished tutor Dr. Pangloss, all is not always for the best. In Candide, Voltaire uses general criticisms diametric with specific examples to illustrate his idea concerning the contemporary corruption of the time. It is a grinning critique of the 18th centurys excesses and cruelties (Kanfer 1). With Candide, Voltaire tried to show the world just how unjust and cruel it was.... ...we in fact free ourselves from the constraints of the game. It is in this choice, and freedom associated with it, that enables us (Candide, Lady Cunegonde, etc...) to live the rest of our lives content and fulfilled. Works Cited Beck, Ervin. Voltaires Candide. Explicator 57 (Summer99). Ebsco Academic lookup Elite. 10 Oct. 2000. Bell, Ian A. Candide Overview. Reference contain to World Literature 2nd ed. (1995). 5 Nov. 2001 Kanfer, Stefan. Barnum meets Voltaire. New Leader 80 (1997). Ebsco Academic Search Elite. 10 Oct. 2000. Mason, Hayden. Voltaire Overview. Reference Guide to World Literature 2nd ed. (1995). 5 Nov. 2001 Voltaire. Candide. 1759. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum. Mineola, New York Dover Publications, Inc., 1991. Wade, Ira O. Voltaires Quarrel with Science. Bucknell Review VIII.4 (1959) 287?298. 5 Nov. 2001