The actions of Candide can be explained by underlying aspects of his devotion to Pangloss. Although not apparent in the story, this essay will demonstrate that what Pangloss tells Candide shapes his worldview and behavior. When Candide first meets Pangloss, he stays with his German uncle; it could be said that Pangloss brought up Candide. When Candide is ejected from his house and compelled to join the Buglars’ army, tensions between the two grow (Voltaire 112). After witnessing a terrible battle, Candide realized he had to get away from the Buglars. In the end, he found his way to Holland, where he was taken in by an Anabaptist named Jacques. At this point, Candide meets Pangloss, who reveals that the army he had once served with had slain his family. In addition, Pangloss disclosed that he was afflicted with syphilis. The man who sheltered Candide now accommodates Pangloss as well. Candide is severally misguided by the heavy reliance on the philosophical counsel of Pangloss to help him make sense of his environment and develop his worldview.
The irony in Pangloss’ biblical allusion is recognizable as the novel condemns several convictions. The biblical Garden of Eden represents an ideal state of affairs where human beings are not required to work. Pangloss finds solace in his work on the land and maintaining a busy, productive lifestyle after everything that has happened. When Candide encounters multiple people he thought were dead, he begins to doubt his perception of reality. When the physician went to examine what he thought was a corpse, Pangloss realized he had survived the hanging (Voltaire 123). Despite what Candide may have thought, the baron survived his injuries. The absurdity of these coincidences further discredits Pangloss’ belief that everything works out for the best and prompts questioning of the need for successful conclusions. Pangloss summarizes the course of Candide’s life to demonstrate that even the worst events that transpired to Candide turned out for the best. Pangloss’s view, once again, is a satire of fruitless philosophizing.
Pangloss’ affirmation at the novel’s outset stays with Candide even after the narrative is over. To some extent, what Pangloss utters at the beginning foreshadows later events. The things he claims turn out to be false and could be interpreted as irony in the narrative (Voltaire 137). Metaphysics, theology, cosmology, and nigology are all subjects that Pangloss covered in his instructions. He did an excellent job of demonstrating that an effect cannot exist without a cause and that, in this ideal of all worlds, the baron’s castle was the most gorgeous and his wife the greatest of all baronesses.
Pangloss argued that everything must be how it is because every means should inevitably lead to the best end. It is no coincidence that everyone wears glasses; our noses are specifically designed to accommodate them. Breeches exist because, as anybody can see, legs were designed to have them placed on them (Voltaire 146). Those who insist that everything is fine are simply ignorant; instead, they ought to assert that the current circumstances are actually beneficial. Since God made the earth and keeps a watchful eye on it, Pangloss concludes that this world is the best possible one in which humans can exist. Because they do not believe in evil or understand that everything happens for the greater good, they do not bother themselves with it.
With or without Pangloss’ help, Candide demonstrated that what Pangloss mentioned at the outset was correct. Pangloss and Candide are separated, and when they reunite, Pangloss tells Candide that the army he was a member of killed the woman he was going to marry. Candide fainted at this ‘revelation’, but as he came to consciousness, he stated everything fitting for the situation, including asking about the cause, the sufficient reason that had brought Pangloss to his current miserable position. As another example of irony, it turns out that Candide’s sweetheart was not killed; she was only kidnapped, sold into slavery, and raped. Candide believed what Pangloss said; thus, for a long time, he thought the woman he loved was dead while she was actually still alive. Candide spends the entirety of the novel looking for evidence in favor of the beliefs of the sage Pangloss.
Although many horrible incidences occurred, Candide concluded that they were deserved. The scoundrel drowned in the ocean with all the stolen wealth, save for a single sheep (Voltaire 154). Candide explained to Martin that the scoundrel of a Dutch trader had received the punishment he deserved. Despite nodding, Martin questioned whether other passengers in the ship were similarly fated or, while God was punishing the scoundrel, the demon drowned the rest. This is an example of Candide’s attempt to convince himself that the first thing Pangloss said was correct. Candide is determined to show Pangloss’ claim that everything happens for a better reason than what it appears to be at the time. The most important thing was that the villain was dead, even if some good people had to pay the ultimate price in the crash. According to Candide, the death toll is irrelevant so long as the bad person is eliminated. Martin’s views were in direct opposition to Candide’s; his moral compass led him to conclude that the deaths of those civilians should be avoided.
Even when Pangloss was not physically present, Candide never stopped speculating how he would resolve a problem. Candide turned to Martin and asked concerning the person who should be pitied among King Charles Edward, him, or the emperors Achmet and Ivan (Voltaire 165). Martin responded that he did not know as he would have to penetrate their hearts to find out. At that point, Candide affirmed that if Pangloss were present, he would know and tell them. The two gentlemen were debating on who should receive the remaining jewelry. According to Martin, he needs to see into their souls to determine who is the most deserving. Candide believed there was an easier way out of their predicament, but only if Pangloss had been present. In line with Candide’s argument, Pangloss would have known what to do and whom to trust in a flash. Martin’s primary worry was in what manner Pangloss would have decided that fast. Perhaps Pangloss would have chosen Candide because he is the person he is closest to and most confident in.
Candide was convinced that everything Pangloss said was truthful and defensible. When Candide was at a loss, he would consult with others, particularly Pangloss. Martin, Pangloss, and the reliable Cacambo were all consulted (Voltaire 232). Pangloss penned an excellent thesis arguing that the baron had no claim to his sister and that, under all the laws of the territory, she was free to wed Candide morganatically. Candide intends to marry the baron’s sister at the beginning of the tale, but the baron declares his sister would never accept a commoner like him. Once Candide realized she was still alive and could be found, he spent the rest of the story obsessively looking for her. Candide lacked direction because the baron meddled, so he consulted his companions. As usual, Pangloss was the one to give the first opinion. Pangloss’ view made the most sense to Candide; therefore, he always chose it.
Even though Pangloss is an intelligent man, Voltaire wants to show that he is not always correct in his opinions. According to Pangloss, they have the best possible world in which to exist. Candide accepts everything Pangloss says at face value despite rising inconsistencies. As horrible things befall Candide and everybody else, it is evident that Pangloss is incorrect. Voltaire generally disagrees with Pangloss since he understands that terrible things can and do occur for an unknown purpose. Pangloss is a bit naive because he seems to think that unpleasant events cannot happen to him. He persists in his quest to demonstrate that his people genuinely reside in the best of all possible worlds, even when adverse circumstances arise.
Work Cited
Voltaire. Candide (Third Norton Critical Edition). Edited by Nicholas Cronk, W. W. Norton & Company, 2016.
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