"Voltaire is considered one of the most influential figures of his time [the Enlightenment]." ( Wikipedia ). Born in 1694 to a wealthy family in Paris, Voltaire became a writer and philosophe in France. Today he is known as one of the greatest enlightenment thinkers. Like most philosophes of the Enlightenment, Voltaire believed in reason and the freedom to express one's thoughts. A deist, Voltaire had a strong dislike for organized religion. He often had to flee arrest due to his remarks against Catholicism. He also made many comments against tyrannical governments. Indeed, Voltaire's motto was "Crush the infamous thing" (the 'thing' being bigotry and intolerance) ( Secular Humanism ) Voltaire did not physically attack the fanatic churches or oppressive governments, but wished to reform them through his ideas and writings.
One of Voltaire's more popular works was his satire, Candide. This is the story of a young innocent man, Candide, who faces the cruelty of life with the philosophical view that all things in life are necessary for some greater good. Candide is a simple person who has not had much real life experience. Due to his love for Cunegonde, a baron's daughter, he is banished from his home and unexpectedly introduced to the reality of the outside world. He encounters the radicals of religion and the tyrants of government and experiences the sadness of death and the joy of resurrection. Throughout his travels he develops a new philosophy of life.
A certain individual who helped shape Candide's views was Pangloss, his tutor. Pangloss is an old philosopher who taught that everything was "unavoidable, a necessary ingredient in the best of worlds" ( Online-Literature ). He believes in a "pre-established harmony" ( Online-Literature ), and everything that occurs in the physical world is "for the best" ( Online-Literature ). This view is exemplified in Pangloss' own life. He inherits a disease that was brought to Europe from the Americas by Columbus. Pangloss justifies this disease in saying that chocolate and cochineal would not have been discovered if Columbus had not gone to and returned from the Americas ( Online-Literature ). At the end of the story, Pangloss also tries to illustrate his beliefs through Candide's experiences. He says that if Candide had not gone through all his sufferings then Candide "would not be here [Candide's home] eating preserved citrons and pistachio-nuts" ( Online-Literature ) or living his simple pleasant life. Pangloss states, "If there is a volcano at Lisbon [They were in Lisbon where a volcano recently erupted] it cannot be elsewhere. It is impossible that things should be other than they are; for everything is right" ( Online-Literature ). Candide, however, when enduring his hardships, sometimes doubted Pangloss' teachings.
Another influence in Candide's life was his lover, Cunegonde. She is a beautiful woman born to the same baron of the castle Candide lived in. Bulgarians attacked her home, raping her brutally and then taking her captive. She is passed from one noble to another in their lust for her beauty. She is finally reunited with Candide, but they soon have to part again. When Candide returns to Cunegonde, she is a slave and her admirable looks have turned into grotesque features of an abused woman. Candide no longer desires Cunegonde, but marries her for honor's sake.
Two other minor characters are Cacambo and Martin. Cacambo is a young boy who Candide picked up in Spain to be a valet. He is a smart, quick-witted boy who has much experience in the real world, which is a great asset to Candide. Cacambo is often able to assist Candide in difficult situations. Though Cacambo has experienced much of life's hardships, he is extremely loyal to his master. The other minor character, Martin, is a philosopher like Pangloss, but of a different philosophy. He is an "honest man" ( Online-Literature ), who has had everything taken from him. Candide finds Martin entertaining and invites Martin to join him in his travels. Martin's philosophy of life is "that God had abandoned it [earth] to some malignant being" ( Online-Literature ). He believes in good and evil, but evil has overpowered the good. There is no hope in Martin's life, so he joins Candide because Candide posses hope for a better future. Both Martin and Cacambo become close friends with Candide and end up living with him when he settles down.
Candide is an epic story with the hero facing many trials that develop him into a strong, intelligent man. It is also a satire in which Voltaire critiques religion and government. In the story Candide is forced to flee to Holland where he hopes to find food. He encounters a man giving a speech on charity. Candide asks the man for help, but the speaker replies with a question concerning Candide's religious knowledge. Candide does not know the answer; therefore, the speaker refuses him "charity." In this scene Voltaire is speaking out against the intoleration of religious groups. Another time Candide is sentenced to execution for listening to the teachings of Pangloss. The execution is actually a sacrifice to prevent earthquakes. Candide escapes, but others are sacrificed. After the execution a terrible earthquake shakes the community. Voltaire is showing the stupidity of fanatic religions that produce such barbaric and illogical rituals. He also disapproves of governments that impede too much on the freedom of its citizens. The Bulgarian army forces Candide to enlist, where he then endures cruel training against his will. He eventually escapes out of that horrible regime. Voltaire wishes to stress the point that each individual should have a choice to serve whom he will, how he will.
Voltaire's main critique on religion and government is actually an illustration of a utopia. Candide presents Voltaire's idea of a perfect society through the kingdom of El Dorado. In El Dorado the people believe in one god who has given them all they need. They do not go to him for help, but constantly thank him for his provisions. This deistic religion, however, only succeeds if all of its patrons are perfectly satisfied with what they have. It is not a practical religion, but an admirable one. El Dorado's government is ruled by a king, but all men are free to do as they please. Though there is a leader, all of the people are equal and free to act responsibly one toward another. In this utopian state, there is not a vast amount of laws restricting the citizens, but a trust in every individual to do his part. The government and religion of El Dorado can only work if the citizens are "of one opinion." ( Online-Literature ) El Dorado is an impractical dream that one cannot reach, but a noble dream that one should strive for.
Through the example of El Dorado and other passages in Candide, Voltaire conveys many ideas that can be applicable to the present day. I agree with Voltaire's critiques on government. A tyranny in which the citizens have no free will is not a society, but merely some tyrant's chess board. I would like to point out again that El Dorado's government is not possible in our world but desirable. We need a system of laws to help govern the lawless. The question then arises, "Where do we come up with these laws?" Voltaire argues that these laws are decided by what is necessary for the good of the populationas a whole: "The good of the greatest number is the immutable law of virtue." ( University of Chicago ) I am dissatisfied, however, with Voltaire's view of religion. El Dorado's god provides for a physical realm, but how is mankind affected in the metaphysical realm, especially since our society is not a perfect society? Obviously, there is a spiritual world because there is a god, but do we go to that world when we die, and do the actions in the physical world affect our lives in the spiritual? Also, I agree that sacrificing people on such innocent charges, as the ones presented in Candide, to prevent a natural disaster is outrageous, but following a certain religious belief might require a touch of the outrageous. Any religion will set up a system of beliefs and moral laws to live by. In order to follow your religion you must be, to a small extent, radical and dogmatic about what you believe. Believing that a god created the universe or that the universe came from an explosion are both fanatical beliefs that require a fanatical faith. The debate in religion should not be about tolerance, but about who is right and who is wrong. Voltaire's picture of a perfect religion is simple and, at first glance, comforting, but its simplicity can lead to instability and confusion when confronted with complex issues.
Voltaire's ideas in Candide offer some practical applications and one impractical desire for our society today. We can use this satire as a warning for the governments we create and the religions we believe in.
Clayton Kelleher November 6th 2006