Customer Reviews

Candide

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Ever since philosophers began thinking about the meaning of life, a favorite question has been "Why do bad things happen to good people?". In Voltaire's day, this issue was primarily pursued either from the perspective of faith (everything that happens is God's will and must be for Divine purpose) or of reason (What do these events mean to you, as you interpret them subjectively?). Infuriated by the reaction by some members of the church to a horrible loss of life from an earthquake in Lisbon, Voltaire wrote this hard-biting satire of the human condition to explore these questions.

Before reading further, let me share a word of caution. This book is filled with human atrocities of the most gruesome sort. Anything that you can imagine could occur in war, an Inquisition, or during piracy happens in this book. If you find such matters distressing (as many will, and more should), this book will be unpleasant reading. You should find another book to read.

The book begins as Candide is raised in the household of a minor noble family in Westphalia, where he is educated by Dr. Pangloss, a student of metaphysical questions. Pangloss believes that this is the best of all possible worlds and deeply ingrains that view into his pupil. Candide is buoyed by that thought as he encounters many setbacks in the course of the book as he travels through many parts of Europe, Turkey, and South America.

All is well for Candide until he falls in love with the Baron's daughter and is caught kissing her hand by the Baron. The Baron immediately kicks Candide out of the castle (literally on the backside), and Candide's wanderings begin. Think of this as being like expulsion from the Garden of Eden for Adam. Soon the penniless Candide finds himself in the Bulgarian army, and receiving lots of beatings while he learns to drill.

The story grows more far-fetched with each subsequent incident. To the casual reader, this exaggeration can seem unnecessary and annoying. It will remind you of the most extreme parts of Swift in Gulliver's Travels and Rabelais in Gargantua and Pantagruel. But subtly, Voltaire is using the exaggeration to lure the reader into making complacent judgments about complacency itself that Voltaire wants to challenge. The result is a deliciously ironical work that undermines complacency at a more fundamental level than I have seen done elsewhere. Basically, Candide challenges any view you have about complacency that is defined in terms of the world-view of those who are complacent.

Significant changes of circumstances (good and ill) occur to all of the members of the Baron's household over the course of the story. Throughout, there is much comparing of who has had the worst luck, with much feeling sorry for oneself.

That is the surface story. Voltaire is, however, a master of misdirection. Beneath the surface, Voltaire has another purpose for the book. He also wants to expose the reader to questioning the many bad habits that people have that make matters worse for everyone. The major themes of these undercurrents are (1) competing rather than to cooperating, (2) employing inhumane means to accomplish worldly (and many spiritual) ends, (3) following expected rules of behavior to show one's superiority over others that harm and degrade others, (4) focusing on money and power rather than creating rich human relationships, (5) hypocritical behavior, and (6) pursuing ends that society approves of rather than ends that please oneself.

By the end of the story, the focus shifts again to a totally different question: How can humans achieve happiness? Then, you have to reassess what you thought about the book and what was going on in Voltaire's story. Many readers will choose to reread the book to better capture Voltaire's perspective on that final question, having been surprised by it.

Candide is one of my favorite books because it treats important philosophical questions in such an unusual way. Such unaccustomed matching of treatment and subject matters leaves an indelible impression that normal philosophical arguments can never match. Voltaire also has an amazing imagination. Few could concoct such a story (even by using illegal substances to stimulate the subconscious mind). I constantly find myself wondering what he will come up with next. The story is so absurd that it penetrates the consciousness at a very fundamental level, almost like doing improvisation. In so doing, Voltaire taps into that feeling of "what else can happen?" that overcomes us when we are at our most pessimistic. So, gradually you will find yourself identifying with the story -- even though nothing like this could ever happen to you. Like a good horror story, you are also relieved that you can read about others' troubles and can put your own into perspective. This last point is the fundamental humanity of the story. You see what a wonderful thing a kind word, a meal, or a helping hand can be. That will probably inspire you to offer those empathic actions more often.

After you have finished Candide, I suggest that you ask yourself where complacency about your life and circumstances is costing you and those you care about the potential for more health, happiness, peace, and prosperity. Then take Voltaire's solution, and look around you for those who enjoy the most of those four wonderful attributes. What do those people think and do differently from you?

It is probably fair to say that there is no book that is quite like Voltaire's 'Candide'. This is a venomous satire of the 'Optimistic' philosophy and outlook of enlightenment thinkers such as Leibniz and Alexander Pope. As such, it is served well by the unique combination of repeated brutality and a deft, light touch. If that last comment doesn't make sense, then you'll just have to READ THE BOOK.

At a mere 144 pages (in this edition), this is a classic that is a breeze to read. As to the charge that this book is too "violent" or "in bad taste", I would only ask you to remember that Voltaire was furious that learned members of a "civilized" society (like Leibniz, Pope, and even Rousseau)could claim that the apparent senseless violence and mayhem wrought by disasters, war, disease, man's cruelty, etc. was actually only a part of some 'greater good' - after all, God (being perfect) could not 'logically' created anything but the 'best of all possible' universes.

Voltaire's touch is so light and understated that I defy anyone to write anything that contains a third of the violence in 'Candide' and still manages to read as breezily and somehow be genuinely funny.

But dark satire must be funny - otherwise it lapses into pedantry.

Read it - even if you do not like it, I guarantee you that it will disturb you and make you think.

And for that, we can thank Voltaire.

"All is for the best...in the best of all possible worlds."

Utopia generally conjures up images of beauty, brilliance and harmony. How is it possible to conceive of the violent and brutal happenings in Candide as "the best of all possible worlds?" Our world is clearly not perfect, so isn't it more logical to conclude that all is not for the best? At least not all of the time? Such are the questions raised in Voltaire's timeless masterpiece of satire, Candide.

Candide tells the journey of a young man through the world and the realities he must face, deal with and eventually come to be defined by. During his ventures, Candide leaves behind the naive innocence of his childhood and assumes the status of an intelligent and distinguished man.

Candide was born and grew up in the castle of the Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh, in the land of Westphalia in Germany. Soon after his mentor, the philosopher, Dr. Pangloss introduces him to the idea of extreme optimism, Candide's adventures begin as he is banned from the kingdom for kissing the Baron's beautiful daughter, Lady Cunegund.

As Candide travels through Germany, Holland, the New World and the remainder of Europe, he encounters trials and evils of every sort--war, hatred, betrayal, starvation, natural catastrophes of all kinds, in short, any and every evil to which man has ever fallen prey.

In the course of his travails, however, one thing becomes outstandingly familiar to Candide; the parallels of events that denote the universality of evil.

Finally, coming full circle, Candide settles down to cultivate his own garden and make the best of his own possible world.

As with most satire, the characters in Candide exist for one unique purpose rather than being fully fleshed out. Dr. Pangloss is the most notable. Pangloss is not present in most of Candide's adventures but he does provide the theme underlying the whole of the book. He serves to sway Candide with his one, unrelenting optimistic outlook on life.

The epitome of Pangloss's philosophical outlook, "Everything is for the best," is assimilated by Candide very early in the story. Being young, sheltered and naive at the time, Candide proceeds to live his life according to this tenet. When faced with a problem he always asks himself what Pangloss would do or say in a similar situation.

Candide, however, eventually learns to form his own opinions and concepts and thus the philosophical optimism of Dr. Pangloss is tested and challenged throughout the book.

The "Pangloss Effect" is also demonstrated through Candide's experience in El Dorado, Voltaire's fictional utopia. Candide, traveling with Cacambo, his servant, finally discovers El Dorado, the purported "perfect" place. Why would anyone ever want to leave this perfect place, Candide asks himself? His quest had been to prove the theory of optimism of Pangloss and now apparently, he had succeeded. However, all is not what it may seem, even in El Dorado, and Candide is confronted with many ironic and enigmatic questions.

As his journeys draw to a close, Candide comes to realize that it is man's almost limitless ability to accept the fate that befalls him and move on to new and better things that allows him to remain sane, happy and productive. In this sense, Candide comes to represent change and development while Pangloss remains the apex of the unchanging and inflexible.

While most satire grows stale and dated, Candide remains as fresh as it was when Voltaire wrote it. In the end, as Candide wisely shows us, in the best of all possible worlds, we all tend our gardens as best as we possibly can.

When Voltaire's Candide was originally published in 1759, it must have really been something. Voltaire's goal, of course, was to satirize the haberdash Liebnizian view holding that everything that happens in this world - the good, the bad, the ugly - is all part of God's omnibenevolent plan, and hence, ultimately, for the good. Thus, by watching young Candide, a boy schooled in this philosophy, endure mindless tragedy upon mindless tragedy while despearetely trying to decipher how each fits into God's all-good plan, we see how ridiculous such a view is.

While this everything-is-for-the-best-no-matter-how-bad-it-actually-seems view is not AS active today as it was in Voltaire's 1759, we still see a good bit of it. Witness Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell telling us that the 9/11 suicide attacks were God's way of punishing us for leftward political activities (as if an all-powerful God couldn't come up with some better way to get a message to us than this). And how many times, in the face of tragedy, do we hear platitudes like "It is all ultimately for the best," or, "God works in mysterious ways."

In a sense, Candide is as biting and prescient now as it must have been in 1759. Of course, Voltaire isn't trying to disprove this Liebnizian idea. Satire can't disprove; that's what philosophic tomes are for. Rather, Voltaire is simply trying to show it's absurdity by allowing us to laugh at it (in the comfort of our own homes, of course). So those looking for an actual debunking of the "problem of evil" (as it is known in philosophy) should look elsewhere.

Another warning: as fiction - purely as fiction - Candide is not a good work at all. It basically consists of the main character going from place to place (searching for his lover) only to encounter one attrocity after another. If one throws out the satire element, then Candide is a rambling, disjointed and drastically inferior Don Quixote. But as satire, the work is innervating and deep.

Candide is a short and rewarding read. Follow the adventures of Candide, an honest and naive young man who grows up in a baron's household in Germany, on his loss-of-innocence journey. Kicked out of his house after he is caught in a tryst with the baron's daughter, Candide is banished to wander the cruel world. From forced conscription to the Inquisition, Candide sees wonder upon wonder, always holding fast to the teachings of Master Pangloss, his philosophy teacher, that all things (no matter how bad) are right--because they must be so, and picking up new friends on the way.

Candide is Voltaire's Swift-like satirical commentary on the society of his day (Europe) and all its dirty laundry--the hypocrisy, greed, cruelty, lecherousness, and demagoguery. Not a single ethnic, political, or religious faction is spared. Voltaire wants Candide, and his reader, to cast off our complacency and irrational optimism, embracing instead demonstrable truths and the responsibility to make things right.

In short, Voltaire wants Candide to live up to his name, and maybe it is the most innocent and gullible hero needed to restore the integrity Voltaire saw lacking in the men and women of his day--a new beginning.

I first read "Candide" when I was still in HS, around 4 or 5 years ago. Maybe it was because I was forced to read it for a class, but I really didn't "get it" back then. Having some free time while I waited for my next amazon.com book order to arrive, I decided to pick up "Candide" once again. This time around, my experience was much more enlightening.

"Candide" revolves around the title character, who has had it instilled upon him by Dr. Pangloss, his personal philosopher, that we live in the "best of all possible worlds." After seeing Pangloss fooling around with the chambermaid, Candide decided to replicate the acts with the Lady Cunegonde. After being discovered by the Baron, Candide is swiftly kicked (on his rump) out of Westphalia. This sets into motion a long and unbelievable set of events. Candide travels across half the known world in hopes of once again being reunited with Lady Cunegonde. Calamity upon calmity is witnessed by Candide yet he remains steadfast in his belief that everything works out for the best. To fully understand the insanity that marks this book you have to read it for yourself. I would do it an injustice it by saying anything further. I will say that the ending is quite a change of pace from the rest of the book.

Although it isn't hard to discern that this story is wholy unrealistic, it is written in such a way that you feel it is somewhat plausible. This might stem from the fact that our society has done a 180 and is composed mainly of cynics and pessimists. Although it was written around 250 years ago, many of the basic issues that Voltaire attacks are still around today. While we don't have the Inquisition murdering people today, religious intolerance is still deep rooted in many humans.

There are many reasons I so highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, something you can finish in only a couple hours. It also has several fantastical scenes that will leave you chuckling in disbelief. Finally, it is a good book to see exactly how much our world (at least the Western half) has changed.

The story of Candide greatly affected the way I perceive occurances on a daily basis. I've always lived with a very optimistic outlook on life, assuming things will always turn out for the best. After reading the tragedies young Candide had to cope with and the way that he handled them, I realized that such a naive approach to life could be very dangerous. The proper amount of optimism is always good because it keeps hopes alive, but being irrationally optimistic in certain circumstances can often result in dire consequences.

It [optimism] is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst."

With satirical wit and humor, the great French Enlightenment thinker Voltaire espouses his philosophical beliefs in "Candide," an 18th century masterpiece. At first, the intent of "Candide" may be a bit difficult to discern. If you have a mindset that this is a flowery treatise on Enlightenment philosophy, you may be disappointed (or relieved). "Candide" is neither realistic nor didactic. In fact, one can almost view it as a dark comedy or a biting satire, for most of the circumstances are absurd and far-fetched, to say the least.

Although Candide ("The Optimist") is the protagonist, his teacher Pangloss is the most important character, for Pangloss is a magnificent (or so Candide thinks) philosopher who espouses the eternal optimistic view - no matter what evil befalls humankind, it is part of a perfect master plan. Indeed, this is the "best of all worlds". Despite being stricken with syphilis, hanged, nearly dissected, enslaved, losing an arm, ear and nose, burned and drowned, he maintains this worldview until his last dying breath. As a foil to Pangloss, Martin is an eternal pessimist. Yet, while this worldview may be more pragramtic in an imperfect world, it nevertheless discounts true good in the world and can also be a hindrance. Indeed, Voltaire criticizes both extreme optimism and extreme pessimism.

"Candide" is Voltaire's forum for exposing the hypocrisy and brutality of the world he lived in. Voltaire bashes Catholicism by repeated references to gay clergy and the illegitimate child of the Pope. Voltaire shows disdain for Protesant zealots by illustrating the contemptible treatment of Candide when he expresses doubt that the Pope is the devil. Voltaire ridicules the aristocracy with the character of Cunengard's brother, a homosexual German baron. Voltaire ridicules the monarchy by virtue of six deposed kings bemoaning their fates in a village inn. Voltaire satirizes do-nothing philosophers through Pangloss and Martin. Voltaire rips Islam through the sultans and princes of Turkey. Anyway, you get the picture. Even the relatively progressive country of England is not immune to Voltaire's criticism.

Another myth that Voltaire dispels is the Utopian ideal, embodied in the mythical city of El Dorado in South America. In this city, there is no religion, prisons, or crimes. The roads are paved with gold and diamonds and even the most destitute denizen lives a carefree, fulfilling life. There is no need for money, despite the land's innumerable riches. Yet, this utopia is nearly inaccessible to the outside world, as Candide stumbles upon it by a freak of nature. Although this utopia is perfect, no one will ever reach it again. In this way, Voltaire seems to imply that the pursuit of a utopia on earth is a fruitless endeavor.

So what exactly is Voltaire's worldview? Through Zenoida, a desposed Danish noblewoman, Voltaire expresses his philosophies. Although we are all children of Providence, we are not exempt from sorrow, misery, and grievous atrocities, for life is a conglomeration of both pain and pleasure. The best one can do is to better the community one lives in and to follow one's conscience. Idleness and philosophizing without action is a useless endeavor.

"Wait a minute - who the #@%! is Zenoida and since when was Pangloss burned and drowned. I've read the entire book and there's no reference to either." Ah, yes, most novels only present Part I of "Candide," where our merry adventurers our left to live out a fulfulling life on a modest farm in Turkey. But there's more to this story. Do yourself a favor and download Part II of Candide, easily obtainable on the internet through a free literature site, such as the Gutenberg Project. In Part II, Voltaire presents a tidy conclusion for Candide and his companions, while providing more items for contemplation. Honestly, I found Part II (which is shorter than Part I) a more enjoyable read.

Candide, which is subtitled Optimism, was written in 1759, and is proof that a sharp wit and biting satire was just as much appreciated in Voltaire's time, as it is today.

Candide is the life story of a fictional character named Candide. He is a naive, innocent, and optimistic sort of person. If you ever feel that life has treated you unfairly, then you have nothing to complain about if you compare yourself to poor Candide. Just about everything bad imaginable happens to him during the course of his life. Fortunately, at least Voltaire leaves him still alive at the end of the book.

Although the book is funny and fast paced (my copy has 115 pages), it can best be appreciated by recognizing the author's intention. Candide is Voltaire's commentary on the church's prevailing philosophy at the time.

In Voltaire's time, the church preached that because God is perfect, he would only create the best of all possible worlds. To create a lesser world would imply that God was less than perfect. I don't believe Voltaire's argument was against this philosophy per se, but rather against the way it was used to justify all the evil found in the world.

The "best of all possible worlds" proponents used the argument to justify all bad things as a necessary part of the world and so bad things should be accepted as just another part of life. However, Voltaire's philosophy was that "we must cultivate our gardens", i.e., help the good to grow while pulling out the weeds. Greed, lust, vice, etc., were not necessary in Voltaire's opinion and we should make every attempt to ward off such evils rather than merely accept them.

The "best of all possible worlds" philosophy is exemplified in the book by Candide's teacher, Dr. Pangloss (a footnote says that Pangloss means "all-tongue"). Pangloss teaches Candide this philosophy and Candide tries to use it throughout the book to justify the bad things that happen to him. Voltaire uses this approach to ridicule proponents of the "best of all possible worlds" argument for why evil things happen, and takes us on an exciting and funny adventure in the process.

Candide is certainly one of the best books you could ever read. After all, there must be some reason the book is still popular today and has even been made into musical plays. Other quick Amazon picks include, White Noise by DeLillo, WILL@epicqwest.com by Tom Grimes

Candide is my favorite book, and I've read it multiple times in boh french and english. This is by far the worst english translation I've come across. It makes absolutely no attempt to preserve the grammatical structure of Voltaire's original, and consequently much of the irony and wit is lost. Read Candide, but not this copy.
The Signet edition is not bad.