`Candide` Voltaire

A Thesis Statement on the novel Candide by Voltaire

In partial fulfillment

Of the requirements

Not everything is all for the best . The novel Candide by Voltaire delved into the miseries of men , politics and religion where every unfortunate event that happens to the individual is to be accepted since it is all for the best . Many times in the novel , Candide 's esteemed professor Pangloss remarked that Everything is all for the best . For his part Voltaire seems to be questioning the concept of fatalism . Fatalism is the view that

individuals are powerless to do anything other that what we actually do . It seems ironic that Candide remains optimistic despite all that he had experienced the banishment from the castle , the flogging by the soldiers and the sinking of the ship . All these events would have made a weaker man fall on his knees and curse the heavens but not Candide . After all , everything is for the best . Nevertheless Candide retains his goodwill , generosity and ironically , his optimism The concept of fatalism is taking the easy way out . There are many instances where Candide could have avoided such unfortunate circumstances like losing his sheep as well as his treasure . Not only that , he squandered his remaining treasure to unworthy individuals Another instance was when Candide was flogged . He merely accepted it . He was thinking along the lines that everything is all for the best . But to think about it , how unjust is it to be lashed a thousand times for being misunderstood as deserting . In some way , Voltaire was criticizing citizens who could accept the unjust and irrational decisions of their government

In connection with the idea of fatalism is the concept of free will . If humans were given the gift of free will , then the idea that everything is all for the best would be inconsistent . A person who has free will would be capable of shaping his or her own destiny . In lieu of this Candide should be able to change the events that weren 't suppose to happen to him or if they did happen , then the result would not have been so disastrous or it could have at least been minimized . One example had been where Candide stabbed the Baron , Cunegonde 's brother . He could have restrained himself and could have conducted an oral argument instead What Candide did was rash and unwise that it was no surprise that it would end disastrously . Today , a person is expected to act and speak tactfully . There would be chaos if everyone wanted to have their own way . Another example was when Candide and his companion were nearly eaten by the Oreillons but were saved because he killed a Jesuit Cunegonde 's brother , the Baron . In this time , Candide thanked his good fortune for killing a Jesuit to avoid being eaten . It should have crossed his mind that if he had not stabbed the Baron , then they would have not been in that situation in the first place...