Candide: A truly foolish protagonist in a wise satire of optimistic philosophy
Voltaire's Candide, although the titular character of the satire that bears his name may draw the reader's emotional sympathy, is anything but a paradigm of philosophical wisdom. Instead, he functions as a kind of holy fool, a recipient of all of Pangloss' doctrine about how we live in the best of all possible worlds, despite evidence to the contrary. Voltaire uses Candide's credulousness and optimism as an example of how one should not behave, rather than how one should behave, in the face of the world's ills.
Candide's foolishness is not evident so much in believing Pangloss' words once, as he begins the tale relatively uneducated, a callow youth in love with Cunegund. But after hearing terrible story after terrible story, such as that of the legendary woman with only one buttock and seeing Pangloss apparently killed before him, Candide stubbornly resists amending his teacher's 'best of all possible worlds' doctrine. This inability to change his mind is what makes the main character truly a foolish man. Only does he change at the very end, but becomes embittered, rather than wiser as a result. He has refused to see the world clearly for so long, that once he has no choice other than to apprehend reality with its full force, it hurts him to see Cunegund grown ugly and shrill, and himself in mean and reduced circumstances.
He resolves to find some inner strength and bear down upon his ill temperament, to make his garden grow and to take pleasure in the simple tasks of life -- but he has already seen and sacrificed El Dorado, the legendary city of paradise he resolved to leave. The residents of El Dorado were so wise they played with jewels because of their commonness. But the lack of concern for the real trappings wealth displayed by these citizens was unfortunately parallel to the lack of concern Candide showed for reality, because he was so determined to see the world only in the way he was taught -- until it was too late. At the end, the protagonist determines, however, to ignore Pangloss, to tend his garden and to eat Cunegund's pastry as compensation.
Works Cited
Voltaire. "Candide." Online Literature edition last updated 1999. 2 Dec 2004. http://www.literature.org/authors/voltaire/candide/chapter-30.html
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