Candides Philosophy
The universal philosophy upheld by Candide through the majority of the book is optimism. Occasionally Candide would waver his principal philosophy, but Candide would always return to its wisdom once his situation was favorable. As the story continues, Candide and his companions understand the value of work and focus less on their individual philosophies. At the end of the book working on their farm helps to alleviate the consequences of the Three Great Evils. Working also expunged any social casting regarding to ones economic upbringing.
At the end of the novel, Candide and his companions find happiness in raising vegetables in their garden. After being poor, sexually frustrated, and overwhelmingly bored Candide and his companions are questioning what is worse, all of their previous misfortunes combined or the mental torture of being completely void of any stimulation. Id like to know which is worse: to be raped or to stay here doing nothing. Thats a hard question, (pg117) One day after meeting a Turke, Candide pondered their conversation. Even though the Turk had only 20 acres of land he was happy. The Turk was nor bored or poor, thats when Candide decided he and his companions needed to go and work in [their] garden. Our work keeps us free of three great evils: boredom, vice, and poverty. (pg 119)
In the book Candide, Voltaire gave many examples showing that ones standard of living is never permanent. In every instance whether it be the fall of the Old Woman or the fall of Cunegonde, the person of previously higher social nobility is reduced to working as a servant or a slave. This eliminates any illusion predetermined social casting and brings forth the harsh reality that anyone can fall to the bottom and anyone can climbe to the top. Candide was given one hundred red sheep laden with the mud and sand of Eldorado.(71)
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