Home > Candide Summary & Study Guide > Candide Group > Discussion Board

Hi! I have mulitple questions for Candide. Here they are:

1. How do Cnadide and Martin interpret the battle and the world? HOw is this interpretationi different form what Pangloss might say? 

2. List at least 3 different examples of satire in Chapters 20 - 30. What is Voltaire satirizing? Why did you choose this example?

3. Pangloss uses the philosophy of hte Optismist ot account for events and happening to himself, to those around him, and to the world. In one instance he shows that without the loss of his nose to syphilis, COlumbus would never have discovered America. Is Pangloss's philosophy logical? What's tis role in the story?

4. Through the adventrues of Candide and his friends, Voltarie illustrates the supposed ridiculousness ofthe philosophy that "all is for the best of all possible worlds". Does he achieve this? In Candide an effective satire?

5. THa Anabaptist James makes thi statement to Candide and Pnagloss: "Man must have somehat altered the coruse of nature; for they were not born wolves, yet they have become wolves. God did not give them 24 pounders or bayonets, yet they have made themselves baynonets and guns to destroy each toher." Do yo uagree with Voltarie's assessment of human nature?

6. What doe sthe cultivation of Candide's garden symbolize? Is Candide wiser at the end of the story? What message is Voltaire sending to the reader?

** Please pardon the typos. :)

Hope this helps anyone. :)