Themes: Human Condition

The central theme of the novel explores the human condition, with Candide contemplating the most effective way to navigate life. Throughout his journey, he is initially educated in the philosophy of optimism. This belief system is all he knows; however, if Candide were a character who simply accepted optimism without question, the story would lack depth and hope. Instead, he challenges and ultimately dismisses the philosophy of optimism.

Candide's...

Themes: Religion

The elderly man in Eldorado provides the most positive view on religion. The residents of Eldorado, who are always in harmony, are all priests who never pray for anything. Instead, they "constantly thank him." This depiction stands in stark contrast to Candide's experiences with religion: "You have no monks who teach, argue, rule, plot, and burn people who don't agree with them?" The old man replies, "we'd be mad if we did." For both the...

Themes: Happiness

Martin and Candide participate in a game that is central to their discussion about optimism. They place bets on whether the people passing by are genuinely happy. Candide consistently bets that they are happy, and he invariably loses. Whenever happiness seems apparent, it is revealed—often by Martin—to be just a cover for emotions like anger, sadness, and discontent. Happiness, it appears, is simply a tool to survive another day of wretched...

Themes: War

In the novel, the concept of war is portrayed as far from noble. Instead, it is a brutal system governed by its own unique rules and logic. Candide experiences war firsthand as a conscripted soldier—detained and coerced into fighting. War is depicted as a total squandering of resources. A recurring theme is the idea of acting "in accordance with international law," a concept that remains pertinent today. For Voltaire, through the character of...

Themes: Optimism

In Candide, Voltaire explores the theme of optimism through a satirical lens, critiquing the philosophy of Leibnizian optimism, which claims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The protagonist, Candide, is taught by his tutor Pangloss to maintain an unwavering belief in this optimistic philosophy. However, as Candide embarks on a journey filled with misfortunes, he begins to question the validity of such optimism. The novella...

Themes: Suffering

In Candide, suffering is a pervasive theme that Voltaire uses to critique the philosophical optimism of his time. Through the misadventures of Candide and his companions, Voltaire illustrates the arbitrary nature of fortune and the universality of human misfortune. The novel presents suffering as an inherent part of human existence, challenging the notion that we live in the best of all possible worlds.

Voltaire emphasizes the universality of...