A Thesis Statement on the novel Candide by Voltaire Essay

non everything is exclusively in all for the outstrip. The novel Candide by Voltaire delved into the miseries of men, politics and religious belief where every underprivileged event that happens to the individual is to be accepted since it is all for the best. Many times in the novel, Candides esteemed professor, Pangloss remarked that Everything is all for the best. For his part, Voltaire seems to be questioning the fancy of fatalism. Fatalism is the view that individuals are powerless to do anything other that what we proceedingually 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. wholly these events would have made a weaker man fall on his knees and threat the heavens but not Candide. After all, everything is for the best. Nevertheless, Candide retains his good pass on, generosity and ironically, his optimism. The concept of fatalism is winnin g the easy way out.There are many instances where Candide could have avoided much(prenominal) unfortunate circumstances like losing his sheep as well as his treasure. Not only that, he squandered his remaining treasure to unworthy individuals. another(prenominal) instance was when Candide was flogged. He hardly accepted it. He was thinking along the lines that everything is all for the best. moreover to think about it, how un mediocre is it to be lashed a thousand times for organism misunderstood as deserting. In roughly way, Voltaire was criticizing citizens who could accept the unjust and irrational decisions of their government. In connection with the supposition of fatalism is the concept of free volition. If humans were given the gift of free will, then the idea that everything is all for the best would be inconsistent. A someone who has free will would be capable of shaping his or her avouch destiny. In berth of this, Candide should be able to change the events that w erent 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, Cunegondes 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 comprise 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 deliver be establish he killed a Jesuit, Cunegondes brother, the Baron. In this time, Candide thanked his good fortune for cleansing a Jesuit to avoid being eaten. It should have crossed his bear in mind that if he had not stabbed the Baron, then they would have not been in that line in the first place. It is easy to blame every happening in life as part of a grand plan. Tha t everything is destined and fated. But if it is, then why is there free will?It could not merely be some trick to man to think that he has accountant over the events in life. Constant striving to be better is what makes the adult male go round. The discovery of unknown places and uncharted waters are the reaping of motivation and will of men. In essence, mans free will is the motive. All the consequences of ones actions are due to ones interactions.Candides optimism, naivete and innocence may have drawn its origination from white perch Cunegonde. Shes beautiful and charming and guileless. To Candide, shes the one reason to remain living despite all the miseries of the world. In some ways, she had too been the reason why in the later part of the novel, Candide encountered many unfortunate events. He even left the utopian world of El Dorado just to be with his beloved Cunegonde. Cunegonde symbolizes Candides optimism.In the novel, Voltaire also portrays the human beings love o f life. The old woman was acknowledged as the person who encountered the most unfortunate miseries. However, in spite of all that, shes admits that she mum loves life and never would she have killed herself. The All for the best concept was at last refuted and rejected by Candide. In the novel, Pangloss said to Candide All events are link up up in this best of all possible worlds for, if you had not been expelled from the shocking castle by hard kicks in your backside for love of Mademoiselle Cunegonde, if you had not been clapped into the Inquisition, if you had not wandered about America on foot, if you had not stuck your stigma in the Baron, if you had not lost all your sheep from the land of El Dorado, you would not be eating candied citrons and pistachios here. Upon which Candide replied, Tis well said, but we essential cultivate our gardens. (Voltaire, 1949) This shows that nothing happens without a reason. Many times in the novel, cause and effect was mentioned. That is correct everything that happens would have an meet effect. Every action has an equal reaction. Even as simple as growing fruits and vegetables is equivalent to age and nights of hard work. They did not just magically appear from the ground or fallen from heaven. Its the same with what happened to Candide and his companions. Some events may have been the act of God, but it is up to man to ensure that everything would be all right.ReferencesRice, H., Fatalism, The Stanford encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2002 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http//plato.stanford.edu/entries/fatalism/Voltaire (1949). The portable Voltaire (B.R.Redman, Ed.). Canada McMillan.