In Candide, Voltaire uses sarcasm to explain his viewpoint of "reason plus action". His philosophy
is that it is not enough simply to believe in certain values and morals, but it is more important th
at the actions a person takes reflect those beliefs accurately. In addition, Voltaire argues that
life experience is necessary to the function of reason, meaning that the more experiences someone ha
s had in their life, the more knowledge they will have, and the more accurate that knowledge will be
. These principles can still be applied to life today, because what good are beliefs if they are ne
ver exercised? In the beginning of the novel, we see Voltaire's beliefs expressed through Candide, a
young, naïve man whose sole knowledge comes from that of Dr. Pangloss. Pangloss is a philosopher w
ho believes that "everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" (319). Without mu
ch experience living outside the Baron's castle in Westphalia, Candide has no other choice but to be
lieve his philosopher and his stories. The reader can immediately see that Voltaire is mocking othe
r philosophers of this era because Pangloss' ideals reek with sarcasm. However, no matter how ridicu
lous Pangloss' truths seem (i.e.: "noses were made to support spectacles, hence, we have spectacles"
[319]) Candide believed them until he had enough life experience to have reason to think otherwise.
This supports Voltaire's opinion that
Johnson 2 knowledge is not based on stories or philosophies
, but rather on actions and experience. Voltaire exhibits his belief that life experiences help to g
ain knowledge through the old woman and her story. In chapters 11 and 12, the old woman explains to
Candide and Cunègonde the horrors that she has experienced in her life. Her story helps to shape C
andide's view of life, and helps persuade him to change his way of thinking. She does not pity Cand
ide or Cunègonde for their misfortunes, nor does she try to find an explanation for their adversity,
but instead, claims that that is just how life is. She argues that of the sailors on their ship: "
if you find a single one who...has not often told himself that he is the most miserable of me, then
you may throw me overboard" (337). Her outlook on life was that people spend too much time feeling
sorry for themselves, when they should be thankful that they probably have it better than the man ne
xt to them. After all the suffering that the old woman has gone through, she is still able to able
to appreciate her life. Unlike Pangloss, whose philosophy on life was based on what he thought, the
old woman's philosophy on life was based on life experience and things that had actually happened t
o her. She was still an optimistic, however, because she believed that there is always someone who
has it worse than you do. It is not until Candide meets Martin that he sees the true outlook of the
pessimist. Martin represents the negative side to Voltaire's Johnson 3 philosophy, because his life
experiences have driven him to believe that life has no reason at all. He has had so many negative
encounters along his road through life that whatever reasonings he once had have been proved false.
However, Martin's character still follows Voltaire's philosophy because his outlook on life, althou
gh very negative, has been shaped by his actions and life experience. Cunègonde and the love story b
etween her and Candide also illustrate part of Voltaire's philosophy, and it is through this portion
of the novel that the author's sarcasm is expressed. Usually, love stories either have a happy or
a tragic ending, but in Candide, we find neither exists. The once beautiful Cunègonde has become ma
ngled and decrepit because of the terrible things that happened to her throughout the story, and Can
dide "at heart...had no real wish to marry Cunègonde" (376), which makes the reader wonder why Volta
ire would put these two characters through so much pain only to have them not want each other at the
end. The conclusion of the story helps to further instill Voltaire's point of view because if ever
ything would have turned out "for the best", then surely at least by the end of the novel Candide an
d Cunègonde would have found happiness. The author's ending pinpoints his philosophy by illustratin
g that although experiences in life and love, (whether good or bad), change our perspective, they do
not necessarily make us better people or make our lives happy. Johnson 4 All of the characters that
Candide meets in the story help to alter his view of the world. By the end of the story, Candide h
as his own view on life, which is very different from any of that of the other characters. He no lo
nger believes whatever anyone tells him, but instead has created his own outlook on life based on hi
s own actions and experiences that have taken place throughout the novel. And even though Pangloss
still truly believes that "all events are linked together in the best of possible worlds" (Voltaire,
379), Candide has realized that he no longer has to believe everything his philosopher says, but in
stead just goes on living his life, making up his mind as he goes along. It is this character, at th
e end of the story, that best represents Voltaire's beliefs. This is obvious because of all of the
sarcasm that Voltaire uses throughout the story. He is trying to convey to the reader that whatever
philosophies and reasons others may have, one should disregard them and go on living their own life
, letting their own experiences shape their beliefs as opposed to someone else's. Candide is the mo
del that Voltaire uses to contradict the other character's viewpoints, and in turn to show the reade
r what Voltaire truly believes. Candide, apart from being enjoyable to read, is still relevant in ou
r times because we, as a society, still follow Voltaire's philosophy of "reason plus action". Peop
le in today's world have to have life experience in order to gain credibility with peers or co-worke
rs. It is not Johnson 5 enough to have reason without having evidence to back up a story. This is
where Pangloss' philosophy is flawed, because although he had an interesting premise with valid argu
ments, once Candide, Cunègonde, and other characters in the story tested these arguments, it was fou
nd that his reasoning was not useful in the everyday world. The character of Martin contradicts Pan
gloss, because he bases his entire outlook on life solely on the experiences that he has had, which
causes him to be a pessimist. If Martin would have tried to analyze his experiences, he may have fo
und that there were indeed some reasons to explain the dreadful things events that had occurred thro
ughout his life. Voltaire uses these two extremes to help the reader understand that a balance is n
eeded between experience and reason. Voltaire conveys his message through subtle details as well as
blatant sarcasm. This allows readers to identify with the characters and the story line, but more im
portantly, to understand the author's viewpoint on life. Voltaire's real premise in Candide was not
just to make fun of other philosophers at the time, but also to teach valuable lesson to his reader
s: Life experience is a necessary part in defining who you are and what you believe.
candide voltai
re uses sarcasm explain viewpoint reason plus action philosophy that enough simply believe certain v
alues morals more important that actions person takes reflect those beliefs accurately addition volt
aire argues that life experience necessary function reason meaning more experiences someone their li
fe more knowledge they will have accurate knowledge will these principles still applied life today b
ecause what good beliefs they never exercised beginning novel voltaire beliefs expressed through can
dide young whose sole knowledge comes from pangloss pangloss philosopher believes everything best th
is best possible worlds without much experience living outside baron castle westphalia candide other
choice believe philosopher stories reader immediately mocking other philosophers this because pangl
oss ideals reek with sarcasm however matter ridiculous truths seem noses were made support spectacle
s hence have spectacles believed them until enough experience have reason think otherwise this suppo
rts opinion johnson based stories philosophies rather actions exhibits belief experiences help gain
through woman story chapters woman explains gonde horrors experienced story helps shape view helps p
ersuade change thinking does pity gonde their misfortunes does find explanation their adversity inst
ead claims just argues sailors ship find single often told himself most miserable then throw overboa
rd outlook people spend much time feeling sorry themselves when they should thankful probably better
than next them after suffering woman gone through still able able appreciate unlike whose philosoph
y based what thought philosophy based things actually happened still optimistic however because beli
eved there always someone worse than until meets martin sees true outlook pessimist martin represent
s negative side johnson experiences driven believe many negative encounters along road whatever reas
onings once been proved false however martin character follows outlook although very negative been s
haped actions gonde love story between also illustrate part portion novel author sarcasm expressed u
sually love stories either happy tragic ending find neither exists once beautiful become mangled dec
repit terrible things happened throughout heart real wish marry which makes reader wonder would thes
e characters much pain only them want each other conclusion helps further instill point view everyth
ing would turned best then surely least novel would found happiness author ending pinpoints illustra
ting although love whether good change perspective necessarily make better people make lives happy j
ohnson characters meets help alter view world which very different from characters longer believes w
hatever anyone tells instead created taken place throughout even though truly believes events linked
together possible worlds realized longer everything philosopher says instead just goes living makin
g mind goes along character represents obvious uses throughout trying convey reader whatever philoso
phies reasons others should disregard living letting shape opposed someone else model uses contradic
t character viewpoints turn show what truly apart from being enjoyable read relevant times society f
ollow plus action people today world order gain credibility with peers workers enough without having
evidence back where flawed although interesting premise with valid arguments once tested these argu
ments found reasoning useful everyday world contradicts bases entire solely which causes pessimist t
ried analyze found there were indeed some reasons explain dreadful things events occurred extremes h
elp understand balance needed between conveys message subtle details well blatant allows readers ide
ntify line importantly understand author viewpoint real premise just make philosophers time also tea
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