Candide facts for kids
The title page of the 1759 book, which says, "Candide, or Optimism, translated from the German of Dr. Ralph."
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| Author | Voltaire |
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| Original title | Candide, ou l'Optimisme |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
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| Publisher | 1759: Cramer, Marc-Michel Rey, Jean Nourse, Lambert, and others |
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Publication date
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January 1759 |
Candide, ou l'Optimisme (pronounced kon-DEED) is a famous French story. It was written by Voltaire, a well-known philosopher from the Age of Enlightenment, and first came out in 1759. This short novel is a satire, which means it uses humor and exaggeration to criticize ideas or people. Many English versions have been published, with titles like Candide: or, All for the Best.
The story follows a young man named Candide. He lives a very protected life in a beautiful, perfect place, like a Garden of Eden. His teacher, Professor Pangloss, teaches him about "optimism." This idea suggests that everything that happens, even bad things, is actually for the best in "the best of all possible worlds."
But Candide's easy life suddenly ends. He then travels the world and sees many terrible things. He experiences great difficulties and slowly realizes that life is not always perfect. By the end, Voltaire suggests a practical idea: "we must cultivate our garden." This means we should focus on improving our own lives and surroundings, instead of just believing everything is already perfect.
Candide is known for its wild, imaginative, and fast-paced story. It's a bit like a picaresque novel, where the hero travels a lot and has many adventures. It also makes fun of common adventure and romance stories. Many events in the book are based on real historical happenings.
Voltaire uses Candide to make fun of many things. He criticizes certain ideas about religion, governments, armies, and other philosophers. Most of all, he challenges the idea of "optimism" taught by a philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
When Candide was first published, it was very popular but also caused a lot of trouble. It was secretly printed and then banned in many places. People thought it was disrespectful to religion and challenged authority. But over time, it became very famous.
Today, Candide is seen as one of Voltaire's greatest works. It's often taught in schools and is considered an important part of Western literature. Many writers and artists have been inspired by this story.
Contents
What Inspired Voltaire to Write Candide?
Voltaire was inspired to write Candide by several real-life events. Two very important ones were the Seven Years' War and the terrible 1755 Lisbon earthquake. These disasters are mentioned often in the book.
The earthquake, a huge tsunami, and fires in Lisbon shocked many people. It especially affected a philosophical idea called "optimism." This idea, from a philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, suggested that God is good, and therefore, everything that happens, even bad things, is for the best. They believed we live in "the best of all possible worlds."
But after seeing the horrors of the Lisbon earthquake, many thinkers found it hard to believe this optimistic view.
Voltaire strongly disagreed with this "optimism" after the earthquake. He felt that if this was truly the best world, it should be much better. In Candide, he uses sarcasm to describe the earthquake as one of the worst disasters "in the best of all possible worlds."
How Candide Was Written and Published
Voltaire was already a famous writer when he wrote Candide. He wrote it mostly in 1758, while living near Geneva and visiting a German prince. There's a popular story that he wrote it in just three days, but this is likely not true.
The book was published very secretly in January 1759, in five different countries at once. This was because its ideas were considered risky and might get the author into trouble. Many copies were printed in places like Geneva, Amsterdam, and London.
Voltaire didn't like illustrations in his books. He thought they were unnecessary. But later, artists like Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune and Paul Klee created drawings for Candide.
Who Are the Main Characters?
- Candide: The main character. He is the Baron's nephew, though not officially recognized. He is in love with Cunégonde.
- Cunégonde: The Baron's daughter. She is in love with Candide.
- Professor Pangloss: The Baron's teacher. He is described as "the greatest philosopher" and believes everything is for the best.
- The Old Woman: Cunégonde's maid. She travels with Candide and Cunégonde. She is the daughter of a powerful religious leader.
- Cacambo: Candide's loyal servant in America. He has lived in both Spain and Latin America.
- Martin: A Dutch philosopher who travels with Candide. He believes the world is full of problems.
- The Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh: Cunégonde's brother. He is thought to be killed but later becomes a Jesuit priest. He does not approve of Candide and Cunégonde's marriage.
Secondary Characters
- The baron and baroness of Thunder-ten-Tronckh: Cunégonde's parents. They are killed by soldiers.
- The king of the Bulgars: Represents Frederick II.
- Jacques the Anabaptist: A kind Dutch manufacturer who helps Candide. He drowns while trying to save someone.
- Don Issachar: A Jewish banker in Portugal. Cunégonde is forced to live with him. Candide kills him.
- The Grand Inquisitor of Portugal: A powerful religious leader who sentences Candide and Pangloss. Cunégonde is also forced to live with him. Candide kills him.
- Don Fernando d'Ibarra y Figueroa y Mascarenes y Lampourdos y Souza: The Spanish governor of Buenos Aires. He wants to marry Cunégonde.
- The king of El Dorado: He helps Candide and Cacambo leave El Dorado and become rich.
- Mynheer Vanderdendur: A Dutch ship captain who steals most of Candide's riches. His ship later sinks.
- The abbot of Périgord: A man who tries to trick Candide and Martin in Paris.
- The marchioness of Parolignac: A Parisian woman with a fancy title.
- The scholar: A guest of the "marchioness" who argues with Candide about art.
- Paquette: A chambermaid from the castle who gave Pangloss a serious illness. She later works in a difficult situation in Venice.
- Friar Giroflée: A monk who spends time with Paquette.
- Signor Pococurante: A rich Venetian noble who dislikes most famous artworks.
- Six dethroned monarchs: Candide and Martin dine with these former kings in Venice:
- Ahmed III
- Ivan VI of Russia
- Charles Edward Stuart
- Augustus III of Poland
- Stanisław Leszczyński
- Theodore of Corsica
What Does Candide Teach Us?
Candide makes fun of different philosophical ideas, especially "optimism" from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. This idea is also called Panglossianism, after Candide's teacher. Voltaire shows many terrible things happening in the world, like the Lisbon earthquake, illnesses, and shipwrecks. He also shows human-made evils like war and crime. He uses these examples to question how everything can be "for the best."
Professor Pangloss, Candide's teacher, is a strong supporter of this optimism. Voltaire makes fun of Pangloss's ideas by showing how silly his reasoning can be. For example, Pangloss might say that noses were made for glasses, so we have glasses. He always finds a way to say "all is for the best," even after terrible events.
Pangloss even tries to explain why a serious illness is good. He says that if a famous explorer hadn't caught this illness, we wouldn't have chocolate! Candide, who is easily influenced, tries to believe Pangloss. But as he faces more and more problems, Candide slowly loses his belief in this extreme optimism.
Voltaire's criticism is mainly aimed at Leibniz's idea that "this is the best of all possible worlds." He doesn't focus on other optimistic ideas. Voltaire also wrote a more serious poem about the Lisbon disaster, which shows his deep thoughts on the topic.
Candide's Lasting Impact
Candide is Voltaire's most popular work and is seen as a major achievement in Western literature. Some experts call it a "miniature classic" because it's short. But it's the only one of Voltaire's works that is still widely read today.
It's listed among the most important books ever written. Candide has influenced many modern writers, especially those who use black comedy, a type of humor that deals with dark or serious subjects in a lighthearted way.
Candide has influenced many other books. For example, some dystopian science-fiction novels, like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, refer to Candide's idea of "the best of all possible worlds."
The story is also compared to modern plays in the Theatre of the Absurd. These plays, like Waiting for Godot, show characters finding comfort in friendship when facing a difficult world. The band Bloodhound Gang even mentions Candide in one of their songs.
Candide in Music and Other Stories
Many other works have been created based on Candide. Soon after it was published, other writers created their own sequels and imitations.
One of the most famous adaptations is the operetta Candide, with music by the famous American composer Leonard Bernstein. It first opened on Broadway in 1956. While the first show had some challenges, the music was highly praised and became very popular. The operetta has been revised and performed many times since then.
Candide has also been adapted for radio and television. Other authors have written new novels inspired by Voltaire's story, sometimes changing the setting or characters. For example, the novel Candy adapted the story for a modern audience.
In 2009, a play called Optimism, based on Candide, opened in Australia and toured to other festivals. These adaptations show how much Candide continues to inspire artists today.
See also
- List of French-language authors
- Pollyanna
