Candide by Voltaire

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Candide by Voltaire

The narrative being written about is Candide by Voltaire. The discussion will focus on the character, Pangloss, due to the role that he assumes in shaping and enlightening the protagonist, especially concerning issues centered on evil. As a mentor to the protagonist, Pangloss guides Candide who is a rather hopeless person despite possessing a benevolent heart. Nonetheless, the character in question informs Candide about viewing the world in a positive light irrespective of the circumstances that encompass a person. Initially, Pangloss teaches Candide about the existence of God and the possessive role that he assumes in the world of humankind. After all, he believes that God constitutes the sole creator of the world that he inhabits. Because of his belief in the subsistence of a benevolent Supreme Being, Pangloss argues that the world is good hence illustrating his optimism as well as the basis for the narrative itself.

The most fascinating aspect regarding Pangloss is based on his understanding of evil. Since he believes that the world is actually good, Pangloss argues that people believed that certain things were wrong and immoral due to the insufficient relationship they possessed with God. For him, evil is more of a result that arises from the relationship between cause and effect. Pangloss’ role further reveals itself when he becomes the basis for Candide’s rejection of the optimism that he has consistently been teaching from the start of the narrative. Because of his belief that evil is redeemable, Candide manages to enlighten his way of thought by looking at unalterable evils derived from aspects such as natural catastrophes and human nature. With this stance, Candide comes into his own thoughts and perspectives without relying on the teachings dispensed to him by Pangloss. Essentially, Pangloss functions as the influential key agent for Candide’s predisposition towards enlightenment.