Satire In Candide

Voltaire had criticized society in his book Candide, that discussed the story of a young man who traveled the world to find the perfect place. Voltaire wanted to change his society to become better by addressing the issues of people, governments, and religions and society in general in a sarcastic way. He addressed Candide as himself, the white hearted man with good and pure intentions to understand and fix the world. And addressed Pangloss the optimistic philosopher with positive views to all matters as his super-ego, that always interpreted tragedies in an optimistic way. On the other hand, he addressed Martin the pessimist philosopher who always viewed the negative side of every situation as his negative side. Voltaire seemed like if he

The story shows Candide as a naïve man who had a pure heart and expected others to be like him too. However, throughout his voyage around the world, he saw many selfish and dishonest people who only cared about taking advantage of others to benefit themselves. As the good Anabaptist died in the sea trying to save the sailor, the sailor stole what he can and only saved himself to the shore of Lisbon. And even during the earthquake that killed thousand and destroyed the city, he had stolen from victims and dead people to benefit himself. Voltaire showed that the absence of just law is normal when the justice government does not exist and the noblemen and religious people only work to benefit themselves. Thus, the people will also be infected by the disease of greed and only work to benefit themselves as well. That was also indicated in the story of Candide and the Dutch Merchant who robbed Candide, that episode shows that Candide was robbed by both the Merchant and the judge who was supposed to bring justice. These misfortunate situations alongside wars, violence and the acts of injustice had awakened the evil within people and overcame the good inside them. As it was indicated by Voltaire in in the story as Candide killed the Jew and the Inquisitor, Cunegonde sparingly asked: “How is it that you, who were born so gentle, could kill in two minutes a Jew and a prelate?” (20). Voltaire used Cunegonde to question the purity of Candide as if he would never commit a crime like that, but Candide replied: “My dear girl, when a man is in love, jealous and just whipped by the inquisition, he is no longer himself” (20). That describe that part of injustice and violence that can change the person vision of himself and the world, the change from being human who lived in a society with other humans to an animal who only worry about