CORRECTIONS

Candide by Voltaire
I found that from the twenty second chapter until the end of the novel the main character was surrounded by pessimistic people that started to weaken his grasp on Pangloss' optimism. The man that Candide chose to accompany him through all of his voyages in an annoyingly sour man who has nothing but negative words coming out of his mouth. "I have travelled to several provinces. In some you find half the people are fools...there are some parts of the country where people are simple and stupid, and others where they pretend to be witty." This is Martin, Candide's chosen partner generalizing the demeanour of the French, Candide optimistically asks about Paris hoping for a more enthusiastic response but again gets the same tone. It frustrates me how negative everyone is in the novel, I don't understand how Candide can bear being with such exasperating characters and not lose any faith in Pangloss' theories. All Martin has to say for humanity as a whole is this: "If hawks have always had the same character, why should you suppose that men have changed theirs?" Martin sees no hope for the human race but sees them condemned to be useless, fretful creatures until the end of time. Thus, Martin in this case can not even be swayed by his companions optimism but would rather laugh in his face at his ridiculous ideas. Martin may be right about some of the tragedies of humans and their nature but he turns a blind eye to humanity's achievement. Voltaire made him this way to give Candide a task or something to do, but we learn that Martin will never change his views.All of the characters in the novel have had very terrible experiences and this fuels all of their bitterness towards life except for Candide's naive optimism that was brought upon him by the "wise" Pangloss. When Candide and Martin arrive in France and flaunt their wealth they are flocked by greedy people who want to take advantage of them. Candide being so positive and clueless doesn't know any better and falls into the hands of many selfish men and women. The fact that Candide can't even see the evil in a person who only looks to seek benefits from him maddens me because of his plain stupidity. Voltaire made his main character this way to exaggerate his point and making easier to target him, in the twenty second chapter he even gets used by a woman who seduces him into giving her his diamond rings, Voltaire uses sensuality to show another weakness not only in Candide but maybe in men in general that when confronted by sex, they can be easily persuaded. Though Candide is deeply resentful of his actions his weakness still shows and that is the point that the author may be trying to tell his readers, to show his character's weaknesses. When the French man that had become very friendly with Candide tries to arrest him but is bought off by some jewels the author portrays corruption maybe in the government but at least in man kind. How a man can change his opinions when faces with valuables is rather pathetic but Voltaire paints it beautifully.In a following chapter Candide begins his futile search for Cunegonde, months go by without the reader noticing and I realized that maybe the author doesn't include time because that is how Candide lives his life. Sometimes a moment can go on for pages and months can go by in one, Candide seems to live oblivious to his surroundings at times especially if Lady Cunegonde is involved. I think that the author proved how desolate the world and the people in it had become when Candide and Martin make a bet on a couple's happiness, "but his wife who was violently jealous used to beat me unmercifully every day!" This quote was said by the girl Pacquette who feigned her satisfaction for life as a survival method. I can imagine Candide's feeling of hopelessness at this point, he can't find his mistress or a single moderately content person in all of Europe! Most people at least find serenity in god but a monk that Candide interviews has been tempted to set his own monastery on fire! Until now Voltaire has given us a very desolate image of Europe and the readers expect a happy ending. In Candide even money can't buy satisfaction as Count Pococurante proves to us, even with his gorgeous Raphael paintings and a vast book collection, he has nothing but criticism. If this is the case I wonder if Voltaire is going to explain to his readers what in fact does make people happy?