Voltaire’s
Candide: After
the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, Voltaire wrote Candide (1758-9) as an attack
on “philosophical optimism.”
See
Introduction by Daniel Gordon (if you have another edition, see link from web page).
1. What is “metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-boobology” (p.42)?
2.
Why is Candide evicted from the estate of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh?
What do the early chapters tell you about the social, political and religious
environment of 18th C. Europe? What are “quarterings”?
3.
What viewpoints are represented by the major characters in the story? Besides
Candide, Cunegonde and Pangloss, consider Martin, “the old woman” Pococurante
and others who strike you as significant.
What is the difference between Pangloss and Martin as philosophers?
4. Which parts of this story would be most disturbing to a European monarch? To Catholics? Protestants? Aristocrats? Military leaders?
5. What is Voltaire attitude to religion? Be able to cite specific passages that illustrate the behavior of religious figures and institutions.
6. What is the role of sex in the story? See Introduction pp. 24 ff.
7. How does Voltaire portray El Dorado (Ch. 17-18)? How does it differ from 18th C. Europe, and what are the religious beliefs of the people? Why does Candide decide to leave?
8. What is the significance of the “six kings” (Chap. 26)
9. By the end of the story, is there any source of hope? What message (if any) does Voltaire leave the reader with?
10. What are Voltaire’s views on the following: war, religion, anti-Semitism, racism, organized religion, the Jesuits, women, censorship, custom and tradition, classical studies, colonialism, slavery, monarchy, French science and medicine, politics...
1. How does Voltaire use a literary narrative, basically a simple story, to critique Liebniz’ theoretical and philosophical views?
2. Daniel Gordon describes Candide in terms of “Voltaire’s double identity” (pp. 2-5) as an engaged Enlightened opponent of injustice and intolerance, but also a skeptic about the limits of reason or theory in confronting the problems of human life. Discuss these positive and negative aspects of Voltaire’s message in Candide: what is he for and what is he against?
3. What are the sources of evil and human misfortune in Voltaire's Candide? Is reason an adequate instrument against evil? Is nature a force for good or evil?
4.
Voltaire is a keen observer of human experience, with a sharp eye for the
"follies of human history." Which aspects of European history and
institutions does he find particularly good targets for his weapons of irony,
satire and indignation? What is it about his critique that qualifies it as
"enlightened"?