Candide is a symbol of optimism and loyalty. Voltaire described his young hero, Candide and friends in a very interesting way through a series of journeys and misfortunes. From the beginning of the story, Candide has faced a lot of tortures and tragedies, starting from him being kicked out from the Baron’s mansion for kissing his daughter, Lady Cunégonde.
In this book, Voltaire is not only trying to build optimistic mind in coping with the burden of life, reflected by the incessant suffering, from natural disasters and illnesses to man-made wars, he also presents a story of love searching and loyalty. The optimistic taught from his tutor, not only making him survive from a series of bad lucks and harassments, it also gives him strength to put all his efforts to find and marry the love of his life, Lady Cunégonde.
Candide’s love and loyalty to Lady Cunégonde can be seen when, among all calamities he faced, Candide and his companion, Cacambo finally arrives in a beautiful place called Eldorado, where the king and the people are so nice and friendly. A place endowed with gold nuggets, emeralds and rubies, so rich of them that the people don’t have to be cruel and greedy to be rich.
Having finally found a friendly and wonderful place to live doesn’t make Candide decide to stay there forever. Spending a month at the King’s palace, not a day passed without Candide saying to Cacambo: “It is quite true, my good fellow, that the house where I was born won’t beat comparison with the mansions of this country; but still, I shall never be happy without Lady Cunégonde….” And so, they decide to leave the country and continue searching for Candide’s love. They are willing to sacrifice their beautiful, safe place and be ready to face more difficulties for the sake of finding the loved one.
For a classic literature, this book is quite easy to digest. It has good plot flowing smoothly from one journey to another, one torturing experience to another. Voltaire also brilliantly presents Candide’s companions differently in most of the journeys. Each companion shows different wisdom and, sometimes, wittiness.
I highly recommend this book for it is really a book of unflinching optimism, sacrifice and loyalty. By reading it, an optimistic feeling inside your heart and mind will grow. It will help you optimistically see that any obstacles in love and life are not there for nothing, as everything is made for the best purpose.
