Voltaire was the pen name of author Francois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778). He was a French writer and philosopher of the Age of Entertainment. In spite of the controversy, he stood among the greatest writers and philosophers of France because of his wit, intelligence and style. Voltaire produced his prolific work in almost all the literary forms which includes plays, essays, novels, poetry, scientific and historical work, and letters up to 21,000 and pamphlets and books counts up to two thousand.
Majority of the utopians are philosophical and political. They question about the kind of society which the humans seek or avoid. Voltaire never believed in Progress so clearly he is classified among the dystopian thinkers as his work is mostly on the dystopian genre which can be clearly seen in his writings like Candide which is a satire on the philosophical optimism. The main character of the story Candide name means ‘optimism’.in this novel a reader can himself feel a shift from utopia to dystopia.
The origin of the utopia is the Greek word ‘ou’ which means no or not and ‘topos’ mean place. So the word utopia means a place that can only be dream about or can say a true paradise. Whereas the dystopia is describe as a utopian society where the things have gone in a wrong way. The dystopia is not the exact opposite of utopia as it shows. It emerges in the consequence of utopia and is following it since ever. These two genres are too close that it becomes indistinct that which is utopia or dystopia. Both genres share the characteristic of fantasy and science fiction and in both the plot is set in future where the technology is used for creating living conditions in a perfectly manner.
Western philosophy is deeply formed by the philosophe conception and the Enlightenment philosophie program which Voltaire personified. His philosophy resides ultimately in how he followed his philosophy practically and in last where his philosophical activity is directed (original idea or any specific doctrine) by him. The philosophical positions he took particularly and the way he used his philosophical campaigns widely to win certain understandings while disapproving others, created a group called appropriately as Voltaire’s Enlightenment philosophy.
The conception of liberty by Voltaire is the central complex. The posture adopted by him regarding this concept is between superior spiritualism and stern determinism of rationalist materialist. But this results in the distance between the Voltaire and Toland republican politics and other materialists. He remained a liberal, sceptic and a monarchist with a reformed-mind throughout his life.
Candide by Voltaire is place generally put in the dystopian fiction category. As the title name itself mean ‘optimism’ but the novel presents the world full of religious hypocrisy and domination of cruelty. Candide is the central character of the story whose name means optimism but follows the tradition of both utopia and dystopia by placing him and his companion named Cacambo in El Dorado which is a land far from the rest of the world places.
The other main character of the story is Dr. Pangloss who is a clown-like doctor and follows the meaning of the title. He is mocked because of his determination of claiming that the humans live in best possible world. He holds on firmly the doctrines of Leibnitz and Spinoza Martin, an oppressed scholar was hired by Candide to go with him on the journey to France from Buenos Aires. Martin’s character is the total opposite of the philosophical views of Candide and Pangloss. Martin is of the view that this world is intrinsically evil and the appearance of good is short lived. Martin actually believes that the world is abandoned by the God and it now consumes evil.
The philosophical and physical journeys discussed in the story are from theory to the fact by the Pangloss who was the mentor and tutor of Candide as discussed above. He remained the target of Voltaire’ satire and mock throughout the story because of his philosophy and teachings which are: things are meant to be what they are, everything has an end and for the best ends everything is necessary. The second is that without cause there was no effect and the third is that the world we live in the best of all the possible worlds. By these philosophies the author mocks at the optimism characteristics of the Europe of mid-eighteenth century. This was also expressed in ‘Essay on Man’ by Alexander Pope and in the Gottfried Leibniz’s writing who was a German Enlightenment philosopher.
Along with other characters of story with them the Candide was taken the journey expands to South America from Europe then to Middle-east. He started his journey from the west then took a ling Europe visit and ended it up in the Turkey. He also stepped in the mythical city of El Dorado accompanied by Cacambo.
Pangloss used to instructions in metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology. He admirably proves that without a cause possibly there cannot be an effect and also everything which exists in this world has a purpose of its own. This theory was criticized by Voltaire in different places in the novel. Like when Candide killed baron’s son but instead of getting punishment of this act he survived. So the Pangloss’ theory of cause and effect failed here.
In the story both the terms utopia and dystopia are depicted though the utopia part is very less. It is a land called El Dorado which is cut off from the rest of the world. In El Dorado the dependency on gold and silver is zero. The slaves use those precious metals for the toilet construction and they just used to thank God because they have everything but don’t worship him. Other than El Dorado the rest of the world is depicted as dystopia where the humanity exists in extreme negative way. Human beings are presented as traitors, liars, killers, weaklings, and cowards and as deceivers.
The literary influence on Candide is strong. The Book of Genesis is similar to the Candide’s plot. In story the Candide and Cunegonde were exiled from the castle (an earthly paradise) just like Adam and Eve who were forced to work hard for the survival. Voltaire’s Candide and other contemporary books of philosophy and literature have far closer relationship. It is a philosophical novel as the writer gave response to Leibniz’s writings like Monad ology. The phrase used in the starting “the best of all possible worlds” is taken from Monad ology. During the Voltaire’s stay at Lord Bolingbroke estate his writing was influenced by the other writers like Swift, John Gay and Alexander pope.
The optimism philosophy is not appreciated by Voltaire in Candide. The quote’ we live in best of all possible worlds’ by Pangloss is attacked in novel in many times by showing various misfortunes the characters suffered which set an endless debate between the optimistic and pessimistic characters. Contrary to Pangloss another character Martin was pessimist who suffered a lot in his life. Though these are characters of two different opinions and Candide spent his time with both of them and replied to their opinions. Like Pangloss said: "There is a concatenation of all events in the best of possible worlds; …. nuts."
"Excellently observed," answered Candide; "but let us cultivate our garden."--Ch. 30. Noting that Pangloss means all-tongue so he is usually talking in the story like in above paragraph was the time when everyone should be cultivating but the Pangloss was talking. But in the context the worldview of Martin was much stronger and empirical based as depicted in chapter 22 paragraph 50: "I have seen the worst," Candide replied. "But a wise man, who since has had the misfortune to be hanged, taught me that all is marvelously well; these are but the shadows on a beautiful picture."
"Your hanged man mocked the world," said Martin. "The shadows are horrible blots."(22.50). As compared to Pangloss the Martin’s nature was not philosophical. He did respond to Candide but not in a philosophical way in amid of crisis.
From all the above analysis it can be said that no doubt Voltaire had not any intension of appreciating the philosophy of optimism by Spinoza and Leibnitz. He depicted the dystopian nature of practical world and aimed to mock at the religious optimism. He is of the opinion that problems of real world can only be dealt through science and reasons. This story introduces the reader Spinoza’s and Leibnitz philosophy thus showing the picture of living in dystopia in a utopian way.
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