CKQ+ch+1-3+John

1. Why is this not the best of all possible worlds? But, at the same time, //Candide// is not an entirely hopeless novel. What 'rays of hope' do you see? As you post your responses to the key question also mention 'rays of hope' that you see in the novel.

Here are some specific categories to look for:
 * religion
 * kings
 * governments
 * war
 * avarice (greed)
 * social pride
 * dishonesty
 * slavery
 * inhuman treatment of others
 * disease
 * cataclysms

Requirements:
 * 3-5 examples
 * your examples should include evidence that demonstrates why this is not the best of all possible worlds
 * remember to look for 'rays of hope'
 * as in the example above, quote your evidence and explain how it answers the key question

Chapter 1 pg. 4

//"He could prove to wonderful effect that there was no effect without cause, and that, in this best of all possible worlds, His Lordship the Baron's castle was the finest of castles and Her Ladyship the best of all possible baronesses."

This is one of the 'rays of hope' in this book. As it says in the passage, this is the best of all possible worlds. He lives in a finest castle of all castles with the best baronesses. This shows that the world can be a place full of hope and happiness. //

Chapter 3 pg. 7-8

//"First the cannon toppled about six thousand men on either side; then the muskets removed from the best of possible worlds between nine and ten thousand scoundrels who were infesting its surface. Next the bayonet proved sufficient reason for the death of a few thousand more. The total may well have amounted to thirty thousand or so corpses." // This shows one factor that make this not the best of all possible worlds; war. This scene shows the violence that occurred between the Bulgars and the Abars. Due to this war, thousands of people lie dead in the fields, and lots of violence occurred. Usually, war is not considered a good thing, just like in this book. World with wars is not the best of all possible worlds.

Chapter 3 pg. 9

//''but whether he is or not, I am in need of food,' - 'You don't deserve to eat,' said the other. 'Be off, you wretch! Out of my sight, you miserable creature! And don't ever approach my person again.' The orator's wife, putting her head out of the window and catching sight of somebody who could doubt that the Pope was Anti-Christ..."

This passage shows inhuman treatment of others. Candide was going around the villages that were all burned down. In one of the villages, he was begging for bread as he was hungry, but did not have any money. Suddenly, the orator's wife yelled at him using inappropriate words, telling him to go away. This shows how people did not treat other people like humans. They were regarded as ' miserable creatures.'

Chapter 3 pg. 9

" A passer by who had never been baptized, a good Anabaptist named Jacques, saw the cruel and ignominious logic thus being meted out to one of his brothers, a fellow being with two legs, not feathers, and a soul; so he took him back to his house, cleaned him up, gave him some bread and some beer, presented him with two florins, and would even have apprenticed him to work in his Persian fabrics workshops...:

This is one of the 'rays of hope' in Candide. Everything was destroyed due to the war, and people were not helping others. However, Jacques was a nice man who gave a man food and money. This shows us that there are still good in the world. //