CKQ+James

In //Candide//, Voltaire is satirizing the idea that this is 'the best of all possible worlds." Therefore, Voltaire wants to you answer the following question:

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.

Candide is not living in the best of all possible worlds. In this world, his love was savagely treated by Bulgars, and was sold to Jews. Though Candide escapes from where he lives, he is, and was helped by a man with food and supplies. Though Pangloss explains how the world is at its best, it is not. In page 19, it shows extreme inhuman treatment of others. "I was in my bed, and sound asleep, when it pleased heaven to send the Bulgars to our beautiful.... (till the end of the page)" This definitely shows how inhumane people are. The bulgars killed all of Cunegonde's family, and mistreated Cunegonde in such a bad way. Though Bulgars broke in, there were no actions taken by the government. Instead, Cunegonde was taken as a slave. In page 19, "...he sold me to a Jew named Don Issacar..." Cunegonde, treated like a dog, is used as a type of trade. This is the worst thing you could do to a human being. In page 23, Cunegonde also gets her things stolen. "But who could possibly have stolen my pistoles and diamonds?" The people in the world have unlimited avarice. People would do anything to get their profit. People stole things from Cunegonde, and shows no moral behaviors.

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