CKQ+PeterK+(C+Block)

Candide is not living in the best of all possible worlds. Why? Majority of the people are governed by selfishness and greediness. In this story, Vanderdendur wanted to steal Candide’s fortunes, which were expensive jewelries. As a result, Vanderdendur tricks Candide by blocking him from traveling on the ship. In this quote, Vanderdendur is formulating to steal Candide’s jewelries. “Very well indeed!.../ Thirty thousand piastres are as nothing to this fellow; no doubt the two sheep are carrying immense wealth.../ let him pay up the thirty thousand first, and then we’ll see.” (page 53) However, when Candide discovers that Vanderdendur and his ship got shipwrecked, he realizes that people will get punished for wrong doing. “You see.../ crime is sometimes punished; that blackguard of a Dutch owner got the fate he deserved.” (page 57) This was one of the good things in the world that lifted Candide’s heart. Furthermore, in this incident, it further shows that people are governed by greed. At the inn, two doctors, whom he met, tried to cure Candide from his illness “since he had an enormous diamond on his finger.” (page 60) Doctors who should try to cure all people with illness only wanted to help Candide because they were allured by the diamond. In conclusion, this world is not the best of all possible worlds because many people are governed by selfishness and greediness. But there are some ‘rays of hope’ because each crime has some form of punishment. Here are some specific categories to look for:
 * 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.
 * religion
 * kings
 * governments
 * war
 * avarice (greed)
 * social pride
 * **dishonesty**
 * **slavery**
 * **inhuman treatment of others**
 * disease
 * cataclysms