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 * Key Question for //Candide//**

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.

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

In the appropriate page below, respond to the key question. Essentially, you are helping us understand how Voltaire is satirizing Optimism in your section. You will present your findings to the class after the class has completed reading your section. Assessment will be based on thoroughness in identifying the targets of Voltaire's satire in your section.

Example (from a student)
 * Page 51- 52 ** //"...a negro stretched out on the ground with no more than half of his clothes left... the poor man had no left leg and no right hand...'And was it Monsieur Vanderdendur.' said Candide, 'who treated you like this?'- 'Yes, Monsieur.' said the negro...'when we...get a finger caught in the machinery they cut off the hand; but when we try to run away they cut off a leg... dogs, monkeys and parrots are a thousand times less miserable than we are...'" // This shows three factors which make this world not the best of all possible worlds; racial/social discrimination, abuse/torture and a lack of individual free will. Monsieur Vanderdendur mistreats the negro in such a fashion because of his social standing (which is significantly lower) and his skin colour, and regards himself as better than the negro because of two factors that do not determine what kind of person the negro is. Furthermore, it demonstrates violence because the man treats the negro in a harsh and deplorable manner and uses extreme methods, such as removal of body parts, to enforce his laws. Finally, he does not allow the slave to leave, and holds him there against his free will, although it is evident that, should the slave have a choice, he would leave.

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

pg. 79 "He embraced his dear friend. 'Then Cunégonde must be here. Where is she? Take me to her, that we may both die of joy.'-'Cunégonde is not here,' said Cacambo,'she is in Constantinople.'-'Constantinople! Of all places! But even were she in China, I would fly to her; let us leave now!' : Throughout this whole book the largest part of the small rays of hope seems to be the hope of meeting Cunégonde and marrying her. No matter how much it takes to find her, this is Candide's ray of hope.
 * 1) 1 Rays of Hope

pg. 73 'Yesterday I was beatenn and robbed by and officer of the law; today I must seem in good humour to please a monk.' : In this case, Paquette is beaten almost to her death and than the very next day, in order to survive, she must be in a good state.
 * 1) 2 Not the best of all possible worlds

pg. 69 "'What is all this?' said Candide, ' and what devil is at work in the world?'": Basically, an admiral is shot dead on the boat. This represents how inhuman people can be. He is killed for almost no reason at all.
 * 1) 3 Not the best of all possible worlds

pg. 72 "I was for some time the mistress of this doctor... he gave some medicine... she died two hours later... thrown in prison... judged released me on condition that he himself took over from the doctor": Paquette concludes this paragraph by saying she is "one of the unhappiest creatures alive." This scenario is an example of very inhumanely behavior, first Paquette is loved by the doctor which makes the doctor's wife mad and ends up in the doctor killing his own wife. Then, she is put into prison accused of the death of the wife of the doctor. THe judge who is seduced by Paquette frees her.
 * 1) 4 Not the best of all possible worlds