CKQ+Carol

Why is it not the best possible world? // “‘If this holy man calls for help, he will have me burned at the stake without fail; he will probably do the same for Cunegonde; he has already had me mercilessly whipped; he is now my rival; I am embarked on killing’ there is no choice.’” //(pg. 22) 

In this quote, stated by Candide, the abuse of religious authority, and justification for human mistreatment are directly stated. "Holy" man indicates his position as a high priest- a man of God. The situation sets him as the corrupted man of God, who abuses his authority. This authority was bestowed to him according to his rank, and therefore he is restricted to only use the authority for pure belief. However, Candide declares that he has been whipped (not to mention the merciless level of violence) by this man, and that he is afraid of another attack. The fear represses Candide from running away from this situation, and therefore places him in danger of violence. Not only the holy man demonstrates the fact that the world is not in its best possible world form, but Candide's idea of murder symbolizes the evilness of man as well. Candide is introduced as an innocent boy, who had not yet tasted the bitterness of life. Therefore he is closest to a man in state of nature. If he decides to kill the man for his good, this demonstrates that men is an evil creature. Because the evil creatures created and made advancements, the world that they are living must not be the best of all possible world.

//“‘… had been exposed to poverty and slavery, had been raped almost daily, had seen her mother torn to pieces, had endured war and famine, and was now dying of the plague in Algiers.’” // (pg.29) 

The old woman exemplifies what commoners would have constantly gone through: inhuman human mistreatments, violence, war, famine, and plague. She has been through slavery, and raping, which are the fundamental forms of human mistreatment. The sight of her mother's severed body portions demonstrate the violent punishments; not only this but, the daughter has witnessed it, which illustrates the merciless world. Then her experience in war, and famine merely indicates her brutal times of life, because she must have lacked the essential needs. And now she caught a plague, and that is nearly fatal; she is at the verge of death, but has to live on. This is very pathetic and sorrowful life story of her, but it is the truth of the world. Thus her life story collection justifies the fact that the world that they are living is not the best of all possible world.

Where are some evidences of "rays of hope?" //"The next day, having found some scarps of food while picking their way through the ruins, they recovered some of their strength. After which they worked alongside the others to bring relief to those inhabitants who had survived." //  (pg.14)  The "scarps of food" amidst "the ruins" metaphorically demonstrate rays of hope in the world that is corrupted and full of evil. Because food indicates life to all living organisms, food symbolizes the fundamental factor of life. Thus a ray of hope for life is shone in this quote. Although the natural disasters destroyed the inhabitants, and killed thousands of people, the survivors were able to find food to eat and revive back to life. This is justice. The disaster did not take all people's lives; it allowed some to survive. Hence, the world does have evil, but still has the justice in place to shine rays of hope.