CKQ+Katie

= Why is this not the best of all possible worlds? = 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
 * As you post your responses to the key question also mention 'rays of hope' that you see in the novel.

1. (ch 23; pg 69) “He was an admiral,’ came the reply. - ‘And why kill this admiral?’ - ‘Because,’ came the reply, ‘he did not get enough people killed when he had the chance: he gave battle to a French admiral, and was said not to have engaged closely enough with the enemy.’” This quote shows that this is not the best of all possible worlds, since this describes how merciless Britains are. They have executed a poor man just to make the rest of the army and soldiers to fight harder. By killing the general, the England has showed their cruelty. Also, they made sure that everyone could see it and to be influenced by it. They are using terror to threaten the army.

2. (ch24; pg 71)“Candide’s melancholy deepened, while Martin continued with his relentless proofs that there is little virtue and no happiness on earth, except perhaps in Eldorado, where no one can ever go”. This shows that this is not the best of all possible worlds, because Martin tells Candide that people in this world lack morality and goodness. Also, he is saying that no one is actually happy and they are just only pretending to be happy. He mentions that in Eldorado, they do have virtues and happiness, but states that no one can ever go to Eldorado. This is ironic because Eldorado really doesn’t exists in the real world. We can say that Voltare is implying that this world will never have virtues and happiness.

3.(ch 27; pg 83) “‘I am not sure what scales your Pangloss could have used to weigh the misfortunes of men and calibrate their sufferings,’ said Martin. ‘I can only presume that there are millions of people on this earth who are many times more pitied than King Charles Edward, or Emperor Ivan, or Sultan Achmed.’” Martin tells this to Candide, because he does not think that these unfortunate kings are worthy to be pitied. He knows that there are plenty of other unfortunate people in this world, who are worthier of being pitied. This proves that even though those kings’ stories are very depressing and sad, Voltare points out that those stories are not bad enough to be pitied. This means that the people who are suffering more are really going into great hardships.

4.(ch 27; pg 85) “Candide embraced the Baron and Pangloss a hundred times. ‘So how did I fail to kill you, dear Baron, after all? And you, my dear Pangloss, how can you still be alive after being hanged? And what are you both doing in a Turkish galley?’” This quote is a ray of hope since Candide has met Baron and Pangloss. On his way to find Cunegonde, he was able to find them and reunite with them. This is a sign of hope, because now Candide has more company and has found his beloved teacher, Pangloss.