... be considered as a bleak story where main characters compare life stories to distinguish whose life is worse. Just when you think this novel cannot get anymore depressing, it does. While Candide is generally considered a universal castigation, it is optimism that Voltaire is attacking. However, there are several other humorously critical themes throughout this novel worth talking about. These themes of mockery ... aristocratic snobbery, religious intolerance, militarism, and human nature. There is plausible reason to why Voltaire was so disgusted with optimism, or more particularly, Leibn...

• Word Count: 1624
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... that all is for the best and that good can be found in everything. Candide fell in love with a girl by the name of Lady Cunegonde who is described as having extravagant beauty. Early into the novel Candide is driven out of his home and left was left out in the cold ... and happiness. They go through many obstacles such as thinking Panglos was dead for a large part of the novel, Candide loses contact with his beloved Cunegonde and almost kills her brother, Candide travels to El Dorado where he finds a large group of content people who give him lots of money and jewels ... Lady Cunegonde...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... Mohammed, Hadith) He also said "Be optimistic and good shall be found" Islam is a religion that calls for optimism and trust. Candide was taught to be optimistic, also he trusted others. There are some similarities and some differences between the optimism in Islam and the optimism that ... an important factor that must exist in our lives; to improve our health, spirituality, and mind. I"m just comparing the optimism and trust in Islam and in Candide, and I"m not criticizing the religion in anyway. Since I was a child, I used to hear different sayings about being optimistic. After going...

• Word Count: 742
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... then they want to make $800,000 a year. Where has human happiness gone, or where does it come from? This notion of being happy is seen in The Hustler and Candide through Eddie Felson and Martin. Eddie Felson was never satisfied with what he had. He was addicted to gambling and always yearned for more. He lived a corrupt life in "darkness ... ." At one point in the novel after they had traveled much of the world and been to Eldorado, a utopian city, they came across a healthy, fat monk and a young lady. Ignorantly, Candide insisted that they were truly happy people while Martin said they ...

• Word Count: 540
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School