Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Define and then compare the philosophical positions represented by Pangloss and Martin in Candide.

In Chapter 19
of 's satirical work, , Candide and his servant Cacambo encounter
misfortunes until they reach Eldorado. However, although they are in a paradise, Candide cannot
live without his love, Cunnegonde, and Cacambo has a "restless spirit."  So, they
leave, and after a hundred days, they have lost many sheep and riches.  When Candide--who
supports the philosophy of Pangloss, that it is the best of all worlds--sees a black slave who
has been cruelly tortured, Candide renounces optimism, declaring it "a mania for saying
things are well when one is in hell."  After he is robbed by a captain, Candide only dwells
on the wickedness of men.  He books passage on a French ship and interviews men for the most
unhappy man in the province for whom he will pay passage.  This man is Martin, a poor,old
scholar, who has been robbed by his wife, beaten by his son, and abandoned by his
daughter.

Unlike Candid, whoe has the hope of seeing Cunegonde,
Martin...

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