Optimism in Candide

Optimism in Candide Voltaire’s Candide is a book about the adventures encountered by Candide. Candide learns that outside the Castle of Westphalia, where he has lived his entire life, there is a mad and evil world. Throughout the entire story Candide is in a constant struggle to come to grips with this fact. All people experience the turmoil of life and must overcome obstacles, both natural and man-made, in order to eventually achieve happiness. …

…eventually achieved happiness with his friends in their simple, yet contented, lives. The book's ending clearly displays Voltaire’s ideology that one must work to attain satisfaction. Work helps Candide overcome his tragedies and enables him to live peacefully and in contentment. The main lesson Candide was forced to learn was; do not lose hope, productivity is the best way to better oneself, people must better their own situation, happiness does not come without difficulty.