Voltaire: "Candide".

Voltaire's "Candide" has many themes, though one central, philosophical theme traverses the entire work. This theme is a direct assault on the philosophy of Leibniz, Pope and others. Leibniz held that the world created by God was the best possible world with perfect order and reason. Alexander Pope, similarly, in his Essay on Man, argues that every human being is a part of a greater, rational, grand design of God. Pangloss stresses this viewpoint--that what …

…of Candide and is reunited with him near the end, is really the first friend of the young philosopher. Voltaire uses Cacambo to paint a satirical portrait of the Jesuits in Paraguay. Martin- Martin, an "old scholar," is drafted by Candide towards the conclusion of his adventures, in order to be his companion after the departure of Cacambo. Martin most clearly represents Voltaire's personal sentiments, not buying Pangloss' theory in any way, shape or form.