Candide 1-15: Life without Meaning

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   As revolting as this reading was for me, it was also very sad. Candide has been told his whole life that everything has purpose, even the bad things that happen, but he was not told why things have a purpose or where the purpose comes from. Things are as they are and the reason they happen is because they are meant to happen that way. But why? In a worldview like this, there is no hope. If hope exists, it is hollow and tasteless. In his perils, Candide tries to convince himself that things will work out for the best. So far, nothing has developed in his favor. What hope is Candide holding on to? He has nothing. The only hope he has is that one day he will somehow live happily ever after with his dear Cunegonde. His ignorance is painful to read. The only people who should have this worldview are Christians. We have a legitimate hope and purpose in life, we know why things happen and who directs them. Those who cling to false hope like Candide become frustrated when life does not align with their worldview. It is heartbreaking to see someone put their all into something that you know is not real. Life without meaning hurts, which is why Candide tries so hard to convince himself that there is a reason for all the bad stuff in the world. Unfortunately, assigning false meaning to life is just as painful as living life with no meaning at all.

P.S. I commented on Abigail and Will's posts.

Comments

  1. Abigail BrockSeptember 25, 2017 at 3:27 PM

    This is precisely why I don't know how people live life wihout God. Especially after experiencing the wonderful things he does in our everyday lives, I can't imagine anyone else in control of my future or living for any other purpose other than Him.

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  2. Darby CallicuttSeptember 25, 2017 at 6:56 PM

    I also find it ironic that Candide just agrees with what he is taught and does not question it. That seems to be very ignorant to me. He has no interest in finding out if that is the truth to life.

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  3. UnknownSeptember 25, 2017 at 9:30 PM

    Candide is supposed to come off as ignorant here. Based on some of the satire we've seen with Voltaire just generally mocking Christians (ie the anabaptist drowning) and also some of Voltaire's other writings, I think it's safe to say Voltaire is attempting to use Candide's cause-less optimism to make fun of the protestant Christians who seem just as naive in his eyes. In another writing that was referenced in the back of my book, Voltaire wrote "What a game of chance is human life! What will the preachers say now- especially if the Palace of the Inquisition is left standing!" I could be completely wrong, but that's at least what I'm getting from it.

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