Ignorance Isn't Bliss

Throughout history, many revolutions of thought and art have taken place. The Enlightenment period, in particular, hinged upon the discovery of truth, and many philosophers emerged to devise their own methods of arriving there. Influential thinkers such as Rene Descartes and David Hume provided methodical (and often, mathematical) approaches; whereas a few others expressed enlightenment theories through novels. Voltaire, a French philosopher and writer, sought to promote enlightenment ideas through the medium of creative writing. In Candide, one of his most influential works, Voltaire presents the fundamental value of discovering the truth for one’s own instead of taking someone else’s word for it. Through the many trials and tribulations that Candide faces, Voltaire encourages readers to question their beliefs and actively seek the truth just as the title character does in order to be truly enlightened.

Every person’s initial worldview is heavily influenced by the teachings of others, and Candide is no exception. Whether these things be as simple as “don’t put your hand in fire” or deep philosophical truths about the universe, humans are naturally disposed to accept teachings from figures of authority as a given. Initially, Candide gratefully receives and regurgitates the “wisdom” that Doctor Pangloss provides to him. Although Pangloss is a doctor and professor of many things, namely “metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology” (Voltaire 2), his philosophical ideas are illogical and inapplicable. He argues that “the more private misfortunes there are, the more all is well” (Voltaire 11) despite the fact that his essential claim of a misfortune being fortunate is an oxymoron. Candide soaks up Pangloss’ contradictory teachings like a sponge, and his dedication to his teacher only makes it more difficult for Candide to begin thinking for himself and challenging the ideas he accepted when he was under Pangloss’ wing. In the same way as Candide accepts Pangloss’ doctrines without question, many young people (and even adults) live their lives ignorant of any other schools of thought. Their reasoning for believing what they believe can simply be chalked up to “because my teacher told me so,” without ever questioning the validity of the arguments. The foundations of their beliefs are weak, and Voltaire shows how these unsupported beliefs can quickly crumble when they are challenged.

Candide, like most, struggles in the real world when the fundamental principles that he has believed his entire life are shaken. To begin his journey, he is forcefully removed from “the finest of castles” with “great kicks in the behind” (Voltaire 2-3). He is removed from the closed bubble in which he had lived for so long, and exposed to the harsh reality of life. Dazed and confused, Candide struggles to understand how his circumstances could be any worse. He is brutally tortured by Bulgarian soldiers and sent into a bloody war, witnessing the rape and destruction of a nearby village. Candide’s optimism is crushed after Pangloss is hung by the University of Coimbra. He cries out angrily, asking, “if this is the best of all possible worlds, then what are the others?” (Voltaire 15). At this point, Candide begins to question the blind optimism of his mentor as he experiences the cruelty of life for himself. After Pangloss “dies,” Candide is in some sense liberated from his mentor’s thinking and forced to reason for himself. He recognizes that his circumstances have been a far cry from good, and recognizes that Pangloss might have been wrong about life. When Pangloss is removed from the picture, Candide is able to see life more clearly and think for himself rather than believe whatever Pangloss told him. Candide despairs at first, but begins to understand that there was more to life than what Pangloss taught him. Voltaire stresses the importance of challenging what one has been taught and entertaining the notion of being wrong for the sake of reaching the truth. 

Candide’s character development is made evident at the end of the book, as the resurrected Pangloss and Candide are sitting on their farm. The two reminisce about how far they had come, but disagree on the reason for it. Pangloss retains his philosophy that all circumstances occur for the better, and says that if Candide had not experienced the hardships that he had, he “would not be here eating candied citrons and pistachios” (Voltaire 96). Candide replies that “that is well said, but we must cultivate our garden” (Voltaire 96). This disagreement marks the point where Candide has finally risen above his prior beliefs and found the real truth of life, leaving Pangloss’ teachings behind him in the pursuit of true enlightenment. Not only does Candide disagree with Pangloss, but he showcases wisdom and moderation in his beliefs. In Candide’s quote, the cultivation of a garden is an analogy for the actions taken in life. While Pangloss would have allowed the garden to run amok, complacently assuming that it was exactly as it should have been (even in a state of chaos), Candide rightfully argues that it is the active improvement of life that makes the difference. Pangloss passively accepts life, while Candide strives to actively make it better. The young man is able to find balance in the extremist teachings of his tutor, and ultimately displays insight on matters his older tutor cannot understand.

Throughout the novel, the title character struggles to remedy the contradictions of his teacher’s doctrine and what the real world reveals to him through his own experience. At first, Candide learns about life from Pangloss within the closed system of the manor, and simply accepts what he has to say without question. However, after being exposed to the world, Candide slowly realizes that his great figure of authority might not have been great after all. As the book draws to a close, Candide showcases wisdom and moderation in his beliefs that are developed outside of Pangloss’ influence. Voltaire artfully parallels enlightenment ideas within Candide, and shows how essential it is for one to break free from presupposed notions and discover their own through individual thought. Although it is frightening to question the beliefs that one has taken for granted their entire life, it is all the more rewarding to reach enlightenment after living in the dark for so long. Although the average person may not experience the intense trials that Candide does, we should still strive to challenge our own assumptions and truly reason through our beliefs. Ignorance is not bliss, and Voltaire demonstrates this through Candide’s journey.