Satire on Leibniz's Optimism As Seen in the Main Characters
SATIRE ON LEIBNIZ’S OPTIMISM AS SEEN IN THE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES OF HUMAN SUFFERING IN VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
TRI SEPTA NURHANTORO
Student Number: 024214052
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2007 SATIRE ON LEIBNIZ’S OPTIMISM AS SEEN IN THE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES OF HUMAN SUFFERING IN VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
TRI SEPTA NURHANTORO
Student Number: 024214052
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2007
i ii iii "Everyone is guilty of all the good he did not do"
(VOLTAIRE)
iv This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to: For My beloved parents My sister My brother And those who always stand by my side..
v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first and foremost, I would like to give my deepest gratitude to Allah
SWT for every single bless that He has given to me. His guidance is really helpful for me in undergoing every second of my life.
Secondly, I would like to show my gratefulness to my advisor, Dra. Th. Enny
Anggraini, M.A, who has always given me advice during the completion of this thesis, and I really appreciate her patience in waiting for each draft submission. I would also thank my co-advisor, Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum., for all his suggestions that have improved my thesis. I really do thank all lecturers in English
Letters Department of Sanata Dharma University for sharing their knowledge.
I want to express my gratitude to my parents, my sister, and my brother for always supporting and praying for me. I would like to say thanks to Danang, Dapit,
Dimas, Teh Ria, Ajeng, Shella, Trifena, Thomas, Bondan, Fitrah-Soni, Stefa, ‘Piye-
Pak’ Leo, Sigit, Wawé and all my friends in English Letters 2002. I want to give my special thank to Miauw for always encouraging me to accomplish this thesis. I also want to thank people at secretariat for all their help and willingness to give my draft to my advisor when I cannot do it by myself.
Lastly, I would like to thank to others who have helped me finish this thesis.
Even though I do not mention their names, I am proud to have all of them.
Tri Septa Nurhantoro
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ……………………………………………………………….. i APPROVAL PAGE ………………………………………………………… ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………………... iii MOTTO PAGE ……………………………………………………………... iv DEDICATION PAGE ……………………………………………………… v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………… vi TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………… vii ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………… ix ABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………….. x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ………………………………………….. 1 A. Background of the Study ………………………………………. 1 B. Problem Formulation …………………………………………... 4 C. Objectives of the Study ………………………………………… 4 D. Definition of Terms …………………………………………….. 5
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW ………………………………. 7 A. Review of Related Studies ……………………………………… 7 B. Review of Related Theories ……………………………………. 10 1. Theory of Character and Characterizations ….….…………… 10 2. Theory of Satire ………...……………………………….….... 14 3. View of Leibniz’s Optimism ...……………………………… 16 4. View of Human Suffering ………………………..…………. 18 C. Theoretical Framework ………………………………………… 19
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ………………………………………. 21 A. Object of the Study …………………………………………….. 21 B. Approach of the Study …………………………………………. 22 C. Method of the Study …………………………………………… 23
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ……………………………………………….. 25 A. The Description of the Main Characters ……….……………….. 25 1. Candide ……….……………………………………………… 26 2. Pangloss ..…..………………………………………………… 28 3. Cunegone ...... ………………………………………………… 30 4. The Old Woman ..……………………………………………. 31 5. Cacambo ……………………………………………………... 32 6. Martin ..…………………………….………………………… 35 B. The Experiences of Human Suffering of the Main Characters …. 37 1. Human suffering caused by moral evil ………………………. 38
vii 2. Human suffering caused by natural evil ……………………… 43 C. The Use of Satire in Criticizing Leibniz’s Optimism through the Main Characters and Their Experiences of Human Suffering ..… 46
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION …………………………...……………….. 56
BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………. 59
APPENDIX …..…………………………………………………………….... 61 Summary of Voltaire’s Candide ………..………………………..…. 61
viii ABSTRACT
TRI SEPTA NURHANTORO (2007). Satire on Leibniz’s Optimism as seen in the Main Characters and Their Experiences of Human Suffering in Voltaire’s Candide. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
Candide is one of Voltaire’s works that represents much about criticisms which are presented through satire. The writer finds the criticism that is particularly emphasized in this novel is the criticism on Leibniz’s optimism. The novel tells about the story of a group of characters that should deal with continuous torments. At the same time, optimism, which is based on a Leibniz’s philosophical notion that ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds,’ is repeatedly tested. The writer, in this thesis, has three objectives which are employed to guide the analysis. The first objective is to identify the description of characters that have significant roles in the story. The second objective is to find out the experiences of human suffering in the lives of those main characters. The last objective is to understand Voltaire’s satire in criticizing Leibniz’s optimism as seen in the main characters and their experiences of human suffering. In order to accomplish the objectives, the library research is used since many data and theories are collected from some books. The moral-philosophical approach is applied in this study. It is used to analyze Voltaire’s satire in criticizing Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. The analysis shows that the main characters like Candide, Pangloss, Cunegone, The Old Woman, Cacambo and Martin have certain personalities and attitudes towards Leibniz’s optimism after having experienced various torments that closely relate to human suffering. In this satire, Voltaire creates denunciation towards this philosophy through the rejection by his main characters. Some of them assume human suffering that occurs continuously in their lives means the Leibniz’s optimism is of no use, and it must be rejected. The uselessness of this philosophy is also seen from the ‘optimistic’ character that only keeps on philosophizing for unnecessary things. In addition, the existences of continuous human sufferings that are exaggerated in the lives of main characters also support the story to be a satire, since it proves that world is not that perfect. However, all those actually happen because of the shallow understandings on life and the philosophy of optimism, which is based on Leibniz’s simple notion. Therefore, regarding to all his harassment in Candide, Voltaire’s criticism has a corrective purpose so that people’s understanding on life and Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism could be widened.
ix ABSTRAK
TRI SEPTA NURHANTORO (2007). Satire on Leibniz’s Optimism as seen in the Main Characters and Their Experiences of Human Suffering in Voltaire’s Candide. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Candide adalah karya Voltaire yang sarat akan kritik yang disampaikan melalui satir. Penulis menemukan bahwa kritik yang paling ditegaskan dalam novel ini adalah kritik terhadap optimisme Leibniz. Novel ini bercerita tentang sekumpulan tokoh yang diharuskan menghadapi kesengsaraan yang datang silih berganti. Pada waktu yang sama, optimisme yang mengacu pada pemikiran filofofis Leibniz bahwa ‘semua yang terjadi di dunia ini merupakan hal yang terbaik,’ berulang kali diuji. Dalam tesis ini, penulis mendapatkan tujuan yang dirumuskan untuk memandu analisis. Tujuan pertama adalah untuk mengerti pendeskripsian tokoh-tokoh yang mempunyai peranan penting dalam novel. Tujuan kedua adalah untuk mengungkap pengalaman-pengalaman yang berkaitan dengan penderitaan manusia dalam kehidupan tokoh-tokoh utama tersebut. Tujuan terakhir adalah untuk mengerti tentang penggunaan satir oleh Voltaire dalam mengkritisi optimisme Leibniz melalui tokoh-tokoh utama dan pengalaman-pengalaman mereka yang berkaitan dengan penderitaan manusia. Untuk menyelesaikan analisis, metode kepustakaan diterapkan karena banyak data dan teori didapat dari beberapa buku. Pendekatan moral-filosofi digunakan dalam studi ini. Pendekatan ini digunakan untuk menganalisa satir yang diungkapkan Volatire dalam mengkritisi pemikiran Leibniz mengenai filosofi optimisme. Analisis ini akan menunjukkan bahwa tokoh-tokoh utama seperti Candide, Pangloss, Cunegone, The Old Woman, Cacambo dan Martin memiliki kepribadian dan perilaku tertentu dalam menganggapi filosofi optimisme Leibniz setelah mengalami berbagai cobaan hidup yang berkaitan dengan penderitaan manusia. Dalam satir ini, Voltaire menciptakan sindiran terhadap filosofi tersebut dengan penolakan oleh beberapa tokohnya. Bagi sebagian dari mereka, penderitaan manusia yang sering terjadi dalam kehidupan mereka menandakan bahwa optimisme tidak akan berguna, dan harus ditolak. Ketidak-bergunaan filosofi tersebut juga terlihat pada seorang tokoh ‘optimis’ selalu berfilosofi untuk hal-hal yang tidak penting. Di samping itu, keberadaan pederitaan manusia yang terjadi terus menerus dan dilebih- lebihkan dalam kehidupan tokoh-tokoh tersebut juga mendukung cerita ini untuk menjadi sebuah satir, karena membuktikan bahwa dunia tidak sesempurna itu. Akan tetapi, pada dasarnya semua hal itu terjadi karena adanya pemahaman yang dangkal tentang kehidupan dan filosofi optimisme yang didasari oleh pemikiran Leibniz yang sederhana. Oleh karenanya, mengacu pada semua ejekan dalam Candide, kritik Voltaire bertujuan untuk pembenaran, hingga dapat memperluas pemahaman masyarakat mengenai kehidupan dan filosofi optimisme Leibniz.
x CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of The Study
Literature can be a media for the authors to tell about things and also their expression on them. The authors create their works based on what they hear, know and feel about anything such as politics, social life, love, life philosophy, etc.
Through their works, they can share some ideas or issues with the readers.
Literature is human creation in certain time to say something or events in certain period or year. It is intended to share some idea or issue to other human beings, because the greatness of the literature work is brought out by the wisest and the most sensitive mind in the form of information, experience, knowledge or non- aesthetic values (Guerrin, 1979: 18).
While for the readers, by reading literature, they can enrich their knowledge, since literature may contain special information of life which is useful to learn. Even though it is not identical with the real experience, it provides a profitable supplement in terms of intellectual and critical values because making a mature evaluation of life without having a great deal of direct experience is also possible (Grace, 1965: 7).
Some authors employ their works as means to criticize something or someone.
Using it, they can express their indignant, resistance or criticism toward the object they disagree or dislike. However, since there might be no freedom to criticize, the authors must attack the object they dislike indirectly. This kind of work is usually called a satire. In A Handbook to Literature, Holman and Harmon define satire as a literary manner that blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of
1 2
improving human’s institution or humanity (1986: 447). Although satirical authors employ humor and wit, ridicule and parody in their works, they are not necessarily a form of comedy because they are the authors’ criticisms that may contain harassment and condemnation to the objects they attack. These criticisms are aimed to bring the improvement and the awareness towards the objects they attack, even though only in the readers’ mind.
The object of satire is various. It depends on the authors’ creativity and sensitivity towards their surroundings. There are so many famous authors using their works to criticize something or someone via satire. For example, George Orwell satirizes dictatorship through characterizations in his book, Animal Farm; Anthony
Trollope uses his work, The Warden, in satirizing society; and Jonathan Swift, who satirically attacks the state of affairs in A Modest Proposal.
Voltaire is one of the famous authors who employ satirical technique in presenting his criticisms through literary works. He uses his life experience as the source in writing. He does not choose this kind of genre accidentally. It is because of his awareness that literary work could be a perfect media to express his ideas, criticisms and mockery towards something or someone. This style of writing can be seen in his twenty-six satirical novels, including Candide, Zandig ou La Destinée,
Micromégas and L’Ingénu (Husen, 2003: 30-31).
The novel Candide, which was written by Voltaire, is his most phenomenal satirical work read by people. It was firstly published in 1759. Candide is considered as Voltaire’s signature work since it contains much about his sharpest criticism 3
through satire against nobility, way of life, religion, human corruption and cruelty. It also criticizes certain aspects of the philosophical movement of the Enlightenment
(http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/candide/context.html).
The philosophy of optimism by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz also becomes
Voltaire’s target, since the taught of “everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds,” which is repeatedly mentioned in the story. Related to his cynical perception on optimism, Voltaire himself assumes that optimism must not imply the possibility of seeing things as they are, but also in its argument. He does not believe that there is any justice or balance in the world, but he believes that bad ideas make people bad (http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/index.ssf?050307crbo_books).
The novel, Candide, presents the story of a young man named Candide and some other characters that experience continuous sufferings in their lives. Some of them keep facing their problems within their optimistic view of life, while the others have a tendency to disbelieve it since it completely does not match with the real world. The optimism shown by some of those characters in the story seems to be exceeding and uncanny. This makes the characters look foolish in the way they deal with their problems. Moreover, the series of human suffering that happen in the story indicate that the world is far from perfect. The foolishness of the optimistic characters, the other characters’ refutation on optimism, and the human suffering presented in Candide causes the work to become a satire, especially on optimism which is based on Leibniz’s philosophical notion which merely means that universe as a whole is created harmonious and well-ordered. 4
After reading the novel, the writer is curious to analyze the satire occurring in the story that represents Voltaire’s criticism on Leibniz’s optimism through it. The criticism is represented via satire that can be seen from the main characters and their attitude on optimism, and also their continuous experiences of human suffering that occur in the story. Therefore, the writer tries to relate the use of character and characterization of the main characters and their experiences of human suffering to find out Voltaire’s criticism on the philosophy of optimism through satire in Candide, and the topic “Satire on Leibniz’s Optimism as seen in the Main Characters and Their
Experiences of Human Suffering” is decided for this thesis.
B. Problem Formulation
In order to guide and limit the points of discussion, several research questions related to the topic are prepared. The questions are formulated as follows:
1. How are the main characters described in the story?
2. How do their experiences of human suffering happen?
3. How does the author use satire in criticizing Leibniz’s optimism through
the main characters and their experiences of human suffering?
C. Objectives of The Study
The aim of this study is to answer the research questions stated in the problem formulation, which makes the writer have several objectives. The first objective is to describe the characters that have significant roles in the story through what they say, 5
think and do. The description of the main characters is used to figure out whether they are optimistic or less-optimistic. The second objective is to find out the experiences of human suffering on the main character. These two objectives will be helpful in understanding of the significance of optimism in the story. The last objective is to understand Voltaire’s satire in criticizing Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism found in the main characters and their experiences of human suffering.
D. Definition of Terms
Some words will be defined to guide the readers in understanding this thesis.
The writer gets definition of the specific terms mostly from books and websites, which are considered well-qualified.
1. Character
According to Abrams (1981: 20), character is “a short, and usually witty, sketch in prose of a distinctive type of a person”. As persons presented in dramatic or narrative work, characters are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say (the dialogue) and by what they do (the actions).
2. Optimism
Optimism is a principle which exemplifies a life-view where one looks upon the world as a positive place, means that everything in the world is basically good. It has a so-called ‘positive’ outlook on life, believing that things will work out in the end. The basic optimistic belief is a notion that "everything is for the best in the best 6
of all possible worlds" (French: Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles) was coined by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, a German Enlightenment philosopher (http:www.wikipedia.org/wiki/optimism.html).
3. Satire
Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example: individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change
(http:www.wikipedia.org/wiki/satire.html). According to Abrams in A Glossary of
Literary Terms, satire is a literary art of ridiculous subject in which attitudes of amusement, contempt, indignation or scorns are evoked (1981: 167).
4. Human Suffering
According to Hicks, human suffering is some instances that caused by war, injustice and many forms of “man’s inhumanity to man” that are traceable to human wrongdoing, while other sources of suffering like disease, earthquake, flood, drought and storm are built into the structure of the world” (Edwards, 1967: 139). CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Voltaire is considered as one of the greatest French authors in the
Enlightenment era in eighteenth century. In Encyclopedia of Philosophy (1967: 262), it is said that he was hailed at an early age as the best playwright in France, and was to dominate the stage for the next fifteen years because of his talent in literature and philosophy. During his life, Voltaire often spent his time in jail as he always put his sharpest criticisms, especially against nobility and the power of Church, in his works.
The repression of the monarch government in France forced him to live wanderer across the countries, but this made him to be more critical in presenting his works.
In particular, Voltaire’s concern on philosophy drove him to use the problem of evil and the benevolent of God to be the philosophical themes in most of his writings. In his various treatments on them, Voltaire viewed from the stand points of both philosophy and art. These kind of themes were exposed particularly in the works of so-called ‘philosophical tales’ written from 1747 onwards, including Zandig ou La
Destinée, Candide ou L’Optimismé, Micromégas, Le Monde comme il va, and
L’Ingénu (1967: 265). However, this could not make Voltaire as exactly a
“philosopher” in a conventional sense. According to Adam Gopnik, his philosophy does not always contain about his deep thought on beliefs and ways of life like many other philosophers, but it disposes more on a moral instinct as a human, which is
7 8
considered simple but still can be logically accepted
(http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/index.ssf?050307crbo_books).
In the next point, Gopnik states that the theme Voltaire presents in his most famous work, Candide, which is about rape, disturbances, enslavements and human tortures that occur in the world are not necessarily a fact of the fatality of life and the universe, but brutal action that is brought by fanatics. He realizes that bad guys are everywhere, and he thinks that they are present even though they cannot be predicted
(http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/index.ssf?050307crbo_books).
Related to Voltaire’s philosophical theme in his works, Edwards states that his moral theme reflected through Candide is considered completely humanistic since the author concerns on the human personal happiness in society. The work shows his social philosophy of melioristic, which pays attention to miseries that threaten mankind. Voltaire says that ‘the less superstition, the less fanaticism; and the less fanaticism, the less unhappiness.’ Because of that, since the world is full with miseries, there will be less happiness (1967: 267). Similar with Edwards, Eldersveld in an article taken from the internet says that the true happiness that people want is actually unobtainable in Voltaire's eyes. Whether a person is active or passive, optimistic or pessimistic, idealistic or realistic, he can do nothing decisively to change his state. Therefore, man must entrust himself to a reality that humanity cannot alter because he can only accept to what he has been given
(http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/candide/essay1.html). 9
Voltaire’s cynical view of personal happiness is shown in his objections toward some other philosophical thoughts through his works. As Peter Jimack has stated in History of Philosophy: British Philosophy and the Age of Enlightenment,
Candide is conceived an attack on the world, which is full of misery and human torture so that man is hardly to find any satisfaction. There, Voltaire explores the philosophy of Leibniz that world has been created as the best possible one that human can achieve. He makes a caricature of a very fanatic and radical disciple of Leibniz
(or a caricature of Leibniz himself) in the character Pangloss. This character is not only stupid, but also too obstinate to admit the he is wrong about his optimistic belief that everything is the best of all possible worlds, even when he experiences the series disasters and misfortunes in his life (Brown, 1996: 254).
It is obvious that most of characters created by Voltaire become a perfect media for him to convey his critics. In Voltaire: Dongeng Filsafat Perancis, Husen states that Voltaire’s critics are presented through characters’ attitudes and speeches, which is considered hilarious and unpredictable. Sometimes, Voltaire also verifies something frequently so that the readers are provoked to inquire what he really wants to explain. Voltaire’s style of writing, which is considered both amusing and ironic, can entertain the readers and also attack the things he dislikes at once. In addition,
Husen considers that within his works, indeed Voltaire just tries to encourage all the readers to be realistic, tolerant, and justified (2003: 34-35).
By considering the several statements of study and criticisms mentioned above, there are several points that can be drawn. The first is that the novel Candide, 10
does not only contain much about Voltaire’s philosophical thoughts and moral values, which he wants to represent to the readers, but also his criticisms. The second is that the author generally uses the characters in his works as media for him to represent his criticisms. The writer agrees with all those points which somehow acknowledge the writer in writing the research. However, the writer would like to concern more on the author’s satire which is employed through the main characters and their experiences of human suffering presented in the story. He thinks that the use of those elements is important in presenting Voltaire’s criticism on Leibniz’s optimism. The writer considers that although this work apparently attacks the philosophy optimism, actually his criticism involves the shallow understandings of it, because Leibniz’s simple notion on optimism that "everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds" may be considered different from what actually happens in the real world.
B. Review of Related Theories
In answering the problem formulation that will be discussed further, there are some theories an views related to the topic that are taken from several sources, which are theory of character and characterization, theory of satire, view of Leibniz’s optimism, and view of human suffering.
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
In An Introduction to Fiction, Stanton states that the term character is used in two ways; it designates the individuals who appear in the story; and it may refer to 11
the description of attitudes, interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles of the individuals (1965: 17). He adds that character in a story can be categorized into two different types: main character and minor character. Major character is a character that may dominate the whole story and is frequently presented in it. Meanwhile, the minor character is presented in order to explain and help the other characters, especially the major character (1965: 17-18).
In characterizing a character, Perrine states that an author can present either directly or indirectly. In direct presentation, the author tells about a character straightly in the sentence or by the dialogue of other character. Meanwhile, in indirect presentation, the author presents the character’s personality from how the character acts, talk, or how they interact with the others (1974: 68). Similar to Perrine, Abrams says that an author may present characters in two techniques from the narration: showing and telling. In showing, the reader can identify who the characters are by what he or she does or says. In telling, the narration will give the description of the character (1981: 24). An author may use both techniques at once in his work in order to present the characters to be more emotionally convincing, which will help the reader easily to identify them.
According to Murphy in Understanding Unseens: an Introduction to English
Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students, there are nine ways in which an author can present the characterization of characters in a literary work. Those nine ways are: 12
a. Personal description
The author can describe a character by using the appearance and clothes. The
readers will get only a visible look of a character, like parts of the body of the
character and the clothes he or she wears (1972: 161). b. Characters as seen by another
The author can describe a character through the view, opinions, attitudes, and
comments of other characters. The readers will get a reflected image of the
characters the author means (1972: 162). c. Speech
The author can describe a character by giving readers an insight into the
characteristics through the way he or speaks and the language he or she uses. Here
the reader enables to analyze from the sentences the character uses (1972: 164). d. Past life
The author can provide a clue to events that help to shape characteristics by
giving the readers the character’s past life. This is quite helpful to analyze the
motives that a character has when he has a particular characteristic or does
something special (1972: 166). e. Conversation of others
The author can also provide a clue about a character through the conversation of
other people and what they say about him or her. Readers will learn that what
others say about a character may reveal what kind of characters he or she is
(1972: 167). 13
f. Reactions
The author can describe characteristics by showing how a character responds to
various situations and events. The reaction may give a clue to what characteristics
a character has (1972: 168). g. Direct comment
The author may give comments and descriptions on the characteristics of the
character directly to readers. This becomes the best way for the readers to
visualize the characteristics because they know what exactly the author wants to
reveal (1972: 170). h. Thoughts
The author gives readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about.
There, he or she can tell readers what different people are thinking of. Such thing
cannot be seen but can be presented through the speech and attitudes. The readers
then are in a privileged position; they have a secret listening device plugged in to
the inmost thoughts of a character in a novel (1972: 171). i. Mannerism
The author can characterize a character through the mannerisms, habits or
idiosyncrasies. Those things may tell readers something about the character’s
characteristics (1972: 172).
Another way of characterizing a character is by naming. As stated by William
Gass in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama that “a character, first of all, is the noise of his name” (Kennedy and Gloia, 1998: 61). He believes that 14
a name can help the reader to indicate the character since it is chosen to have certain meaning so that it can reflect the nature of a character. An author may give his good character a name that symbolizes his or her character, and also the contrary. For example, Charles Dickens names a couple of shyster lawyers Dodgson and Fog, which suggests dodging evasiveness and fog-like obfuscation.
2. Theory of Satire
The definition of satire can be explained as a topical literary composition that holds up human or individual vices, folly, abuses, or short comings to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony or other methods, which sometimes intent to bring about improvement (Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature,
1995: 995). In A Handbook to Literature, Holman and Harmon state that satire is “a literary manner that blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of improving human institutions or humanity.” They characterize the true satirists as those who are conscious of the frailty of human institutions and attempt through laughter not so much to tear them down as to inspire a remodeling (1986: 447).
From those definitions about satire above, the writer composes that a satire aims to criticize someone or something by ‘attacking’ its weaknesses. Satire is often comic since it uses humor and wit in criticizing. However, instead of ridiculing something or someone, in fact, a satire aims to suggest for improving human institutions or humanity. A satire always has a target such as pretence, falsity, deception, arrogance, which is held up to ridicule by a satirist. Therefore, the readers 15
of literary works can find satire by simply recognizing if something is attacking something in humorous way for corrective purpose.
Holman and Harmon classify satire into two types: formal or direct satire and indirect satire (1986: 448). In formal or direct satire, the satirical voice speaks usually in the first person, either to the readers or to the characters in satire. The criticism is directed straightforward to insult against a person or cause. An exaggeration becomes another form of direct satire in which the good characteristics are passed over and the ridiculous ones are emphasized. Meanwhile, in indirect satire, the satire is expressed through a narrative and the characters that are ridiculed by what they themselves say and do, not what is said about them.
In Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays, Frye states that there are two essential things in satire; one is wit or humor that is found on fantasy or a sense of grotesque, and the other is an object of attack. The denunciation of satire found in a literary art that is vigorous enough will be followed by the reader with the kind of pleasure that soon breaks into smile (1957: 224).
Satire can be presented in several elements of a literary work such as characters, dialogues, conflict, plot, etc. However, the most common element the writer thinks to be a media to present satire is character. For example, George
Orwell’s Animal Farm makes use of its characters to satirize dictatorship, and the character of Huckleberry Finn is used in satirizing the practice of racism among
Americans society in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 16
3. View of Leibniz’s Optimism
L.E. Loemker in Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that optimism and pessimism are actually only secondary philosophical convictions. Primarily, they are personal opinions or attitudes about the relative evil or goodness of the world or of men’s experience of the world. Philosophical optimism and pessimism result from the critical analysis and clarification of judgments to experience of the dominance of good and evil. There, he also adds that both optimism and pessimism which become the reactions and judgments to experience can be distinguished into four major points.
The first is psychological or anthropological, which involves judgments about the dominance of evil or good in one’s own experience. The second is physicalistic, which judges the physical world to be dominantly evil or good. The third is historicistic, which is based on judgments of the evil or goodness of a historical or cultural period. The last is universal or cosmic, which involves judgments about the dominance of evil or good in the universe as a whole (Edwards, 1967: 114).
The attitudes and views of optimism and pessimism are much older than the terms that describe them. The term optimism was firstly used to designate the philosophical doctrine on philosophy by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, which was written in his work Theodicy; ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’ (French: tout est pour le mieux dans le meileur des mondes possibles).
According to Palmer in Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter 3rd
Edition, Leibniz’s actual words are “Hence the world is not only the most admirable machine, but in so far as it consists of minds, it is also the best republic, that in which 17
the minds are granted the greatest possible happiness and joy” (2001: 182). It means that the world may appear very imperfect to all human, but if they knew what the alternatives was, they would be very grateful indeed to God since He has created everything in the universe good and harmonious.
In an article Leibniz Selections, P. Weiner states that Leibniz's optimism is rested on the Platonic idea of a permanent rational order of justice, truth and beauty lying behind the apparent evils, imperfect knowledge and discordance which marks the finite earthly life of man. This span of man's life is only a small transitory stage of the larger life of the immortal soul, as the life of the caterpillar is only a stage in the life of a butterfly. Such metaphors, borrowed from the biological discoveries were used by Leibniz as analogical arguments for the immortality of the soul and for the existence of life's illnesses. P. Weiner also adds that ‘Leibniz has frequent exhortations to advance the use of a more rational method of inquiry and discussion in scientific, social, philosophical and religious matters.’ He obviously believes that his notion on philosophy of optimism does not imply maintaining the present inharmonious appearance of things and the irrational habits of men, but making practical use of the active power of men in order to pursue goals to the best of his ability and knowledge (http://www.ditext.com/wiener/leibniz.html).
Regarding to his optimistic belief, he also relates it with God’s providence and human fate. Leibniz states that:
Man of good will (homo honestatis) should find his greatest happiness in the recognition that in spite of its glaring evils this is the best of all possible worlds, because its creation involved the fullest possible realization of the divine 18
attributes. He should also recognize that there prevails in the world a divine harmony that requires evil not only for the full manifestation of the infinite greatness of the world’s Creator but also in order that evil may contribute to a greater good that would otherwise be possible (1967: 117).
From the quotation above, it can be concluded that in fact men need evil to exist in their lives. Because without evil to challenge them, there can be no courage; man will not be encouraged to be and to get the best in this world. Since evil also brings out the best aspects of mankind, evil is regarded as necessary. Therefore, in creating this world, God makes some evils in order to make everything become balance and fine.
Therefore, two major points can be drawn from the explanations of Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism above. The first is that God is absolutely beneficent.
Secondly, because God is beneficent, in creating the world, He must create it as the best possible one. Leibniz might not argue that the world is imperfect or that evil exists. It all depends on human’s ability to see the divine plan as a whole, not to judge by separated parts , and also his willingness to pursue every goal as best as he can do.
4. View of Human Suffering
Human suffering is usually described as a negative basic feeling or emotion that involves a subjective character of unpleasantness, aversion, harm or threat of harm. People's attitudes toward a suffering they experience may vary hugely according to how much they deem it, whether it is light or severe, avoidable or unavoidable, useful or useless, of little or of great consequence, deserved or undeserved, chosen or unwanted, acceptable or unacceptable. Human suffering may 19
include physical sickness and pain, mental pressure, rejection, loneliness, war, famine, disease, persecution, natural disasters, poverty, etc.
According to Lawhead all human suffering and experience of pain closely relates to the philosophy of problem of evil since it is basically caused by the evil. He distinguishes this human suffering into two kinds (1999: 456): a. Human suffering caused by moral evil, which contains the bad actions and their
unfortunate results for which human are morally responsible. This kind of evil is
committed by people that cause the evil result of distrusts, loss of property, and
physical or emotional harm, for example war, murder, theft, rape, etc. b. Human suffering caused by natural evil, which consists of the suffering to every
human that results from natural causes, such as diseases, natural disasters, defects,
etc. It is actually out of human responsibility since it is away from human control.
Similar to Lawhead, in Encyclopedia of Philosophy John Hick also states that human pain and suffering is some instances of suffering, for example, those caused by war, injustice, many forms of man inhumanity to man are trace-able to human wrongdoing, and thus fall with the problem of moral evil. Meanwhile, the other sources of human suffering, such as disease, earthquake, flood, drought and storm, are built into the structure of the world itself (Edwards, 1967: 139).
C. Theoretical Framework
In answering the problems formulated in the previous chapter, there are several theories and views which are needed, such as theory of character and 20
characterization, theory of satire, view of Leibniz’s optimism, and also view of human suffering.
The theory of character and characterization is considered suitable as the means to answer the first question. By applying the theory, the writer will be able to describe the characterization of the main characters, including the description of the performance, attitude, dialogue and the action of the characters. This theory is considered significant since this study concerns on the characters in the novel.
The view of Leibniz’s optimism will help the writer in comprehending the characteristics and the principles of optimism, especially the optimism that is taught by Leibniz. This view is also used to give the readers the first image and idea of
Leibniz’s optimism before they go further to read the analysis.
The view of human suffering is used to find out the basic understandings of human suffering, which later is employed to observe the experiences of human sufferings that are faced by the main characters.
The theory of satire is used since the topic of this study talks about the author’s satire. This theory is aimed at giving an understanding about satire in literature. Using this theory, the writer will try to answer the last problem formulation, which is still related to the previous ones. There, the writer wants to analyze how the satire that appears in Candide is used in criticizing Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism, which is employed from the main characters and their experiences of human suffering in the story. CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a novel entitled Candide. The novel is written by a famous French author, François-Marie Arouet, who often uses ‘Voltaire’ as his pseudonym. His pseudonym is used in order to cover his true identity since most of his works contain much about his aversion to Christian regimes of power, the arrogance of nobility, society and also certain aspects of the philosophical movement of the Enlightenment. At the first time Candide (originally entitled Candide ou L’
Optimismé) was published, it was considered to be a controversial work since frequently Voltaire put the names of people he criticized or disliked in the story.
Voltaire, himself, never openly admitted to have written it and chose to sign it with his another pseudonym, ‘Monsieur le Docteur Ralph,’ literally means ‘Mister Doctor
Ralph’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide).
Candide was written by Voltaire in 1758 in Geneva, Switzerland. It was firstly published in 1759 and was expanded subsequently. It was his mostly read work by people all around the world, and principally, because of Candide, Voltaire ranks with Jonathan Swift as one of the greatest satirists in literature. In analyzing the work the writer uses the novel published in New York, America, by Dover Publications,
Inc. in 1991. This edition is an unabridged republication of an anonymous English
21 22
version of Candide, which was edited by Stanley Applebaum. The novel has 94 pages divided into 30 sections, including 3 extra pages for the Notes to the Text.
The ‘philosophical tale’ Candide tells about the story of young man named
Candide, the philosopher Pangloss, Cunegonde, The Old Woman, Cacambo, and
Martin. They, for certain reasons, are driven to enter journey across the countries, in which they continuously face the evil of the world; the unpleasant experiences of human sufferings. For those main characters, these experiences drive them to judge and appraise what the real world is. Here, the Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism, which is brought by some characters, is tested. Some of them keep in believing that everything is well, meanwhile, the others, which consider that optimism is of no use, just try to ignore it since it completely does not match with the real world.
B. Approach of the Study
The use of appropriate approach in analyzing the work is essential in order to have a fair analysis on the topic. The approach then will lead the study into a vivid conclusion. Considering the topic of the study, which deals with a certain philosophical aspect in the novel, the writer tries to apply philosophical approach with the intention of achieving a balance analysis.
According to Guerin in A Handbook to Critical Approach to Literature, ‘The largest function of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues’
(1979: 29). From the quotation above, the writer draws the two basic purposes in viewing literature; first is to teach morality to the readers, and the second is to explore 23
the philosophical aspects. Considering to the functions of literature that deal with philosophy, the writer would like to apply the philosophical approach in analyzing
Voltaire’s criticism on Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism through satire in Candide.
C. Method of the Study
The method that the writer used in this study was library research. In library research, the study was done by reading and collecting data and information from certain books and other writings that support the subject matter of the research as the materials. However, to get more information about the work, the author, and any information related to the research, the writer browsed many websites. Some data were taken by considering their relevance, validity, accuracy, and appropriateness.
Besides the primary data of the study that was of course the novel Voltaire’s
Candide itself, there would be other secondary data the writer needed taken from various sources. There were also some theories and views used in the study, they were theories of character and characterization, theory of satire, view of Leibniz’s optimism, and view of human suffering, which were taken and summed up from some books, encyclopedias and websites.
In writing this research, the writer had done some steps. The first step was reading and understanding the novel so that the writer could comprehend the story and the details, which were essential in the process of writing the thesis. Secondly, the writer decided the topic to be discussed in this study, which was satire on
Leibniz’s optimism, since the writer assumed that in the novel, Candide, Voltaire 24
seemingly wanted to satirize Leibniz’s optimism through the main characters and their experiences of human suffering.
The next step was collecting information, sources, theories, and views that were needed for the research. Then, the writer conducted the analysis by answering the problems formulation using the knowledge that was gained from the prominent sources. The writer analyzed the characters that had significant roles in the story through what they said, thought and did using the theory of character and characterization. Then, along the view of Leibniz’s optimism, the writer could find their understandings on its philosophy. Later on, the writer would like to analyze briefly the experiences of human suffering faced by the main characters using the view of human suffering, which built their attitudes in seeing the world and also towards Leibniz’s optimism. After analyzing the main characters and their experiences of human suffering, the writer would use the theory of satire to find out the satire on Leibniz’s optimism from those two elements in Candide. As the result, the author’s criticism on it via satire would be shown. The last step of this research was to sum-up the discussion and draw a conclusion. CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter will be divided into three sections. Each section will represent the answer of each research question previously written in the problem formulation.
The first section will discuss the description of the main characters in Candide, which later will be useful to understand the characters and also to figure out whether they are optimistic or less-optimistic characters. The second section will discuss experiences of human suffering in the lives of the main characters. Then, in the last section, the writer will relate the significance of those two elements to understand
Voltaire’s satire in criticizing Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism.
A. The Description of the Main Characters
There are six characters that have important roles in the story. Those characters are considered important to be analyzed due to the topic about satire on
Leibniz’s optimism since in the story they show personalities and also attitudes toward its philosophy. Those main characters are Candide, Pangloss, Cunegone, The
Old Woman, Cacambo and Martin.
1. Candide
Candide is a young man who lives in the castle of Thunder-ten-Tronckh, which belongs to the richest and most well-known Baron in Westphanglia, Germany.
25 26
Throughout the beginning of the novel, Candide is described as a naïve young man, just like his name which also reflects his personality. Candide seems to be derived from French word ‘candidus’ which means ‘pure, innocent, and ingenuous’ (Dubois,
1960: 104). As a theory said, name can also reflect the nature of the character (1998:
61). The name of Candide gives some description to the reader that this character is a kind of good character. His name symbolizes his fine personality, and its connotation creates the character’s good image in the reader’s mind.
…lived a youth, whom nature had endowed with the most gentle manners. His countenance was a true picture of his soul. He combined a true judgment with simplicity of spirit, which was the reason. (p. 1)
Similar to the reflection of his name to his personality, Candide’s purity leads him to be an honest person. When he is asked a question by people, he always answers with the first thing that comes up in his mind and never tries to lie. This can be seen from his conversation with a group of Bulgarian soldiers in a bar, after he is kicked out from the Baron’s castle. Here, through his answer it can be concluded that he tries to be honest to others.
“Love you not deeply?” “Oh yes,” answered Candide; “I deeply in love Miss Cunegonde.” “No,” said one of the gentlemen, “we ask you if you do not deeply in love the King of the Bulgarians?” “Not at all,” said he: “for I have never seen him.” (p. 3)
When he still lives in Baron’s castle, Candide loves learning philosophy so much. He always listens to Pangloss’ lectures attentively. Candide’s adoration to his tutor leads him believe all his lectures, moreover, about philosophy. He considers it will be very useful to improve his knowledge and also tries to practice in his every 27
day life. The lectures really influence in the way he reacts towards every occasion he experiences.
He resolved one fine day in spring to go for a walk, marching straight before him, believing that it was a privilege of human as well as of the animal species to make use of their legs as they pleased. (p. 4)
The quotation above shows his concern on human philosophy. Considering to
Pangloss’ lecture, at one night he joins Bulgarian army, Candide follows himself to walk away. He disobeys rule as a soldier that must not leave the camp without permission. As a consequence, he must be punished very badly then. Being offered option of two punishments, Candide chooses none of them. He maintains that man also has the right not to choose. Instead of showing his awareness of philosophy
Pangloss has taught, these events clearly present his naivety. He seems to take the philosophy as it is, without any consideration.
Candide sometimes can be a fully optimistic person who has a sense of abundance. He seems to feel free to do what he wants and recognizes the world to be full of opportunities. Candide believes that one time someone will find happiness even though he must face some difficulties when he tries to get it, just like the philosophy of Leibniz’s optimism his tutor has taught. Though, he is still aware that complaining may be a common thing because it is the part of both natural and moral philosophy of a man.
”We are going into another world,” said Candide; “and surely it must be there that all this for the best. For I must confess there is reason to complain a little of what passes in our world in regard to both natural and moral philosophy.” (p. 23) 28
While, even if he tries to keep his faith on optimism, Candide, after facing series of misfortunes, still cannot refrain from complaining. He sometimes does not take the world as it is and complains that life is not fair. Sometimes Candide also questions the importance of his tutor’s teaching about Leibniz's of philosophy optimism, and he has the tendency to conclude whether optimism has no use to be applied in his life which is apparently full with misery. His instability on optimism shows that he is a person of hesitation.
“Oh, Pangloss!” cried Candide, “thou hadst not guessed at this abomination; it is the end. I must at last renounce thy optimism.” “What is this optimism?” said Cacambo. “Alas!” said Candide, “it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.” (p. 49)
Candide, nevertheless, beyond his suspicion on moral and philosophy he gets from his experience, is a picture of true lover. He is a man of honor who is really faithful to his mate, Cunegonde. Even though she has betrayed his love and married with another man. Candide is still willing to love her who now has turned into such ugly creature after getting divorced and experiencing continuous torments.
2. Pangloss
Pangloss is described to be the greatest philosopher in Germany. He is hired to be the oracle in the castle of Thunder-ten-Throckh. He teaches Candide and the other members of the family about human philosophy, especially on Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism that believes everything that happens in life is good since
God has created everything perfectly in this best of all possible worlds. His 29
conviction on this philosophy makes him to assume that there is no reason to change in everything that happens in this world, even things that are perceived as evil or wrong because everything is basically good and well-ordered. Therefore, when his benefactor is drowning at the bay of Lisbon, Pangloss prevents Candide from trying to rescue him by proving that the bay of Lisbon has been formed particularly for
Jacques to drown in. This action proves that he is a kind of philosopher whose personality is inseparable from his philosophy, even though it might be wrong.
He was just going to jump after him but was prevented by the philosopher Pangloss, who demonstrated to him that the Bay of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned. (p. 10)
Pangloss always philosophizes about everything that happens in the world is well-fixed. He believes that all-powerful God has created the world, and because of that, therefore, the world must be perfect. When human beings perceive something as wrong or evil, it is merely because they do not understand that it is also meant to serve. This can be seen when he explains about the existence of volcanic mountain at
Lisbon that causes terrible earthquake and kills hundreds of men. He states that it is obviously right since God must have created the mountain in the place it should be.
“For,” said he, “all that is for the best. If there is volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere. It is impossible that things should be other than they are; for everything is right.” (p. 11)
Pangloss’ optimistic belief drives him to emphasize the enjoyable and positive aspects of life. He assumes that even though man has experienced the most unaffordable miseries in his life, he still must be grateful to God since his miseries 30
will bring goodness for him. According to him, more miseries in one’s life means the greater good God has given to him. However, this only shows his clumsiness in facing every difficulty he gets.
“All this was indispensable,” replied Dr. Pangloss, “for private misfortunes make general good, so that the more private misfortunes there are the greater is the general good.” (p. 9)
Even though Pangloss himself admits that he sometimes has trouble believing in his optimistic philosophy. He still maintains it until the end of the novel. He seems to willfully ignore any evidence that contradicts his early opinion. In order to defend his argument, Pangloss also produces illogical arguments to support his preconceived notion on his philosophy. This indicates his obstinacy as a philosopher.
“Well, my dear Pangloss,” said Candide to him, “when you had been hanged, dissected, whipped, and were tugging at the oar, did you always think that everything happens for the best?” “I am still of my first opinion,” answered Pangloss, “for I am a philosopher and I cannot retract, especially as Leibniz could never be wrong; and besides, the pre-established harmony is the finest thing in the world…” (p. 81)
3. Cunegonde
Cunegonde is the daughter of a Westphanglian Baron of Thunder-ten-
Tronckh. Throughout the novel, the seventeen-year-old Cunegonde is described as a beautiful plump girl who has fresh colored skin. The description of her appearance may show her desirable personality to readers. On this personal description, the readers will get a visible look of her character (1972: 161). 31
In the story, Cunegonde’s series of unpleasant experience, which results her to lose all her family and wealth, leads her to be a less-optimistic person. She just never tries to hope and disbelieve that there is any happiness in the world can be gained.
“I love you with all my heart,” said Cunegonde; “but my soul is still full of fright at that which I have seen and experienced.” “All will be well,” replied Candide; “the sea of this new world is already better than our European sea; it is calmer, the winds more regular. It is certainly the New World which is the best of all possible worlds.” “God grant it,” said Cunegonde; “but I have been so horribly unhappy there my heart is almost closed to hope.” (p. 23)
The quotation above shows her pessimistic view towards life and also her lack of self-worth in facing any substances she has experienced. However, not only having lack of self-worth, Cunegonde also blames the preceptor Pangloss for teaching her much about everything in the world is created for the best. According to her, the philosopher’s teaching on Leibniz’s optimism really contradicts with what she has experienced in her life, and also what she has witnessed in the real world.
“How is it possible,” said Cunegonde, “that the beloved Candide and the wise Pangloss should both be at Lisbon, the one to receive a hundred lashes and the other to be hanged by the Grand Inquisitor, of whom I am the well-beloved? Pangloss most cruelly deceived me when he said that everything in the world is for the best.” (p. 18)
4. The Old Woman
The Old Woman is Miss Cunegonde’s faithful maid-servant. She is described as physically ugly, but she is actually a good and wise woman. She has bleared eyes and red eyelids, and her nose always touches her chin. As a woman that is described as old, The Old Woman has experienced various and complicated experiences in her 32
life. She sometimes can give good and rational suggestions to other characters, like
Cunegonde and Candide, based on her life-experience.
The description of The Old Woman’s character also can be found from her story of her past life, since according to Murphy (1972: 166), the character’s past life is quite helpful to analyze the characteristic of a character. From the story of her past life, it is known that she was born as a daughter of Pope Urban X of Palestrina. When she was young, The Old Woman had the most beautiful face so that everyone who had seen her would feel astonished. Her father is very rich so that the family could live in the midst of pleasures and respectful homage.
“I am the daughter of Pope Urban X, and of the princess of Palestrina. Until the age of fourteen, I was brought up in a palace, to which all castles would have scarcely served for stables...” (p. 24)
Unfortunately, The Old Woman, later, ought to lose all the wealth and then live in misery. Her experience of life really depresses her, and this also makes her has often been close to commit suicide. However, The Old Woman is a strong and rational woman as she always finds reason to live. Her experience also drives her to be cynical about human nature. Moreover, it makes her to be curious as men are still willing to live although they get nothing from it, only a burden. The Old Woman’s curiosity on human beings does not change her judgment on humanity and happiness.
…I have had experience, I know the world; therefore I advise you to divert yourself, and prevail upon each passenger to tell his story; and if there be one of them all, that has not cursed his life many a time, that has not frequently looked upon himself as the unhappiest of mortals, I give you leave to throw me headforemost into the sea. (p. 29) 33
The quotation above shows that she is not in doubt that there are only a few people who look upon himself as cheerful persons in the world, who can get everything that they want, since all that they have gotten in life is only misery. Everyone must have cursed his life and condemned God to be really unfair to him.
5. Cacambo
Cacambo is a valet. He accompanies Candide when he travels in South
America. He is a mixed-race of natives, a quarter Spaniard, and born of a mongrel in
Tucuman. The writer analyzes Cacambo as a confident person. He believes that one can bring about good thing. He inspires perfect confidence both in his intelligence and his moral uprightness. Cacambo is also able to speak several languages, including
Native American and European languages. Through this ability, he repeatedly brings his master into an escape from some serious misfortunes they experience. He can successfully handle the situation when his master has difficulty to do it.
“We are certainly going to be either roasted or boiled. Ah! What would Master Pangloss say, were he to see how pure nature is formed? Everything is right, may be, but I declare it is very hard to lost Miss Cunegonde and to be put upon a spit by Oreillons.” Cacambo never lost his head. “Do not despair, said he to the disconsolate Candide, “I understand a little of the jargon of these people, I will speak to them.” (p.38)
Cacambo is a man of action. Using his knowledge, sometimes he can give many useful suggestions to Candide. Not merely suggesting, he also does perfect actions for him to solve the problem they get. 34
Cacambo, who had been in a great many scrapes in is lifetime, did not lose his head; he took the Baron’s Jesuit habit, put it on Candide, give him the square cap, and made him amount on his horse back. All this was done in the twinkling of an eye. (p.36)
The perfect actions that he does also give a proof that he is an experimental person, which means he frequently seeks more effective ways of achieving goals and is willing to take calculated risks. Moreover, he has the courage to find pleasure since according to him world is full with opportunities for men to get their happiness.
“You’ll make a prodigious fortune; if we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things.” (p. 32)
Cacambo is a very loyal person, who always keeps his master’s order to be done as good as he wants to. He can live up to his master’s trust when he sends him to fetch Cunegonde. Cacambo attempts to keep on realizing it even though it becomes little bit late and out of the plan. He is given much money to release Cunegonde, but before he successfully does it, he is robbed. This robbery drives Cacambo into enslavement since he gets no more money left. However, he still tries to do Candide’s mission, even he only gets information about her. This shows his faithfulness to his master and loyalty to his duty.
…he loved his master, because his master was a very good man. (p. 32)
Cacambo’s high intelligence and morality honest drives him to suffer fewer gross misfortunes. He can deal with any problems he gets using his sharp wits.
Despite the optimism Cacambo inspires, he never admits that he is an optimist because of his lack of philosophical knowledge upon him. However, as a valet, 35
Cacambo has shown the principles of optimism in more rational way since he is both more practical and experimental than any other characters
6. Martin
Martin is a philosopher with whom Candide takes as a travel companion when he sails to France, and later Martin becomes one of his best acquaintances. As a philosopher, he is both a knowledgeable and intelligent person, who sometimes teaches Candide about life and its philosophy. However, experiencing various events during his journey to some countries in his whole life totally turns him into a more pessimistic philosopher.
“But for what end, then, has this world been formed?” said Candide. “To plague us to death,” Answered Martin. (p. 55)
From the quotation above, the writer analyzes Martin as a pessimist. He deems that
God has no aim in creating the world and its entire environment for human beings, but to depress them with all miseries.
Being a pessimist, Martin also believes that there is only very little virtue or happiness upon earth that can be attained. He is also a man who has lack of self- worth. He does not believe that one is worthy of success and happiness because world has only less opportunity for man to get them. He thinks that the true happiness only can be gained in a utopian city named El Dorado.
Martin was not consoling. Candide’s melancholy increased; and Martin continued to prove to him that there was very little virtue or happiness upon earth, except perhaps in El Dorado, where nobody could gain admittance. (p. 66) 36
All the experience Martin has taken leads him to provide critical insight towards life. Instead of philosophizing, he also gives deeper estimation of the real world. Just like when he and Candide discuss a ship whose Captain has stolen his money is drown at sea with all its passengers. Candide says that sometimes punishment for bad guy exists. However, Martin argues that the punishment may exist but it is actually unfair to other passengers. Martin is more likely to draw conclusions which can be rationally identified.
“You see,” said Candide to Martin, “That crime is sometimes punished. This rogue of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved.” “Yes,” said Martin; “but why should the passengers be doomed also to the destruction? God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest.” (p. 53)
Based on his life-experience, Martin convinces Candide that giving others some money and wealth will not give any change to their judgment about human happiness. Martin demonstrates such insight when he predicts that Friar Giroflée and
Paquette will not be happier for having money, as it also happens in Candide and
Cacambo. They, after getting much money and jewelries from the utopian city of El
Dorado, do not get any happiness. The wealth they have gotten only makes them more worried. Later, this also happens to both Friar Giroflée and Paquette. People might be still unhappy even though they have much money.
“I foresaw,” said Martin to Candide, “that your presents would soon be dissipated, and only make them the more miserable. You have rolled in millions of money, you and Cacambo; and yet you are not happier than Friar Giroflée and Paquette.” (p.85) 37
The quotation above shows Martin’s ability to philosophize and predict how people will behave. However, he fails noticeably with the valet Cacambo. Martin’s absolute pessimism dictates Candide that a valet who is trusted with millions in gold will certainly betray his master. Nevertheless, later, Cacambo’s true honesty and loyalty to his master defies that philosopher like Martin sometimes meets failure in his philosophical estimation towards something.
From the analysis above about the description of the main characters in the novel, Candide, it can be understood that they are all actually nice people with pleasant personalities. At the first time, most of them live in prosperity and in a perfect harmony, until they face series of unpleasant experiences which make some of them doubting whether there is any happiness in the world. The Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism, which encloses to it, has a tendency to be rejected. Most of the main characters can be comprehended that they have tendency to disbelieve the philosophy of Leibniz’s optimism based on their understandings on it, that the world is actually not that perfect. Meanwhile, the ‘optimistic’ character like Pangloss tries to keep it as his philosophical belief using his own way that he considers to be the right one.
B. The Experiences of Human Suffering in the Lives of Main Characters
As it has been stated before, human suffering is described as a negative basic feeling or emotion that involves a subjective character of unpleasantness, aversion, harm or threat of harm. Human suffering can be divided into two main points: human suffering caused by moral evil and human suffering caused by natural evil (Lawhead, 38
1999: 456). There are many human sufferings experienced or faced by the main characters Voltaire presents in the story, however, the writer would reveal only some of them, which influences a lot in their lives due to the optimistic view of life.
1. Human suffering caused by moral evil
Moral evil contains the bad actions and their unfortunate results for which human are morally responsible. This human suffering is done by people who treat others very badly. This treatment may vary, like war, murder, rape, theft, slavery and many others.
Candide’s experience of human suffering caused by moral evil comes as he is thrown out of the castle Thunder-ten-Torckh by the Baron. The young Candide must live wanderer from one city to another. Starvation and poverty become the parts of him until he signs as a Bulgarian army. In the regiment, he breaks a rule and should get punishment from his commandant. The punishment lays bare all his muscles and nerves, from the nape of his neck quite down to his rump. This consequence shows
Candide’s human sufferings because of the punishment.
He was asked which would like the best, to be whipped six-and-thirty times through all the regiment, or to receive at once twelve balls of lead in his brain. (p. 4)
Joining the war between Bulgarians and Abarians makes Candide witness the horrible consequences of war. Many human sufferings happen during the war as the effects of it. 39
Here, old men covered with wounds, beheld their wives, hugging their children to their bloody breast, massacred before their faces; there their daughters, disemboweled and breathing their last having satisfied the natural wants of Bulgarian heroes, while half other were burnt in the flames, begged to be dispatched. The earth was strewed with brains, arms and legs. (p. 5)
From the quotation above, it shows that lives are no longer precious things, and all of these consequences are the usual results of war. Witnessing all these incidents really breaks his heart. Candide hides during the occurrence of war. He just keeps away from the needless bloodshed, and then, he escapes through the battlefield.
Candide also experiences being deceived by others. This incidence happens because of his naivety. The deceiving which really influences his life is when he must lose two precious sheep taken by a sea captain, even though Candide willingly pays him much money for getting a sail to Venice. However, the captain successfully deceives him by asking him to sell diamonds at the harbor while his sheep are already put in the ship. When Candide sells the diamonds, the ship sails. Loosing two sheep means he has lost sufficient to make the fortune of twenty monarchs.
The two were put on board. Candide followed in a little boat to join the vessel in the roads. The skipper seized his opportunity, set sail, and put out to sea, the wind favouring him. (p. 50)
Pangloss’ human suffering comes as the Bulgarian army attacks the castle of
Thunder-ten-Tronckh. He must lose his job as an oracle and become a beggar. This does not last very long since he meets Candide, who is willing to help him.
Later, he and Candide should get another human suffering caused by moral evil. It is the ceremony of auto-da-fé. This ceremony is held in Lisbon after an 40
earthquake happens. According to the sages, holding this ceremony would prevent the country from natural disasters. However, it needs sacrifice of sinners of the country.
There are some people chosen, including Pangloss and Candide, one for philosophizing about the disaster, and the other for having listened to him with an air of approbation. This results Pangloss to be hanged and Candide to be whipped hundred times in front of public.
…that country could think of no means more effectual to prevent utter ruin than to give the people a beautiful auto-da-fé, for it had been decided by the University of Coimbra, that the burning of few people alive by a slow fire, and with great ceremony, is an infallible secret to hinder the earth from quaking. (p.13)
Pangloss could survive as the rain pours and makes the rope wet and not slip properly, but the hanging still makes him unconscious for some time. At a moment he awakens, Pangloss is given a mercy and released. Then he enters the service of a
Venetian merchant and goes with him to Constantinople. There, he is imprisoned only because of gazing an Iman and a very pretty young disciple at a mosque since he is a Christian. His action is considered sinful, and as consequence Pangloss has to be responsible for what he has done and should receive some punishments. He is imprisoned, and each day he must receive twenty lashes.
They carried me before the cadi, who ordered me a hundred lashes on the soles of the feet and sent me to the galleys. I was chained to the very same galley and the same bench as a young Baron. (p. 81)
The significant human suffering caused by moral evil in Cunegonde’s life is the occurrence of war between Bulgarians and Abarians. This war results the castle to be burnt down and almost all of its inhabitants are massacred, including her whole 41
family. The young Cunegonce herself is raped badly for several times by the
Bulgarian soldiers. However, she could still survive, even though she has gotten serious wounds on her belly.
“No”, said Pangloss, she was ripped open by Bulgarian soldiers, after having been violated by many; they broke the Baron’s head for attempting to defend her; my lady, her mother, was cut in pieces..” (p. 7)
Her suffering does not end yet. As she is still alive, Cunegonde is taken to be a prisoner of war. Her beauty as a princess drives a Bulgarian captain to take her as his mistress. Instead of the captain’s fine treatment to her, Cunegonde should do every domestic job including washing all his clothes and cooking some meal. Until one time, the captain loses all his money, and Cunegonde is sold to a Jew, who has a strong passion for women. The Jew, then, shares her with his pal, an Inquisitor.
..by which the house and myself should belong to both in common; the Jew should have for himself Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and the Inquisitor should have the rest of the week. (p.18)
Until the end of the story, Cunegonde has experienced series enslavements.
She is found being a slave of an ancient sovereign, and even more she has lost her beauty and becomes horribly ugly.
Similar to Cunegonde, The Old Woman must lose all her prosperity when she is still young. At the time she grows into beautiful princess, she is engaged with a charming prince. The prince later is killed with poison by an old marchioness who has been a mistress to him. This really distresses her. In order to wipe her sadness, the young Old Woman and her mother decide to sail to the family estate at Gaeta accompanied by their maids and waiting women. There, a Sallee corsair boards and 42
robs all material goods they have. The corsair captain takes them all as slaves to
Morocco.
“I need not to tell you how great a hardship it was for a young princess and her mother to be made as salves and carried to Morocco...” (p. 25)
Morocco is at war when they arrive. This war is a continual carnage throughout the empire. Everyone is involved in the war, and so is the Sallee corsair.
The war exterminates many human beings, including the mother, all maids and waiting women. All the Sallee corsair members are also killed during the war.
At length I saw all our Italian women, and my mother herself torn, mangled, and massacred by the monster who disputed over them. (p. 26)
In short, there are only few who could survive. The young Old Woman, who remains alive, tries to disengage from such a heap of slaughtered bodies. She is in the state of weakness and insensibility, between life and death when a chapel musician finds her and promises to take her back to Italy. However, the musician’s promise has never been realized. He conducts The young Old Woman to Algiers, where he sells her to the Dey. From here, she should experience human suffering of enslavement and being sold from one man to others, either as a mistress or as a sex-slave. Then, as she grows old, she becomes a house-maid.
The valet, Cacambo, suffers from only few human sufferings compared to other characters. The important human suffering that he experiences with Candide is being captured by a group of conservative cannibals. They are prepared for meals.
Cacambo and Candide only have options of being boiled or roasted. 43
They were encompassed by fifty naked Oreillons, armed with bows and arrows, with clubs and flint hatchets. Some were making a large cauldron boil, others were preparing spits... (p. 38)
Another human suffering caused by moral evil Cacambo experiences is being a victim of robbery. It happens as he is given money about six million piastres and ordered to compensate Governor of Buenos Ayres for Cunegonde. Cacambo is robbed by a corsair, who later takes him as a slave to some countries. Then, he is bought and enslaved by a dethroned Sultan.
Martin, a philosopher, at the beginning has a fine household. Until one time, his family is broken. Martin’s wife robs all his wealth, his son beats him, and later his daughter, who gets a Portuguese to run away with, abandons him. Having lost both his family and his wealth, Martin goes to France planning to have a brand new life.
However, what he gets there is only other human sufferings. Afterward, the incidents like these happen frequently in his life.
...on my arrival I was robbed of all I had by pickpockets at the fair of St. Germain. I myself was taken for a robber and was imprisoned for eight days... (p. 54) ”I remember,” Martin said, “also to have been sick at Paris in my first voyage; I was very poor, thus I had neither friends, devotees, nor doctors… (p. 56)
2. Human suffering caused by natural evil
Human suffering caused by natural evil consists of suffering to every human that results from natural causes. Thus, in the novel, there are some natural disasters and fatigues which make Candide and some other characters should experience human suffering. 44
The first human suffering caused by natural evil in the story is experienced by
Candide and Pangloss when they sail to Lisbon for mercantile affairs. At the middle of Lisbon Bay, the sky darkens and the wind blows as the hurricane comes, which causes the ship to break down. Many men are drowning to death including Candide’s benefactor at the time the ship sinks. However, Candide and Pangloss could survive and reach the land of Lisbon.
Half dead of that inconceivable anguish which the rolling of a ship produces, one-half of the passengers were not even sensible of the danger. The other half shrieked and prayed. The sheets were rent, the masts broken, the vessel gaped. (p. 10)
This hurricane at sea is followed by a dreadful earthquake caused by the volcanic mountain of Lisbon as Pangloss and Candide reach the land. The earthquake is so terrible that it could destroy half of Lisbon city and causes more than thirty thousand inhabitants to be victimized.
They sea swelled and foamed in the harbor, and beat to pieces the vessels riding at anchor. Whirlwinds of fire and ashes covered the streets and public places; houses feel, roofs were flung upon the pavements, and the pavements were scattered. Thirty thousand inhabitants of all ages and sexes were crushed under the ruins. (p. 10)
The experience of earthquake and hurricane happening at Lisbon represents human suffering caused by nature, which has no reasonable justification that could be found.
Another human suffering caused by nature is Pangloss’ serious disease he gets from a beautiful maid of Thunder-ten-Torckh. This disease makes his body covered with scabs, his eyes and mouth distorted, and losing his half nose. This disease also makes him tormented with a violent cough and spit out a tooth at his each effort. 45
...in her arms I tasted the delights paradise, which produced in me those hell torments with which you see me devoured; she was infected with them, she is perhaps dead for them.” (p. 8)
The last significant experience of human suffering caused by natural evil is
Candide’s lost of his most precious sheep given by the people of El Dorado by nature and fatigue. These sheep are worthier than more treasure whole world scraped together. Using these sheep, Candide plans to buy the most magnificent castle in the world and compensate Governor of Buenos Ayres for releasing Cunegonde.
Nevertheless, in the way he returns from El Dorado, the sheep die one by one. This incident shows how nature could ruin one’s plan.
The second day two of their sheep plunged into a morass, where they and their seven burdens were lost; two more died of fatigue a few days after; seven or eight perished with hunger in a desert; and others subsequently fell down precipices. At length, after traveling a hundred days, only two sheep remained. (p. 48)
Through the explanation on the human suffering caused both by moral and natural evil experienced by the main characters in the story above, it can be concluded that the world does not only consist of people who treat others badly, who always try to rob, steal and deprive others, but there are also natural forces which become serious obstacles to everyone. Both human sufferings are connected to one’s view towards life. In Candide, those experiences have changed some of the main characters’ view towards life and also influenced their optimistic outlook since human suffering is responsible for taking away the happiness. The occurrence of human sufferings also shows that the world is actually still far from prefect. 46
C. The Use of Satire in Criticizing Leibniz’s Optimism through the Main
Characters and Their Experiences of Human Suffering
After discussing the main characters and also their experiences of suffering in the story, the writer comes to the last section that discusses the satire that appears in
Candide used in criticizing optimism. The satire is employed from those two elements that have been discussed in the previous sections. As it has been explained before, satire is a literary manner that blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of improving human institutions or humanity (Holman and Harmon,
1986: 447). Therefore, satire in Candide does not only contain humor and wit, but it also has a certain criticism that is aimed for corrective purpose.
Through Candide, the writer finds that Voltaire satirizes Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. The basic of this philosophy is taken from the notion ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds (French: tout est pour le mieux dans le meileur des mondes possibles)’ that is coined by Enlightenment philosopher Gottfried
Wilhelm von Leibniz in his book Theodicy (Palmer, 2001: 182). In order to satirize
Leibniz’s optimism, Voltaire uses the main characters which have certain personalities and attitudes together with an exaggeration of inhumanity, brutality and disasters in the world that make them should deal with continuous experiences of human suffering which is caused by both moral and natural evil. Like what it has been described before, their experiences continually make them so close to death, and because of that these really affect them in viewing life and in understanding the meaning of its philosophy. Subsequently, their personalities and attitudes of being 47
optimistic or less-optimistic also closely relate to their experiences of life. L.E
Loemker has stated that both philosophical optimism and pessimism result from the critical analysis and clarification of judgments to experience of the dominance of good and evil (Edwards, 967: 114).
The satire on Leibniz’s optimism found in the main characters of Candide can be clearly seen as they have certain stand positions in considering the philosophy of optimism as a way in viewing their lives. Afterward, their stand positions on optimism can be seen from their attitudes towards it.
Candide is described as a naïve young man, who is still indecisive on his belief about optimism. At one side, he always tries to maintain that people live in the best of all possible worlds. Meanwhile, in the other side, after having experienced and witnessed various torments and inhumanity in his life, he starts to question the significance of what his lecture has taught about Leibniz’s optimism. Then, lately,
Candide does not only doubt optimism, but he also rejects it.
“If this is the best of all possible worlds, what then are the others? Well, if I had been only whipped I could put up with it, for I experienced that among the Bulgarian; but oh, my dear Pangloss! Thou greatest of philosophers, that I should have seen you hanged, without knowing for what! Oh, my dear Anabaptist, thou best of men, that thou should’st have been drowned I the very harbor! Oh, Miss Cunegonde, thou pearl of girls! That should’st have had thy belly been ripped open!” (p. 14) “Oh, Pangloss!” cried Candide, “thou hadst not guessed at this abomination; it is the end. I must at last renounce thy optimism.” (p. 49)
This kind of rejection on optimism is also done by the other main characters like Cunegonde, The Old Woman, and Martin. They reject the philosophy that 48
maintains ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’ for the same reason. All of them have lives that are full with sorrow and disasters, and they have experienced such continuous human sufferings which seem to never meet an end.
Cunegonde, a princess of Westphanglia, is described as a person who has pessimistic view towards life and lack of self-worth after experiencing such terrible human sufferings. Not only being a pessimist and having lack of self-worth,
Cunegonde also blames the preceptor Pangloss for teaching her much that everything in the world is created for the best. She believes the philosopher’s teaching about optimism that is based on Leibniz’s philosophy really contradicts with what she has experienced in her life and also what she has witnessed in the real world.
“How is it possible,” said Cunegonde, “that the beloved Candide and the wise Pangloss should both be at Lisbon, the one to receive a hundred lashes and the other to be hanged by the Grand Inquisitor, of whom I am the well-beloved? Pangloss most cruelly deceived me when he said that everything in the world is for the best.” (p. 18)
The Old Woman is a wise and experienced person. However, she has her own judgment on human and happiness. She is not in doubt that there are only a few people who look upon themselves as cheerful persons in the world, who can have any happiness, since all that they get in their lives is only misery. Everyone must have cursed his life and condemned God to be really unfair to him.
…I have had experience, I know the world; therefore I advise you to divert yourself, and prevail upon each passenger to tell his story; and if there be one of them all, that has not cursed his lie many a time, that has not frequently looked upon himself as the unhappiest of mortals, I give you leave to throw me headforemost into the sea. (p. 29) 49
Martin is a philosopher who is described as a both knowledgeable and intelligent person, who is sometimes willingly to teach Candide about life and its philosophy. Nevertheless, after experiencing various torments during his journey to some countries, he totally turns into a more pessimistic philosopher. Martin’s pessimism really influences his vision towards human life. He also becomes more cynical in viewing on everything that happens around him.
“There are, however, some things good,” said Candide. “That may be, “said Martin; “but I know them not.” (p. 53) “But for what end, then, has this world been formed?” said Candide. “To plague us to death,” answered Martin. (p. 55)
The quotation above shows Martin’s absolute pessimism, which really contradicts with Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. He does not believe that there is any happiness that can be gained in this world. Moreover, he deems that world has no good at all, and he thinks he is right. In favor of him, God may not have any aim in creating it and its entire environment for human beings, but to depress them with all the miseries.
The philosopher Pangloss, unlike the others, is too obstinate to continue his belief in the Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism that people live in the best of all possible worlds. He holds it right up until the end of the story, even though he has known and experienced that the world itself is far from perfect.
“I am still of my first opinion,” answered Pangloss, “for I am a philosopher and I cannot retract, especially as Leibniz could never be wrong; and besides, the pre-established harmony is the finest thing in the world…” (p. 81) 50
Instead of holding Leibniz’s optimism for his principle of life until the end of the story, Pangloss also tries to struggle in finding justification for the terrible things that happen in the world. However, sometimes his philosophical arguments on them are considered absurd and useless.
“All this was indispensable,” replied Dr. Pangloss, “for private misfortunes make general good, so that the more private misfortunes there are the greater is the general good.” (p. 9) “For,” said he, “all that is for the best. If there is volcano at Lisbon it cannot be elsewhere. It is impossible that things should be other than they are; for everything is right.” (p. 11)
Cacambo becomes the only character that shows the true optimism in his personality and attitude. He thinks in more rational way, and he is both more practical and experimental than any other characters. The writer analyzes Cacambo as a confident person. He believes that one can bring about good things. He inspires perfect confidence both in his intelligence and his moral uprightness.
“You’ll make a prodigious fortune; if we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things.” (p. 32)
Being born as a black and later working only as a valet, Cacambo has a better way of thinking compared to other main characters, like a disciple, a wise old lady, a princess, and even two philosophers. Cacambo does not give much concern to the philosophy of optimism, and he does not even really know it. This is shown as at one time he ever asks Candide the meaning of it.
“What is this optimism?” said Cacambo. (p. 49)
Throughout the story, Voltaire clearly presents the attitudes of the main characters which are particularly pointed to Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. 51
Therefore, it can be seen that Candide has attacked something. As Holman and
Harmon has stated in A Handbook to Literature that criticism in a satirical work is usually directed straightforward to insult against a person or cause (1986: 448),
Voltaire, in order to clarify his satire in Candide, creates those main characters with particular attitudes towards Leibniz’s optimism.
Every attitudes which are considered as a rejection on optimism that is done by some main characters shows Voltaire’s denunciation towards Leibniz’s philosophy. Northrop Frye has stated that a denunciation found in a satirical literary art that is vigorous enough will be followed by the reader with the kind of pleasure that soon breaks into smile (Frye, 1957: 224). According to him, denunciation in a satirical work becomes one of its essential devices. Therefore, the denunciation, which may contain harassments, is found in Candide as means for Voltaire to satirize
Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism.
All the main characters have suffered and witnessed a wide variety of human sufferings which are caused by both moral and natural evil like floggings, rapes, robberies, executions, disease, an earthquake, betrayals and many more. These human sufferings do not serve any apparent greater goodness for the main characters, but only show the cruelty of humanity and the indifference of the natural world. Hence, in Candide, every human event is not completely providential.
Satire on optimism found in the human sufferings experienced by the main characters also happens as Voltaire puts an exaggeration of inhumanity, brutality and disasters in the world. As mentioned, an exaggeration becomes another device of a 52
satirical work in which the good characteristics are passed over and the ridiculous ones are emphasized (Holman and Harmon, 86: 448).
The human sufferings become exaggerated as those are experienced by the main characters again and again, and seem to never meet an end. Those sometimes happen illogically, for example some of main characters can survive even though they get such brutal torments and sufferings. Candide is still alive even though he gets punishment that lays bare all his muscles and nerves, from the nape of his neck quite down to his rump. Cunegonde survives even though she is ravished several times and ripped open that causes very deep wounds on her belly. Another exaggerated human suffering is found in Pangloss’ disease which makes his body all covered with scabs, his eyes and mouth distorted, and losing his half nose. This disease also makes him tormented with a violent cough and spit out a tooth at his each effort. However, he can recover from his serious disease. These exaggerated human sufferings are also frequently experienced by other characters, like The Old Woman.
Imagine to yourself the distressed situation of the daughter of a Pope, only fifteen years old, who, in less than three months, had felt the miseries of poverty and slavery, had been ravished almost every day, had beheld her mother drawn in quarters, had experienced famine and war, and was dying of the plague in Algiers. (p. 28)
All human sufferings occur in the story may refer to personal judgment, however, it can be seen that how those really disturb the main characters’ lives, and affect their personalities and attitudes in seeing the world. Indeed, the significance of series human sufferings in Candide is the contradiction to Leibniz’s notion that 53
believes everything happens in the world is basically good. Therefore, optimism is considered absurd because too much inhumanity, brutality and disasters in this world.
The philosophy that is particularly criticized through satire in Candide is the
Leibniz’s optimism that is based on abstract philosophical argument and speculation rather than what actually happens in the real world. In Candide, Leibniz’s optimism is described as a principle that makes people speculate, but not do perfect action that may make something better. In addition, it seems to be useless. The uselessness of this kind of philosophical speculation that based on Leibniz’s optimism can be seen in the ‘optimistic’ character Pangloss. He tries to be rational, but he tends not to do perfect actions as he only keeps on philosophizing, which only makes him become much more foolish.
He was just going to jump after him but was prevented by the philosopher Pangloss, who demonstrated to him that the Bay of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned. (p. 10)
The quotation above shows Pangloss’ philosophical speculation. When his benefactor is drowning at the bay of Lisbon, Pangloss prevents Candide from trying to rescue him by proving that the bay of Lisbon has been formed particularly for Jacques to drown in. Since everything happens in this world is well-ordered, they must not prevent his death. In the chaotic world of the novel, philosophical speculation which is based on optimism, like Pangloss usually does, repeatedly proves to be useless and even destructive. It prevents characters from making realistic assessments toward difficulties they face and also from taking positive action to change the situations. 54
Through his character, Voltaire also presents Leibniz’s optimism as a philosophical system that believes everything that happens in this world is created for the best, no matter how terrible it seems. In fact, Leibniz’s philosophy on optimism is based on the idea that everything in the world is determined by fate. The all-powerful
God has calculated and created this world so perfectly that it should be ‘the best of all possible worlds,’ just like what is stated in its notion.
“What is this optimism?” said Cacambo. “Alas!” said Candide, “it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.” (p. 49)
Regarding to all his harassment in Candide, Voltaire actually does not want to decline Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism as a whole. The human sufferings that are presented shows that he asserts inhumanity, brutality and natural disasters exist, and they are necessary elements of the world. Similar to Leibniz, he believes that the existence of evil becomes human’s task to simply deal with it in the best way it can be. Just like what he states in Theodicy that, ‘Man of good will should find his greatest happiness in the recognition that in spite of its glaring evils this is the best of all possible worlds, because its creation involved the fullest possible realization of the divine attributes (1967: 117).’ Voltaire, moreover, presents a true optimism in
Cacambo, even though this character does not give much concern to philosophy. It is done to confirm that Leibniz’s philosophy could be right.
Voltaire criticizes the simple notion of Leibniz’s optimism that may cause people’s shallow understandings and the wrong acceptance on its philosophy, and that must not be applied in a real life in a very unconditional way. He reveals that the 55
shallow understandings and the wrong acceptance of Leibniz's optimism may encourage people not to do perfect actions toward the evils of the world, or even makes them to judge that God is unfair. Leibniz’s simple notion ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’ must not be interpreted as everything happens in the world, happiness or sadness, is basically good, so that people need no action to deal with it. Otherwise, people who disagree with his notion may just try to ignore it. In fact, Leibniz’s notion seems to be simple, but it has deeper meaning. It actually denotes that world may appear very imperfect to all human. However, if they know what the alternatives are, they would be very grateful indeed to God since He has created everything in the universe good and harmonious (Palmer, 2001: 182). CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
Having discussed the research questions related to the topic, the writer comes to the last section of the study. In this part the writer will try to conclude the findings from the answers in the previous chapter. The study that has been done is summed up, and it will directly provide the conclusion.
Several main characters can be found in Candide. They have important roles in finding the satire on Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. The first character is
Candide. He is described as a naïve young man. Even though he tries to be an optimistic person, just like what his lecture has taught. Lately, he hesitates the use of its philosophy, since it does not give any goodness. The second character is Pangloss, an obstinate philosopher who always keep his philosophy of optimism that everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds, even though he has seen that the world, itself, is not that perfect. The third is Cunegonde, a young princess, who should deal with some various torments, so that she becomes lack of optimism in undergoing her life. The fourth is The Old Woman, a daughter of a Pope. Similar to
Cunegonde, even though she is good and wise, she does not believe that life could give any happiness. The fifth is Cacambo, a valet who is lack of philosophical knowledge. However, throughout the story he inspires perfect confidence both in his intelligence and his moral uprightness. The last character is Martin, a cynical philosopher who assumes that no happiness in the world can be gained.
56 57
There are continuous human sufferings experienced by those main characters during the story. Based on the theory of human suffering, it can be distinguished into two kinds: human sufferings that are caused by moral evil and those that are caused by natural evil. From the analysis on human sufferings, it can be seen that the world does not only consist of people who treat others badly, who always try to rob, steal and deprive others, but there are also natural forces, like disasters and fatigues, which become serious obstacles to everyone. Those experiences have changed some of the main characters’ life-view and also their optimistic outlook since human suffering is responsible for taking away the happiness.
The main characters and their experiences of human suffering have significant roles in criticizing Leibniz’s optimism through satire. Satire that can be comprehended from those two elements is the denunciation through the main characters’ attitudes on Leibniz’s optimism and the exaggeration on their continuous experiences of human sufferings, which sometimes also happen illogically. On the whole, the existence of human suffering has proved that the world is far from perfect, and indicates that it is not the best of all possible worlds. Through his satire, Voltaire wants to criticize the understandings on Leibniz’s optimism that is based on abstract philosophical argument and speculation rather than what actually happens in the real world. Another thing that Voltaire wants to criticize is the shallow understandings and the wrong acceptance of Leibniz’s optimism that is based on his simple philosophical notion, and it must not be applied in a real life in a very unconditional 58
way, since the notion ‘everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’ actually has deeper meaning than what it appears.
To conclude this analysis, the writer finds that concerning to all his criticism on Leibniz’s optimism, Voltaire believes that either being cheap optimistic or being less-optimistic in undergoing life and seeing the world might not give any goodness to all human beings. Hence, his criticism on Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism through satire in Candide has a corrective purpose of improving human institutions or humanity. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Wiener, Philip P. Leibniz Selection.
Summary of Voltaire’s Candide
The young Candide lives in the castle of Westphanglia. The family tutor,
Pangloss always teaches him about optimism that this world is ‘the best of all possible worlds.’ Candide falls in love with Cunegonde, a baron’s daughter, and kisses her. This results him being expelled from the castle. Candide is soon conscripted into the Bulgarian army. However, after witnessing the viciousness of several wars, he manages to escape.
Candide reaches Holland, to where a kindly Anabaptist named Jacques takes care of him. Candide also finds a deformed beggar and discovers that it is Pangloss.
Pangloss explains that he has gotten syphilis and that Cunegonde and her family have all been brutally murdered by the Bulgarian army. Nonetheless, he maintains his optimistic outlook. Jacques takes Pangloss in as well. They travel to Lisbon together, but before they arrive, the ship runs into a storm and Jacques is drowned. Candide and Pangloss reach Lisbon when an earthquake happens. The city is under the control of the Inquisition, which later announces an auto-da-fé for the sinners. Pangloss is hanged as a heretic, and Candide is flogged for listening him with an approval.
An old woman treats Candide’s wound, then takes him to Cunegonde.
Cunegonde explains that all her family was killed. She was raped and captured by a captain, who sold her to a Jew. She is now a mistress jointly owned by the Jew and the Grand Inquisitor. Two of them arrive in turn as they are talking, and Candide kills
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them both. Candide, The Old Woman, and Cunegonde flee to South America. During the journey, The Old Woman relates her own story. She was born a Pope’s daughter but has suffered various misfortunes, including rape, enslavement, and cannibalism.
At Buenos Aires, Governor Don Fernando proposes to Cunegonde. Thinking of her own financial welfare, she accepts. Meanwhile, authorities looking for the murderer of the Grand Inquisitor arrive from Portugal. Along with a valet named
Cacambo, Candide flees to territory controlled by Jesuits who fight against Spanish.
In a meeting with a Jesuit commander, Candide discovers that he is Cunegonde’s brother, who also managed to escape from the killing. Candide announces that he plans to marry Cunegonde, but he insists that his sister will never marry a commoner.
Candide becomes mad and stabs him with his sword. He and Cacambo escape into the wilderness, where they nearly being eaten by the natives.
Candide and Cacambo find themselves in the land of El Dorado, where gold and jewels litter the streets. This country has advanced scientific knowledge, no religious conflict, no court system, and places no value on gold and jewels. After a month, he and Cacambo depart with countless jewels and some precious sheep. When they reach Surinam, Candide sends Cacambo with much fortune to Buenos Aires to purchase Cunegonde from the governor, and then to meet him at Venice.
A deceitful merchant, Vanderdendur, steals much of Candide’s fortune.
Frustrated, Candide sails to France with a companion, a pessimistic scholar named
Martin. On the way there, he finds part of his fortune when Vanderdendur’s ship sinks. This makes him believes that there is justice in the world, but Martin disagrees. 63
In Paris, Candide and Martin meet the social elite, who some of them succeed in stealing jewels from him. Candide and Martin proceed to Venice, but Cunegonde and Cacambo are nowhere to be found. However, they find Paquette, a chambermaid- turned-prostitute who gave Pangloss syphilis, and Count Pococurante, a wealthy
Venetian who is bored with the cultural treasures. Eventually, Cacambo, who is now a slave of a dethroned Sultan, comes. He explains that Cunegonde and The Old
Woman are enslaved in Constantinople, Turkey.
Candide finds Pangloss and Cunegonde’s brother imprisoned in Turkey. Both have survived from their deaths, after suffering other various misfortunes. Candide purchases their freedom, and goes on to find Cunegonde and The Old Woman.
Cunegonde has grown ugly since Candide last saw her, but he purchases her and The
Old Woman’s freedom. He also buys a farm outside of Constantinople. He keeps his promise to marry Cunegonde, but his brother still cannot abide her marrying a commoner. Candide is forced to send him back to the Turkey prison.
Candide, Cunegonde, Cacambo, Pangloss, Martin and The Old Woman settle into a comfortable life at the farm, but soon find themselves getting bored and quarrelsome. At one time, Candide encounters a farmer who lives a simple life, works hard, and avoids leisure. Inspired, Candide and his friends take to cultivate the farm earnestly. All their time and energy goes into the work, and at last everyone is fulfilled and happy.