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The Deconstruction Of Innocence In Voltaire's 'Candide'

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Candide
It may take more than one mistake for most people to recognize their wrongs, and more than one attempt to reach success. However, when one like Candide who is blinded by philosophy, fails to learn from his bitter experiences in his journey of worst of all possibles contradicts the philosophy of optimism that Candide cherish. Hence, Candide’s innocence is portrayed to its extend through the narrator’s attitude and point of view in the book, Candide by Voltaire.
Candide, who endlessly allows others to eradicate his thinking and wealth enhances the cynical view of the setting he is in. His innocence is abused by greed, yet he continues to live by the teaching of the " greatest philosopher "( Voltaire 16), Pangloss through most …show more content…

Candide’s thought of trading his treasure for Cunegonde is his way of believing that he must endure suffering and lose part of his fortune to others to pursue love. Candide’s point of view of this situation illustrates a sympathetic manner for himself through his amiable character as he gives what the captain demands for . In addition, he fails to recognize that he is capable of withholding his fortune and be the master of his own thought, as he unsuccessfully distinguishes "universal reason" (Voltaire 27), and avoidable tribulation, by neglecting James as he was "thrown in the sea" (Voltaire 26). This neglectance of other’s lives that occurs more than once, demonstrates Candide’s slow development in his journey. The unceasing deaths, that scarcely sways him at first has somewhat allowed him to obtain maturity, but Candide fails to learn from his past, until he has lost it all. Hence, the death as well as the greed

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