Candide by Voltaire
I picked up this book because it was sold for only 4 dollars in Internom and really wanted to buy something useful with my last 4 four dollars hoho. The author of the book, Voltaire was a very thoughtful man, in other words, a critical thinker. As he contradicted and criticized politicians in his books, he was even thrown out from his own country, France. His works were banned to be published there but scattered throughout Europe, except for his own country. In order to tease the condition of his society, he wrote Candide and this book is all about what happened to Candide, a man who follows what others say to them. The main character Candide is the extreme opposite of Voltaire, the author of the book.
As with my understanding, the author attempts to depict how we are brainwashed by mainstream philosophy or a doctrine with the depiction of Candide, the main character. Initially, Candide does not question what he is told and just absorbs those ideas as absolute truth. Due to incidents that caused him great hardship throughout his life experience, he starts to doubt optimism, which he once used to believe. Finally, his perceptions toward life change, and instead of blindly believing in optimism, he decides to think through.
As an illegitimate son of a baron's sister in Germany, Candide grew up in a castle. His mentor, Pangloss, taught him that the most pleasant life continues in the castle and everything (even it is unpleasant) happens for a reason, which leads more beautiful future. Unfortunately, Candide fell in love with a baron’s daughter (Cunegonde) and was expelled from the castle when the baron found out about the relationship between him and his daughter Cunegonde. Then his long journey, which tortures him, begins. The only idea that he will find Cunegonde keeps him alive.
After expelled from the castle, he was very naive and optimistic toward the universe. He becomes a warrior in Bulgaria to avoid hunger and participates in several wars. During war times, he witnesses many cruel slaughters and famines but still maintains his belief that there is no possible universe that is better than this one.
After wandering from one country to another, he even goes to the country where gems are everywhere and not valuable as in other countries. There everyone is very friendly and treat them as their friend, offering food. Unfortunately, he decides to leave the country to find his love and meets many people, including rich ones to gold diggers.
In the end, he finds his love and marries her. Even after he marries his love, which he was dreaming of for years, he was not as happy as he thought. Then he meets a farmer whom he regards as the happiest man on the earth. The farmer did not care about any gossips in the town, but he worked really hard to keep his crop as fruitful as possible. After seeing the farmer's life, he realizes that we cannot think life is great as it stands, but we should make our happiness instead of just blindly believing in optimism.
