As a satirical novella that comments on the numerous problems with philosophy and theology, "Candide" by Voltaire serves to expound and perhaps even teach a lesson to those that would place too much faith in these doctrines. Disasters of all kinds befall the protagonist Candide, as well as almost every other character involved, in order to highlight the problems that lie in extricating oneself from responsibility of one's actions-leaving it to God, to fate or to nature when the responsibility inordinately lies within one's self. As our world is most certainly not "the best of all possible worlds" (16, 86), Voltaire suggests that humankind should occupy themselves in daily activities rather than ruminate on such things that man cannot truly understand; hence the ending sentence, "we must cultivate our garden" (115, 170-171).
             None could have been more preoccupied with philosophy than Candide's tutor Pangloss, a standing sentinel of the virtues of optimism. Even in the most wretched of situations, as a beggar riddled with the effects of syphilis, he states that "It was something indispensable in the best of worlds, a necessary ingredient; for, if Columbus in an island of America had not caught this disease . . . we should not have chocolate and cochineal" (11, 58-63). Such a justification seems absurd given his grave ailments and reveals that his philosophy of optimism has flaws.
             Perhaps if Pangloss had busied himself with work rather than indulged himself in "the delights of Paradise" (11, 6) with Paquette, the infected maidservant, he would not have suffered the consequent "tortures of Hell" (11, 7). In this case I believe that Voltaire is trying to explain the problems with philosophical optimism as a means to explain and justify bad luck.
             Candide is similarly Panglossian and, like his tutor, despite his positive outlook, suffered numerous times. His lov...