Pangloss In Candide

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These statements may seem absolutely ridiculous, yet in Voltaire’s “Candide”, he uses the character of Pangloss to show that a person’s own intimate belief about the world around them can inhibit a different view of logic and inference. As Candide’s closest advisor and a philosopher, Pangloss’s role in the novel is that of one of the most influential people in Candide’s life. Even when Candide believes the scholar to be dead he still derives many of his decisions from what he has learned from Pangloss, and also that he would know the answer to virtually anything. Voltaire writes, “‘Now if Pangloss were here,’ said Candide, ‘he would know and tell us.’” (Voltaire 130). His beliefs are saturated from what he has learned from his mentor; that…show more content…
His commitment to his belief is so deep seated (yet somewhat admirable) that it becomes almost implausible to the reader. It becomes satirical because when the reader realizes that even throughout his many trials and tribulations he stills believes that this is what is best, that there could never be any other explanation other than “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds” it becomes ridiculous and absurd. Voltaire uses repetition as a way to ingrain Pangloss’s philosophy into the reader’s mind. He uses the infamous saying alongside the violent events that happen to the scholar throughout the novel in such a repetitive manner that it becomes redundant. Pangloss suffers through repeated tortures and afflictions one after the other, yet when asked about his faith in his belief he continues to state “‘I still hold my original views,’ replied Pangloss, for I am still a philosopher.’” (Voltaire 136). Pangloss begins to falter and question his faith towards the end of the novel, yet the reiteration is so intensely used that the reader is left with the impression that no matter how much violence one endures there is no other explanation for it other than ‘all is for the best’ (Voltaire 20). This may seem counterintuitive to what Voltaire wanted people to believe yet it creates such an absurd idea (especially
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