Rating: 
Summary: Candide is to Voltaire, as Gulliver is to Twain.
Review: "Candide" was really Voltaire's 18th Century Lenny Bruce. It is a very strong social satire, at least for that time. Even the name Dr.Pangloss is a pun in French/Greek for 'a whitewash over the world'. It is an insult to Voltaire to sell his work so cheap. Read it and learn. R.Jones (LLB)
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Candide is a book that you should get around to reading, sooner or later. It's very funny and you will breeze through it. Perhaps the most violent light comedy/philospohical treatise that I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful Satire(Pity France has not produced good since!)
Review: Candide is a fast-moving philosophical tale of the young, innocent Candide's education in life. He begins the story full of optimism and naivety. However horror succeeds horror and catastrophe follows catastrophe until Candide eventually gives up his early optimistic views and becomes a better person for doing so. I noticed that one of the major reiteratations in the story is Voltaire use of satire to show how ridiculous Candide was to ever be cheerful in the face of disaster. Through exaggeration- the great number and extreme nature of the misfortunes that befall the characters- satire makes optimism seem not only preposterous, but also smug and self-righteous.
However, through the discussion in class I learned that the optimism that Voltaire attacked was not the optimism we tend think of. When you say that people are optimistic, you mean that they have a hopeful attitude toward life and the future. In Voltaire's time, optimism had been turned into a philosophical system that believed everything already was for the best, no matter how terrible it seemed. This was a fatalistic and complacent philosophy that denied any need for change. I believe that philosophical optimism was an enemy to a man, like Voltaire, who believed in working to achieve a more just and humane society where each person knows where he or she fits in.
Another major theme I picked out of Candide was Voltaire's major problem with evil. Evil, in its many forms, is something that Candide must constantly confront. It can take the form of a natural disaster, such as the Lisbon earthquake. More often, it is man-made: the cruelty of the Bulgarians and the Spanish Inquisition, the savagery of war, even greed and dishonesty. Candide is always questioning how and why such evils exist and in doing so Voltaire is attacking the perception of universal, rational good in mankind.
I also see Voltaire's distain towards the belief of fate or providence in the story. The fact that the good and bad alike suffer and die seems to be evidence that God is not in charge. Dr. Peach mentioned that the noblest character in the story, the Anabaptist, was killed off because Voltaire could not have such a great character finish out the story. Moreover, I see little indication that any intelligible, rational design can be found in life's progression from disaster to disaster. Things seem to happen at random as Candide, Cunegonde, and the other characters are often pictured as victims of fate or circumstances. In denying providence as a beneficent guiding principle, Voltaire appears to be saying that either no rational pattern exists in the world, or, if it does, it is not readily evident to human beings.
I noticed that Voltaire didn't just criticize the belief of divine intervention; he also attacked the hypocrisy of religion. The Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam receive the sting of Voltaire's wit over and over. Voltaire exposes the abuses of religion without denying the validity of religion per se, because he still makes the Anabaptist the short-lived hero of the story. I believe that underlying the satire of religious practices is Voltaire's outrage at all forms of fanaticism and intolerance.
Overall I found Candide to be a great read. I enjoyed Voltaire's witty attacks on the major world view of blind optimism in spite of the fact that there is an ever present threat of evil men and catastrophes. Though do not agree with Voltaire, it is easy for me to see why he would be angry towards the belief that everything that happens is for the greater good. Through Voltaire's eyes it is hard to see a fair and loving God who is in control of events when you witness massive destructive earthquakes and are forced to tolerate intolerant religious fanatics. To the fat and indulgent European 18th Century society, Voltaire's Candide is a mirror which reveals the ugliness in all of its glory. Even today, would it not be beneficial for us to quell the beliefs that we can single-handedly change the world or that because life is wonderful, it is the same for everyone? Voltaire's satire, while extreme, does it have merit for us even today? I think that so.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful Satire(Pity France has not produced good since!)
Review: Candide is a fast-moving philosophical tale of the young, innocent Candide's education in life. He begins the story full of optimism and naivety. However horror succeeds horror and catastrophe follows catastrophe until Candide eventually gives up his early optimistic views and becomes a better person for doing so. I noticed that one of the major reiteratations in the story is Voltaire use of satire to show how ridiculous Candide was to ever be cheerful in the face of disaster. Through exaggeration- the great number and extreme nature of the misfortunes that befall the characters- satire makes optimism seem not only preposterous, but also smug and self-righteous.
However, through the discussion in class I learned that the optimism that Voltaire attacked was not the optimism we tend think of. When you say that people are optimistic, you mean that they have a hopeful attitude toward life and the future. In Voltaire's time, optimism had been turned into a philosophical system that believed everything already was for the best, no matter how terrible it seemed. This was a fatalistic and complacent philosophy that denied any need for change. I believe that philosophical optimism was an enemy to a man, like Voltaire, who believed in working to achieve a more just and humane society where each person knows where he or she fits in.
Another major theme I picked out of Candide was Voltaire's major problem with evil. Evil, in its many forms, is something that Candide must constantly confront. It can take the form of a natural disaster, such as the Lisbon earthquake. More often, it is man-made: the cruelty of the Bulgarians and the Spanish Inquisition, the savagery of war, even greed and dishonesty. Candide is always questioning how and why such evils exist and in doing so Voltaire is attacking the perception of universal, rational good in mankind.
I also see Voltaire's distain towards the belief of fate or providence in the story. The fact that the good and bad alike suffer and die seems to be evidence that God is not in charge. Dr. Peach mentioned that the noblest character in the story, the Anabaptist, was killed off because Voltaire could not have such a great character finish out the story. Moreover, I see little indication that any intelligible, rational design can be found in life's progression from disaster to disaster. Things seem to happen at random as Candide, Cunegonde, and the other characters are often pictured as victims of fate or circumstances. In denying providence as a beneficent guiding principle, Voltaire appears to be saying that either no rational pattern exists in the world, or, if it does, it is not readily evident to human beings.
I noticed that Voltaire didn't just criticize the belief of divine intervention; he also attacked the hypocrisy of religion. The Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam receive the sting of Voltaire's wit over and over. Voltaire exposes the abuses of religion without denying the validity of religion per se, because he still makes the Anabaptist the short-lived hero of the story. I believe that underlying the satire of religious practices is Voltaire's outrage at all forms of fanaticism and intolerance.
Overall I found Candide to be a great read. I enjoyed Voltaire's witty attacks on the major world view of blind optimism in spite of the fact that there is an ever present threat of evil men and catastrophes. Though do not agree with Voltaire, it is easy for me to see why he would be angry towards the belief that everything that happens is for the greater good. Through Voltaire's eyes it is hard to see a fair and loving God who is in control of events when you witness massive destructive earthquakes and are forced to tolerate intolerant religious fanatics. To the fat and indulgent European 18th Century society, Voltaire's Candide is a mirror which reveals the ugliness in all of its glory. Even today, would it not be beneficial for us to quell the beliefs that we can single-handedly change the world or that because life is wonderful, it is the same for everyone? Voltaire's satire, while extreme, does it have merit for us even today? I think that so.
Rating:
Summary: If You Enjoy Satire You Need To Read This
Review: Candide is a satirical novel by French writer and philosopher Voltaire. It was first published in 1759, and describes a series of calamities that befall the naive young Candide and his tutor Dr Pangloss, who parodies the philosophy of Leibniz by maintaining, against all evidence, that all is for the best of all possible worlds. For those that like pholosophy and for those who don't, this is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining and clever
Review: Candide is truly enjoyable and keeps one entertained throughout the entire story--there is never a dull moment, and you will NOT find your mind wandering while reading.
Rating:
Summary: Action-packed, hilarious, vulgar ... brilliant!
Review: Francois-Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was one of the greatest thinkers of 18th-century Europe. In his brief novella CANDIDE -- which takes less than two hours to read -- he explains the purpose of human existence, with brilliant observations and witty humor. Voltaire offers up numerous philosophies devised by the greatest minds in history, none of which makes the remotest sense in the crazy, multi-continent, tragedy-ridden misadventures of Candide, his tutor Pangloss, his beloved Cunegonde, and the host of remarkable characters they meet. To call this novella episodic is an understatement. There is more plot in some paragraphs of CANDIDE than there is in most thousand-page epics. We hear countless tales of injustice, swindle, rape, torture, famine, murder, plague, earthquake, and war, but Voltaire presents them in such rapid-fire understatement that the tragedies become hilarious. (Most notable is the tale of the Old Lady losing half of her backside in a seige.) It is only after Candide and his band of comrades lose vast fortunes multiple times that they happen across a lifestyle that offers a moderate amount of enduring satisfaction... ...but I will not tell you how Voltaire says that you can find happiness and fulfillment. Next time you have a rainy afternoon with nothing to do, let Voltaire explain it himself.
Rating:
Summary: Action-packed, hilarious, vulgar ... brilliant!
Review: Francois-Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was one of the greatest thinkers of 18th-century Europe. In his brief novella CANDIDE -- which takes less than two hours to read -- he explains the purpose of human existence, with brilliant observations and witty humor. Voltaire offers up numerous philosophies devised by the greatest minds in history, none of which makes the remotest sense in the crazy, multi-continent, tragedy-ridden misadventures of Candide, his tutor Pangloss, his beloved Cunegonde, and the host of remarkable characters they meet. To call this novella episodic is an understatement. There is more plot in some paragraphs of CANDIDE than there is in most thousand-page epics. We hear countless tales of injustice, swindle, rape, torture, famine, murder, plague, earthquake, and war, but Voltaire presents them in such rapid-fire understatement that the tragedies become hilarious. (Most notable is the tale of the Old Lady losing half of her backside in a seige.) It is only after Candide and his band of comrades lose vast fortunes multiple times that they happen across a lifestyle that offers a moderate amount of enduring satisfaction... ...but I will not tell you how Voltaire says that you can find happiness and fulfillment. Next time you have a rainy afternoon with nothing to do, let Voltaire explain it himself.
Rating: 
Summary: so-so
Review: I studied philosophy in college. A professor who taught us about Leibniz, theodicy, and similar subjects mentioned Candide to the class. Ten years later, I still am interested in philosophy but with the challenges of career and life in general, I'm interested in readable, not overly long books in philosophy to read. I thought Candide fit the bill. Well, it is very readable and brief. As far as being an entertaining read, it was only so-so. The story moves very quickly but the narration style is very weak. The author tells you that things happened, without showing you. The story is funny occasinally, but as a whole it was a very mediocre read. As philosophy, it makes its main point about the existence of evil (that things do not always work out for the best) very well, but that point is not too difficult to make. Voltaire is a great figure in the intellectual history of the west, but I don't think that a lot of what he wrote is still widely read (Candide is an exception) because the battles he wages (the anti-clerical, pro-scientific, etc.)have been won. So, the end result seems banal and not at all daring, which in its day I imagine it was. If you want to read something to expand your mind or if you want a good literary experience, I would pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Cause for optimism?
Review: I thought that "Candide" was a very enjoyable read. It's much more than a satire, it's a reflective novel in which Voltaire opens up various timeless issues for discussion. The central theme is whether or not the optimism (or naivity) of Dr Pangloss's views hold up when faced with the bleak realities of everyday existence. It doesn't really matter that much of the satirical bite of the novel must have been lost due to the passage of time, when it can still deal with issues such as theodisy in an entertaining way. Voltaire sends the innocent and impressionable Candide on what amounts to a world tour (or as near to it as makes no difference). The reader has to put up with outrageous coincidences and improbabilities: I felt that Voltaire was using such devices deliberately to amuse the reader. Candide experiences various adventures and meets (often more than once) a collection of exotic characters. His travails eventually cause him to question his teacher Pangloss's value system. But really, Voltaire throws various philosophical problems at the reader and invites a reaction - often this is done with a fine wit. All in all, a pleasure - the more so because it's a surprising one.
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