Candide

In Candide, Voltaire uses satire to effectively express his ideas, as well as ridicule the political and social problems that swept over eighteenth century France and England. Candide also brings to light the reality of suffrage in human life all over the world, it also depicted many injustices that actually occurred in Voltaire's lifetime. One of the issues that Voltaire satirizes in Candide is Leibniz's belief that "if God is rational, then everything he does is grounded in reason. God does nothing be caprice." (Voltaire 19), basically Leibniz believed that everything that happens, happens for a reason by God. Leibniz described this as "the principle of sufficient reason." Voltaire believed that God had not arranged everything according to an ideal blueprint. He came to a conclusion after some catastrophic events that God was not as powerful as everyone thought he was, he was just not strong enough to prevent evil.

One incident that pushed him away from Leibniz's theory for good was the untimely death of his mistress, Madame du ChÐ"Ñžtelet. She was a great admirer of Leibniz. By dying prematurely and for no good reason, she had contradicted her own optimism. Voltaire could not understand how in any way it was necessary and beneficial for Madame du ChÐ"Ñžtelet to die. Another event that solidified his stance was the great Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755. This earthquake claimed tens of thousands of lives. When Voltaire heard news of innocent children crushed beneath the rubble, he responded with a cry of protest against the belief that God directs everything in the world for the best.

Leibniz's belief is ridiculed multiple times throughout Candide. In the story, Leibniz is referred as Pangloss who "taught metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-boobology." (Voltaire 42) Just using this term Voltaire is making fun of Leibniz's all achieving philosophy. Also, referring Leibniz as the character Pangloss in the story is another way of insulting Leibniz. Pangloss means "all-tongue" and it implies that the world could not be better than it is because "all is for the best". Pangloss is ready to give a long-winded theory of why the unfortunate incident is happening for a good reason. Another part where Leibniz's belief is poked at is where Candide is walking and sees this beggar covered in sores and looking like he's on the verge of dying. Pangloss