The Good Old Cause

As taught by his old mentor, Dr. Pangloss, candied firmly beliefs in the law of cause and effect. The previous states that every single event occurring in our lives has a set of causes or other events that led to the effect being mentioned. As a result, Candide exposes what seems to be convinced belief in a paradigm, which leads him to belief that his life is that way because it is the end product of a set of causes: it couldn’t be any other way. When he approaches the man that had been preaching charity, a clear example of this belief takes place in the midst of the irony. The man asks about his support in favor of the “Good Old Cause,” and candied responds that “there is no effect without a cause… all things are necessarily connected and arranged for the best, it was my fate to be driven from lady Cunégonde’s presence and made to run the gauntlet (p.26-27).” He mentions his basic belief, followed by a small explanation proving its validity. By mentioning that “all things are necessarily connected and arranged for the best,” Candide may be telling to us that everything is the best outcome as a simple explanation of no other possibility. If there is only one possible outcome, then the experimental outcome shall always be the best: how couldn’t it? It was his “fate” to come to that place and moment in time in those exact conditions that he currently faced. This makes me recall Calvinist predestination, and the idea that everything is already played out and nothing we do can change what should happen because our roles have already been written and we helplessly act them out. This strikes me as pessimist and hopeless. If one thinks that nothing he does can change his future, what incentive would the individual have to live? Why would we put effort into something that is virtually unchangeable?

As an educated reader I understand historical concepts and recall Voltaire’s mentality which is widely taught and respected. By writing this ideals he may be subtly trying to depict an absurd world, he is slowly ridicule these “beliefs” that he has Candide carry out. His innovative approach at absurdity and what we would consider to be sarcasm in modern times makes out of the story an active plot. It has kept me hooked into the meaning behind the words. How will Voltaire proceed to prove his point on free will?