Guzman 1

Xitlali Guzman
Professor Kufs
English 114b
5 May 2015
Bystanders the Offenders of Suffering
People like to be characterized as civilized but when one looks around in this world of
unjust suffering the civility of the society they occupy is put into question. . In Voltaires satirical
novel Candide, one of the themes consists of an optimistic philosophy. Candide, the main
character, is taught this philosophy by his teacher Pangloss, who unlike Candide remains
optimistic until the end of the novel. Pangloss due to his philosophy becomes spectator and
allow suffering to happen. As in the following passage in Candide shows that Pangloss due to his
philosophy allows himself and Candide to become spectators:
The Anabaptist, being upon deck, lent a helping hand as well as the rest, when a brutish
sailor struck him and knocked him to the deck; but with the violence of the blow the
sailor himself tumbled head first overboard, and fell upon a piece of the broken mast...
Honest James forgetting the injury he had just received from him, flew to his assistance,
and with great difficulty hauled him in again, but in the attempt was, by a sudden jerk of
the ship, thrown overboard himself, in sight of the very fellow whom he had risked his
life to save, and who took not the least notice of him in this distress. Candide who saw
everything that had happened, and saw his benefactor one moment rising above the water
and the next swallowed up by the merciless waves, was preparing to jump in after him,
but was prevented by the philosopher Pangloss, who demonstrated to him that the coast
of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned there. While he

Guzman 2
was proving his argument priori, the ship foundered, and the whole crew perished,
except Pangloss, Candide, and that sailor who had caused the drowning of the good
Anabaptist. The villain swam ashore, but Pangloss and Candide got to land upon a plank.
(Voltaire 25-26)
The sailor who attacked the Anabaptist is the intolerance and the cause of suffering; while the
Anabaptist is the good in the world even though he was attacked he helps the sailor to be thrown
into the water. The water becomes a symbolism of how merciless life is. Candide and Pangloss
are the bystanders that allow good men to suffer and die. Pangloss has his optimistic philosophy
of it is what it is and allows tragedy to play out before his eyes and Candied through wanting to
help is influenced by his mentors nonchalant attitude. How many people become Pangloss and
watch society suffer because they believe they can not do anything about it or are Candide that
allow others to manipulate what there instincts tell them. In America a nation of civilized
residents how many have allowed suffering by being bystanders to politics, intolerance, and
inequality.
Americas political system is a representative democracy. Meaning citizens elect the
officials to represent them in various issues. Politics is a nasty little game that many do not see
the value in it or do not believe there vote or what they have to say is taken in to account. So
many individual choose not to vote but by doing that they become witnesses to a political
process. Why be a witness when one can become a participant and fight for what is just? To
defend justice is not easy but necessary. According to pewresearch.org 38 percent of political
bystanders are under thirty, this is alarming because they will inherit the political system from its
corruption to its laws. Many want to hold the optimism, like Pangloss, that everything happens
for a reason and everything will be okay. This optimism is fine but lets do something to make

Guzman 3
this society better allow politicians to know what their citizens need and what is demanded from
them. As Americans lets remind are politicians that they servants to their country and as citizens
their voices will be heard and along with them positive change will happen.
The illogical intolerance that people suffer in a civilized society such as America is
unwarranted due to the fact people should intervene and stop the bigotry. The avoidable suffering
from intolerance should never be supported, bystanders have the ability to save a life by
educating, creating awareness, and promote tolerance. Though history has shown no good comes
from intolerance but suffering many individuals still suffer. The intolerance of religion, race, or
sexuality is something relevant in todays society because people become specters to the jokes
and onlookers to the backhanded insults. As individuals tolerance needs to practiced and spread
by not only ones action but also education and awareness. Robert Miester agues in the book
After Evil: A Politics of Human Rights that [i]f consumers of our popular culture only
felt less apathy toward (and thus more empathy for) victims, the argument
goes, they would hold themselves responsible for what they allow to
happen. In todays society there is no excuse to be intolerance but ignorance but even
ignorance does not justify. Though Pangloss may have allowed bigotry to happen because it was
meant to be one can become bystander to intolerance of any kind.
Inequality is something that many may not see in their town but is prevalent in society.
There are many types inequality one in specific is the inequality of a persons socioeconomic
standing. This inequality puts their childrens education at risk, there medical resources are
limited, and amongst other disadvantages. In The Impact of Inequality by Jared Bernstein states
that lower income families have reduced upward mobility and are less likely to reach their
productive potential. It becomes a cycle that feeds negatively on back on growth (11). If one is

Guzman 4
not affected many may turn the blind eye because if they cannot see the injustice and are not
faced with the injustice it does not pertain to them. Pangloss was not drowning in the waves, so
he was not suffering, allowing his decision to have the Anabaptist engulfed by the waves easier.
Candide was nave to believe Pangloss but his navet made him an onlooker and as guilty as the
sailor who attacked the Anabaptist.
Unjust suffering occurs even in a civilized nation like America due bystanders allowing
this suffering to happen. Citizens sit quietly in political issues, allow inequality to happen, and
allow bigotry to be prevalent. Spectators become as bad as the offender and allow them selves to
be the injustice that takes place in society. Panglosss philosophy causes Candide more
misfortune in his life and that causes him to question this philosophy. A philosophy that used in
present society may cause more unjust suffering in the world.

Guzman 5
Works Cited
Bernstein, Jared. "The Impact of Inequality on Growth." The Impact of Inequality on Growth
(n.d.): n. pag. American Progress. Web. 01 May 2015.
DeSoto, Kirk. "The Political Bystander Effect: Evidence for Further Investigation." Applied
Psychology OPUS - NYU Steinhardt. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.
Gao, George. "1-in-10 Americans Don't Give a Hoot about Politics." Pew Research Center RSS.
N.p., 07 July 2014. Web. 01 May 2015.
Meister, Robert. After Evil a Politics of Human Rights. New York: Columbia UP, 2011. EBook
Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 1 May 2013.