Luke Cato

Mrs. Balka

IB HL English Year 1

Written Assignment

How Voltaire satirizes Pangloss to portray optimism as an inadequate philosophy

In the novel, ​Candide​, Voltaire creates the character of Pangloss as a caricature

of Optimism, and further satirizes Pangloss to portray the insufficiency of his beliefs.

Optimism was the philosophy established in Voltaire’s time by an Enlightenment thinker

named Leibniz, that reasoned that every event that occurs, good or bad, is for a good

reason. Voltaire had a rather pragmatic outlook on life, and believed this reasoning was

utterly absurd. To deplore Leibniz’s ridiculous ideology, Voltaire continuously ridicules

Optimism throughout ​Candide​.

Pangloss is a symbol used repeatedly throughout the novel to represent the

philosophy of Optimism, and even Leibniz himself. Pangloss is a preacher of Leibniz’s

Optimistic ideology who has centered his life entirely over the thoughts of Optimism,

making him the accurate representation of Optimism itself. Voltaire characterizes

Pangloss in a such a way that reveals his negative outlook on his beliefs. A common

trait of Pangloss that associates with Voltaire’s view of Optimism is ignorance. Pangloss

is commonly presented as ignorant throughout the novel, such as when he claims the

death of James the Anabaptist was all for the better, stating that “Lisbon Harbour was

made on purpose for this Anabaptist to drown there.”(33). Pangloss shows absolutely

no remorse over the death of James the Anabaptist, justifying it with absurd Optimistic
ideals, demonstrating his utter ignorance of real life tragedy. This characterization

parallels with Voltaire’s perception of Optimism as being rather ignorant to the real

world, because the idea that every occurence has an underlying good reason, ignores a

realistic outlook life. Pangloss being portrayed in such a way goes to belittle the popular

ideology, tying it with an ignorant, unsympathetic man. The foolish philosopher

Pangloss, and his characterizations exemplified throughout ​Candide,​ contribute to

Voltaire’s underlying statement: that Optimism is an unrealistic, ridiculous philosophy.

Pangloss’s exaggerated positive philosophy establishes himself well as a

caricature of Optimism itself throughout the novel. Not only is Pangloss a representation

of Optimism, but Pangloss is repeatedly shown to be ludicrously positive through the

entire story of ​Candide,​ to portray how farcical Optimism is as a philosophy​. ​Voltaire

establishes a character foil between Pangloss, and the notoriously pessimistic, Martin to

accentuate eachothers’ extreme beliefs. Voltaire characterizes Pangloss in such a way

that his exaggerated Optimistic ideals are emphasized when contrasted to the

Pessimistic ones of Martin. Martin preaches of how all men are driven by greed, the

world is inherently evil, and “that God has abandoned it to some mischievous

power…”(92). By showing the extremely negative view on the proposed issue of

philosophy, Voltaire provides a foiled counterargument that further exemplifies the

extremities of Pangloss’ Optimistic beliefs. This juxtaposition is a character foil that

serves to support the notion that Pangloss’ absurdly Optimistic beliefs are unrealistic.

Pangloss’s overstated positive beliefs institute him as a caricature, aiding to support

Voltaire’s main conviction that Optimism is an inferior philosophy.

 Pangloss’s rash philosophical statements serve as litotes that go to further

discredit the ideals of Optimism. In the instance of Candide and Pangloss reuniting after

Pangloss was assumed to be dead, Pangloss explains to Candide that he has been

infected with a fatal sexually transmitted disease, justifying it with his “universal rule of

Reason”(34). Pangloss elaborates, explaining that the infection was for his better

health, and that without the disease coming into circulation amongst peoples, they

“should have neither chocolate nor cochineal.”(30). Pangloss tells how the introduction

of his deadly STD to society was the introduction of chocolate and cochineal as well, to

justify his infection. This litote very much under exaggerates the fatality of Pangloss’

STD by stating that it is less important compared to the simple uses of chocolate and

cochineal. Pangloss’ ridiculous rationale that justifies his STD demonstrates how droll

he and his Optimistic ideals are in real life circumstances, especially inevitable

unfortunate situations. Voltaire includes this element into the novel so that the reader

begins to view Pangloss, as well as Optimism, as absurdly unrealistic, to epitomize his

central statement, that Optimism is an invalid philosophy.

Furthermore, Voltaire overembelishes Pangloss and his beliefs throughout

Candide.​ Voltaire’s inclusion of fake, hyperbolic adjectives to describe Pangloss and his

philosophy serve to belittle Optimism. Voltaire uses the witty term of

“metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigo-logy”(20), as a name for the area of Pangloss’s

study. Voltaire continues to explain Optimism, under this humorous term. This name is

excessively long, as well as a made-up term, and serves to represent the absurdity of

Optimism. This ridicules Optimism, characterizing it as fake and hyperbolic, just like the
established nickname. Along with this, Voltaire forms a dramatically serious tone for

Pangloss when he discusses Optimism through the entirety of the story, making him

look foolish. The tone is contrasted with the exaggerated information given, to further

emphasize how dramatic and ridiculous Optimism is. An example of this is when

Pangloss is explaining Optimism, and maintains a sophisticated tone while he states,

“our noses were made to carry spectacles, so we have spectacles. Legs were clearly

intended for breeches, and we wear them.”(20). This example lacks logical reason,

because Pangloss’ logic is backwards, as breeches were made to compliment legs, and

spectacles were to benefit eyes. Pangloss’ idiotic example of Optimism, contrasted with

his serious, informational tone, make Optimism look absolutely ridiculous. Voltaire’s

overstatements of Pangloss further demonstrate the subordination of Optimism.

Moreover, Pangloss stretches the boundaries of Optimism by fabricating

justification of unfortunate events, in ridiculous efforts to support his philosophy. An

instance of this is the forlorn earthquake in Lisbon. The

town endured several waves of a high magnitude earthquake, followed by a massive

tsunami and a raging fire, that completely demolished the popular sea port and city.

Lacking a reason to justify the natural disaster, Pangloss insists that “There is certainly

a vein of sulphur running under the earth from Lima to Lisbon.”(34). Pangloss explains

how the earthquake was an attempt to expose said sulphur to the citizens of Lisbon, to

benefit the citizens with a newly introduced source of wealth. This is an obvious

hyperbole that shows the ridiculousness of Optimism, providing an event that ultimately

had no underlying justification, and then showing Pangloss flustered, trying to fabricate
an explanation for this tragedy. This goes to further invalidate Optimism as a reasonable

philosophy.

A crucial element included in the story by Voltaire is the resurrections to conclude

the novel. Pangloss is hanged early on in the novel, and makes a reappearance at the

end, having been resurrected. The resurrections, of several characters including

Pangloss, are representative of changing philosophy. After Pangloss resurrects, his

outlook on life shifts. Instead of preaching of a perfect world where every event is

justified, Pangloss begins to advocate for a simple, content life. For example, at the end

of the story, Pangloss supports Candide when he states that for a happy life, they “must

go work in the garden”(143). Pangloss is disregarding his old philosophical ideals, and

advocating for a simple life on the garden. This demonstrates how, even in the eyes of

it’s most faithful philosopher, Optimism will not pass the test of time. As the conclusion

of the story, this detail gives the reader the knowledge that Optimism is an inadequate

philosophy, and it’s key points will be disregarded in time. Voltaire includes this crucial

element to the conclusion of the story making the bold assertion that Optimism is

ultimately inadequate.

Pangloss is a character established by Voltaire to ridicule Leibniz and his

teachings. Voltaire utilizes caricature, hyperbole, litote, and the resurrection of Pangloss

to satirize Optimism. In doing this, Voltaire points Optimism out to be overdramatic,

farfetched, and unrealistic. Voltaire belittles Optimism and proves it to be insufficient,

while also portraying his pragmatic ideology.

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