Week 4 Project Action Plan: Themes in Candide



I will be doing more research about the theme of “free thinking” and “Hypocrisy” in Candide. Voltaire not only highlighted but criticized different philosophies and civil constructs throughout the story. Candide is symbolic of one who is incapable of thinking for himself.

In my pursuit, I need to take a closer look at the popular philosophies, civil and religious intuitions during that time to help readers understand Voltaire’s strong position of reason, freedom, and progress. Allowing one to think for themselves. I believe that is why he challenged several beliefs throughout the story so that his readers could made a sound judgment for themselves. Like Candide, who was being presented with truth throughout the story through his experiences, his readers also have the same opportunity, as we are faced with what we believe.

Yet, Candide continued to hold on to a system of belief that he had been taught from Dr. Pangloss.  Understanding this is hard because Voltaire, at one-time renounced religion, called for separation and state (which is still a prominent in our government today), yet wrote about more religious freedom. This is validating the theme of free thinking. He was not a religious man, did not believe in religious institutions but still felt that people had the write to believe what they wanted to believe. His criticism in Candide was not against religion itself but the hypocrisy he saw within these institutions and the same with philosophy. I will be pulling lines from the story to support this argument.

I will also research the cultural history during that time. I would like to show how Voltaire’s writing and what he endured because of his writings impacted others to speak out against the atrocities done at the hand of philosophical and religious institutions.

Voltaire clearly implies through the character Candide, that a person has a right to their own perspective based off their experiences in life. We see that at the end of the story, when Candide says, “But we must cultivate our own garden” (413).

I know I need to narrow my focus, but I am sure that Voltaire wanted his readers to know that free thinking is every human beings’ choice and what you believe you need to live by it.


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