An Optimistic New World

Optimism is the only way out of reality, the only way to avoid our own lifes. We often think that optimism is a quality every one of us should have, but this book tells us totally the opposite thing. Pangloss argues that this is the best of all possible worlds, and the Anabaptist once contractided him by telling him to be realistic and to face reality as it is. When the earthquake takes place in Lisbon, Conegonde, Candide, and the Old Woman search for a better and new life in "The New World." They strongly believe that in the new world, there will be no problems and that their life will be just perfect.

Off course, sooner or later they would have discovered that the New World wasn't any better than the old one. When they reached the Oreillon frontier, Cacambo said to Candide: "The new world, you see, is no better than the old; take my advice, and let's return to Europe as quickly as we can." (73) Then, Candide responds "Where are we to go when we arrive? If I go to my own country, I shall find Bulgars and Abars cutting everybody's throats; if I return to Portugal, I shall be burnt alive; and if in the other hand we stay in this country, we run a constant risk of being skewered." We can see how Voltaire criticizes optimism through the characters. Candide is trying to be optimistic by searching for ways to start a new life in a new world, but he finds out that he won't find a Utopia where everything flows perfectly. This is when he faces reality, that reality which he tries to avoid all the time.

We live in a society where sometimes reality is a living hell for many of us. Why do we have to make of our lives a living hell? I blame it on the system of society, where we are forced to follow certain rules to belong to the unit. My entire life, I've questioned society because I don't agree with it's so-called "principles." Humanity is supposed to evolve right? Then why do we stick to ideals from the past, where humanity was at another level? We think that Darwin started and finished his research of evolution, but the truth is that there is way more to be discovered. Humanity hasn't evolved completely yet, and you know why? Because we've been condemned to be free! It sounds kind of complicated, but it will make sense as soon as you let me finish my thought. We don't know that we are free, but the truth is that we are free to believe what ever we want. Nothing is a hundred percent sure because that truth is built up of various interpretations of humanity. Do you want to follow religion? do so... Do you want to follow the policy of uniforms in you school? do so.. Do you want to follow the whole system of society? Well, do so, but know for sure that you'll never find the real essence of life because if you follow the system, there's no way you will ever find out that you're free to express however you want.