In Voltaire's satirical novella 'Candide', the naive protagonist travels the world in search of his beloved Cunegonde, while desperately trying to reconcile the optimism taught by his mentor, Pangloss, with the harsh realities of life. From a war-torn Europe to the utopian land of Eldorado, Candide is met with a series of absurd and often tragic misadventures that challenge his rosy worldview. As he encounters the folly of human existence, Candide becomes a reluctant philosopher, questioning the nature of happiness and the absurdity of fate. Through wit and irony, Voltaire critiques blind optimism and exposes the hypocrisy of society. Will Candide ever find true happiness, or will the relentless chaos of life shatter his dreams forever?
By Voltaire
Published: 1991
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