Candide

Candide is Voltaire's 1759 philosophical tale about a young man whose travels overturn the comfortable assumptions of his upbringing. Candide and his companions encounter war, exploitation, deceit, and the repeated failure of promised happiness. The rapid narrative and dry irony expose cruelty and the habit of explaining away another person's suffering. Its closing emphasis on tending a garden turns attention toward sustained practical work. The tale's moral questions emerge through the contrast between sweeping claims and the responsibilities of ordinary life.