Candide, ou l'optimisme

A bright‑hearted young man grows up in the opulent gardens of a baron’s castle, where he is taught that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” His carefree innocence is shattered when a sudden scandal forces him out of his privileged home, thrusting him onto a road he has never imagined. Stripped of his comforts, he begins a bewildering trek across unfamiliar lands, still clinging to the hopeful doctrine of his mentor.

Accompanied by the ever‑optimistic philosopher Pangloss, he encounters war, famine, and a devastating earthquake that shakes the very foundations of his belief. The duo’s absurd attempts to rationalise catastrophe—culminating in a chaotic public penance—offer a sharp, witty critique of blind optimism. As the journey unfolds, the young traveler’s naïveté meets the harsh realities of a world far more complex than the sheltered teachings of his castle ever suggested.