Voltaire wrote Candide in 1759 in an “age… when the conventions and injustices of European society were being questioned and attacked from all sides” (v). From the text it is evident that his ultimate goal in writing the novel was to highlight the defects of French society, such as the importance placed on money, the unconditional following of religion and foolish philosophical speculation. The reader will certainly find Candide, the main character, and his adventures fun and entertaining, but the underlying messages of this seemingly light-hearted story are evident. One of the devices used by Voltaire is an ironic tone, which helps to expose his feelings regarding the class system in France at the time, in which Candide represents the elite. Voltaire achieves irony in particular by making fun of his characters, placing them in ridiculous situations and exposing them to the light of humor. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Candide maintains an overly optimistic view of the world throughout the story, even as he witnesses and experiences numerous disasters. His love for Cunegonde is questioned so many times that it seems impossible that anything will ever come of it. He travels the world, having been banished from his home for being seen kissing her, and struggles to survive. But Candide believes he lives in the “best of worlds” (7), an idea repeated so many times that he and Pangloss appear idiotic, as they seem to live in the worst of worlds, plagued by tumultuous situations. Candide maintains a sunny view of the world because he relies on blind luck to save him. His perpetual good fortune is very similar to that of the aristocracy of the time, which Voltaire despised for its inherently unjust privileges. Voltaire's choice of diction also criticizes Candide and the blissful ignorance of the people he represents. Each incident is said to have had a great effect on Candide, although nothing has a lasting effect on him. After being kicked out of the castle where he lived, Candide "walked for a long time without knowing where, crying, raising his eyes to heaven" (3). Candide suffers immensely, but Voltaire's choice of words gives the impression of how a child would behave after being sent to his room. A child would think of his punishment as catastrophic, until he is distracted by something else, just as Candide is distracted by the dinner he will soon be attending. After a while, Candide's unrealistic series of adventures begins to seem endless. He sees a bloody battle take place, learns that Cunegonde and his entire family have been killed and witnesses the drowning of the man who welcomed him, Jacques, in a terrible storm. The reader is therefore led to think that things might get better or easier for Candide. But he continues his journey, finding Lisbon destroyed by an earthquake upon his arrival. Pangloss was hanged for being a heretic, and Candide is beaten for believing Pangloss's philosophies after being shocked by the news of his death. There is bittersweet news for Candide when he discovers that Cunegonde is not dead, but rather that she has been raped and made a sex slave. The two plan to get married; However, Candide's bad luck is far from over. She loses Cunegonda to a richer man who proposes to her. He resumes his tumultuous adventures, which include nearly being eaten by a Biglug tribe, and has the fortune he finds in El Dorado stolen from him. Candide is not a noble nor intelligent man, so the fact that he went through all this, much less remained optimistic, is scandalous; such experiences would send others into anger.