Doctor Pangloss- the optimistic revolutionizer

A key component of optimism would be the involvement of Doctor Pangloss, Candide's teacher and mentor.

"All is for the best and the best of all possible worlds."

In chapter I, this was the quote was used often to show how optimism was expressed in Candide. Candide's mentor, Professor Pangloss, expressed this infamous quote so many times. He says this to explain the method of sufficient reason, everything has a reasoning for why it needed to happen.

Chapter 1

The premiere chapter in Candide expressed naivete in terms to the main character, Candide. Candide had no idea how the outside world was. He lived in Westphalia, or "the best of all possible worlds". Candide never has to leave anywhere, but later in the story he will see the faults in his optimistic beliefs.

The third, and final, branch of optimism that solves the problem of evil would be Compensatory Optimism.
This says that there’s evil but it simply balances out the picture. The good compensates for the evil. Overall, the good outweighs the existence of evil.
Example from the story would be the sudden "revival" of the many characters in the story: Pangloss, Cunegonde, the Baron. They were killed off just to come back and it seems that there was no talk about it, as if they were not dead in the first place.

Another branch of optimism that solves the problem of evil would be Instumentalistic Optimism. This says that every single instance of evil results in an instance of good in the long run.
This was what Candide expressed throughout the most of the story. The Lisbon Earthquake, the big storm while they were on the sea, and the Bulgarian/Abarian War was supposed to happen in this world because this is "the best of all possible worlds”

The first type of optimism that solves the problem of evil is Absolutistic Optimism. This type of optimism completely abolishes the problem of evil. It says there are degrees of good, instead of instances of evil.
Examples of this optimism are:
Anabaptist helping Candide (high level of good)
                versus
Candide being hanged  (low level of good)

As the story progresses and Candide matures, he does not seem to have the same optimistic beliefs that he had during the beginning

Starting to doubts

If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others? Well, if I had been only whipped I could put up with it, for I experienced that among the Bulgarians; but oh, my dear Pangloss! thou greatest of philosophers, that I should have seen you hanged, without knowing for what! Oh, my dear Anabaptist, thou best of men, that thou should‘st have been drowned in the very harbour! Oh, Miss Cunegonde, thou pearl of girls! that thou should’st have had thy belly ripped open!”  (Voltaire 13-14)

After being challenged and a promise he made to himself, he married Cunegonde. They seemed to live somewhat happy after that.

That concludes the theme Love is Blissful (until you become ugly, then it's not. But, when I am challenged, it's back.)

But then the Baron, Cunegonde brother of whom Candide killed earlier, strangely revived as well. He was killed for telling Candide that he was not going to marry his sister. He said that again.

And the challenge was on.

Cunegonde was later revealed to be still alive after serious medical treatment, which still befuddles me to this day. Candide, who seems to be overjoyed by the news, goes out to Constantinople where it was said that she was a worker. He was ready to find her and eventually marry her until he saw that she looked like this...

Candide's reaction was not that of love...

Of course, Candide was absolutely devastated by this tragic news. This is the part in the story where Candide really starts to become a realist, one who is inclined to believe in the real. This is related to love because he cared about this woman so much that, when she was killed, he can't cope with being the optimist that he once was.

That's some sad stuff right there.

After his exile, Candide later learns from Pangloss that his love, Cunegonde, was brutally killed by the Bulgarians after an invasion.

After being caught kissing Cunegonde, Candide was exiled.

This is an example of how the story starts; Candide sees this beautiful young girl named Cunegonde and he feels that he is falling deeply in love with her.