Relevance of Candide's message in today's world Voltaire's Candide is a philosophical tale about a man's search for true happiness and his ultimate acceptance of life's disappointments. Candide grew up in the castle of Westphalia and followed the teachings of the learned philosopher Dr. Pangloss. Candide is abruptly exiled from the castle when he is caught kissing the baron's daughter, Cunégonde. Devastated by the separation from Cunégonde, his true love, Candide leaves to different places in the hope of finding her and achieving total happiness. Candide's message is to strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept problems believing that everything is for the best. Candide's misfortune begins when he is thrown out of the castle and experiences a series of horrible events. Candide is unable to see anything positive in his trials, contrary to Dr. Pangloss's teachings that there is a cause for all effects and that, even if we do not understand it, all is for good. Candide's endless ordeals begin when he is forced to enlist in the army simply because he is the right height, five feet five inches. In the army, he is subjected to endless drills and humiliation and is almost beaten to death. Candide escapes and, after being degraded by good Christians for being an anti-Christ, meets a sick beggar who turns out to be Dr. Pangloss. Dr. Pangloss informs him that Bulgarian soldiers attacked Westphalia Castle and killed Cunégonde - more misery! A charitable Anabaptist gives money and aid to Candide and Dr. Pangloss. Dr. Pangloss is cured of his illness, losing an eye and an ear. The Anabaptist takes them with him on a trip to Lisbon. On board the ship, the...... middle of paper ...... that in life there will be many obstacles that can and must be overcome. Life has its difficulties, but the world would be a miserable place if people passively accepted that everything that happened to them was for the best – ignoring their responsibilities. Voltaire believes that people should not allow themselves to be victims. He mocks naive, accepting types, informing us that people have to work (be active) to make themselves happy. Works cited and consulted: Durant, Will, Ariel Durant. The History of Civilization: Part IX: The Age of Voltaire. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965. Frautschi, R. L. Barron's Simplified Approach to Voltaire: Candide. New York: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1998. Lowers, James K, ed. "Cliff Notes on Voltaire's Candide". Lincoln: Cliff Notes, Inc. 1995. Voltaire. Candid. New York: Viking Publishers, 1996.