In Voltaire's Candide, the theme of optimism is prevalent throughout the novel. The reader can see in the novel Voltaire's opinion on optimism and how he satirizes it to reflect his view. Satire, defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices (Oxford Dictionaries), is illustrated by the use by Voltaire of the idea of ​​optimism and how this thus reflects his feeling towards it expressed in his time. Pangloss is Voltaire's main vehicle for expressing his opinion on optimism. Pan meaning everything and gloss meaning being bright or hovering over something show how Pangloss is as a character in the novel. No matter how pessimistic the outlook on a situation may be, Pangloss constantly overlooks this pessimism to see a positive outcome due to the philosophies he follows. Because Pangloss is a role model for Candide, Candide constantly tries to see the light in situations even if he does not always believe what he frequently tries to tell himself. When Candide finds...