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 grows up in Westphalian Castle and is taught by the learned philosopher Dr. Pangloss. Candide is suddenly exiled from the castle when he is found kissing the baron's daughter, Cunegonde. Devastated by the separation from Cunegonde, his true love, Candido leaves for different places in the hope of finding her again and achieving total happiness. Candido's message is that we must strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept problems in the belief that everything is going to be for the best. Candide's misfortune begins when he is kicked out of the castle and experiences a series of horrible events. Candide is unable to see anything positive in his ordeals, contrary to Dr. Pangloss' teachings that there is a cause for all purposes and that, even if we don't understand it, everything is for the best. Candido's endless trials begin when he is forced to join the army simply because he is the right height, five feet seven inches. In the army he is subjected to endless drills and humiliations and is almost beaten to death. Candide flees and, after being degraded by the good Christians as antichrist, meets a sick beggar who turns out to be Doctor Pangloss. Doctor Pangloss informs him that Bulgarian soldiers have attacked the castle of Westphalia and killed Cunegonde: more misery! A charitable Anabaptist gives both Candide and Dr. Pangloss money and assistance. Dr. Pangloss recovered from his illness, losing an eye and an ear. The Anabaptist takes them with him on a trip to Lisbon. On board the ship, the... paper means... that in life there will be many obstacles that can and must be overcome. Life has its challenges, but the world would be a miserable place if people passively accepted that everything that happened to them was for the best, shrugging off responsibility. Voltaire believes that people should not allow themselves to be victims. He mocks naive and accepting types, informing us that people have to work (be active) to be 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. White. New York: Viking Publishers, 1996.