The Introduction

We are brought to the first chapter with a brief description of Candide. "You could read his character in his face. He combined sound judgement with unaffected simplicity." (19) After turning the page, we are introduced to Pangloss who was a "metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology"(20) The introduction to a person such as this showing what he is, is obviously trying to show the depth of the person. The author was trying to show Pangloss' intelligence by naming all of the things that he was. I had never seen this method, but I find this very effective because from the introduction of a character, you are already aware of what type of person he is. We are then confirmed of his intelligence on the next paragraph is says "'It is proved,' he used to say, 'that things cannot be other than they are, for since everything was made with a purpose, it follows that everything is made for the best purpose.'" When I read this, I disagreed strongly. Not everything in the world is made with the best purpose, and not everything is made with a purpose. There are many things that people do that have no purpose at all, such as doodling on a piece of paper during class. Then there are things that aren't made with the best purpose, such as bullying people. This is something that's still in my brain, but I can not come up to a precise conclusion.