Comparative Literary Analysis - Essay Example

The novel Candide was first published on 1759 by a French philosopher Voltaire. The author mocked the absurd optimism that he incorporates with the Enlightenment movement. The novel’s main character is Candide that dominates a spirit of utmost optimism and naiveté. Candide believes on whatever he was told. The main character’s innocent attitude and general obscurity is a representation of the author’s criticism to the followers of Enlightenment movement. Furthermore, Voltaire used Eldorado to contrast the reality of political conflict and government misconduct.

As what Candide had said, “What country can this be? It must be unknown to the rest of the world, because everything is so different from what we are used to. It is probably the country where all goes well; for there must obviously be some such place” (Voltaire 77). Candide and his companions were amicably welcomed by the people in Eldorado. The people were hospitable to its visitors as portrayed in the novel. The hospitability of the people was manifested when Candide and his men were kindly served with a lavished dinner for free in the first house in the village.

It was said that the food and the house were maintained by the government to accommodate the visitors. Futhermore, Candide and his men were welcomed by the King himself with great warmth and passion. Voltair portrayed Eldorado as an ideal society that would be of people’s best interest to stay there for the rest of their lives. Yet, when its people decided to travel outside of the community, the country set them free. The King of Eldorado implemented a profound liberty for its citizens whenever they want to leave the country.

The novel also divulged that Eldorado doesn’t have government institutions, no lawyers, and no prisons, thus, it further contrast the reality of the world that full of government manipulations and