Compare and contrast Faust Part One by Goethe and Candide by Voltaire - Book Report/Review Example

A GOOD LIFE Critical Analysis Essay: Compare and contrast Faust Part One by Goethe and Candide by Voltaire. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). The greatest of German man of words and a genius of the highest order, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28, 1749 at Frank fort am main. He distinguished himself as a scientist, artist, musician, philosopher, theatre director, novelist, playwright, short story writer, critic, memoirist, biographer and librettist. His works shows the extraordinary fertility and versatility of the genius of the man. "Faust" is without doubt the greatest and most representative expression of Goethe's powers. A masterpiece of mythic proportions "Faust" ranks as a great tragedy drama but it is the result of Goethe's brooding on the mystery of human life, shadowed forth in the symbolic parts and elaborated with still greater complexity and still more far reaching suggestiveness. It is a two part retelling of the legend of Faust, the scholar who gives the devil a chance to barter his soul in return of unconstrained knowledge and eternal life. In the twenty first century Faust continues to be regarded as Germany's greatest contribution to world letters and one of the most important works of the western civilization. (Goethe, 2008). Born in Paris, Francois-Marie Arouet was better known by the pen-name Voltaire which he adopted in 1718. He was a French enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport and defence of civil liberties, including freedom of religion. He was one of the several enlightenment figures whose work and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolution. A satirical polemicist, he was an outspoken supporter of social reforms and often made use of his works to criticize Christian church dogma and the French institutions of his time. Candide or Optimism (1759) is the best example of his style. It tells the tale of a young man who has been indoctrined with Liebnizian optimism but becomes disillusioned when faced with hardships. It satirizes the philosophy of Leibniz and attacks the religious and philosophical optimism and certain social and political ways of the time. Voltaire's ironic style free of exaggeration is evident mainly by the simplicity with which he has treated the words. (Voltaire. 2006). "Let us work without theorizing," said Martin," 'tis the only way to make life endurable." (Chapter 30, pg. 149) The young hero's name in Voltaire's 'Candide', Candide suggests a simple personality. He has seen many ups and downs in his life yet his teacher's teachings on Optimism raise his spirits through out. He has always been told that they are living in the best of situations. To which he has said," It this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others" (Chapter 6, pg. 25). He is uniformly portrayed as a considerate man who is worried about other people's distress and wants to extend a helping hand whenever he can. There is a constant search to maintain peace and have a harmonious environment. He is not looking for peace for himself only but wants the whole world to be a better place. He is perturbed when he sees one human being killing the other. He killed the monkeys whom he saw running after two naked women. He is a man of high moral which brings him some relief in the mis-happenings of the world. He says," Do you think man has always massacred each other, as they do today Have they always been liars, cheats, traitors, brigands, weak, flighty, cowardly, envious, gluttonous, drunken, grasping, and vicious, bloody, backbiting, debauched, fanatical, hypocritical and silly" (Chapter 21, pg 25) Despite his terrible experiences, Candide maintains that things happen as they did for a reason and that all is for the best and he is slow to give up on his faith. He forgets the abuses he witnessed and suffered, and he sees Jacques' kindness as a vindication of Pangloss's optimism. According to Pangloss, private misfortunes are directly proportional to the general good; the more people suffer, the better things are. Pangloss' brand of optimism caricatures of the philosophy of Liebniz, in which from God's perspective private miseries are somehow tolerable or perhaps necessary. Candide is so nave and innocent that in the end he asks Pangloss if he sill believed in optimism after all that he has endured. Optimism is a counter-intuitive doctrine and ignores the dilemma of human suffering by making evil and misery part of a perfect world. Similarly, Faust part one of Goethe is basically a tragic play much as Candide by Voltaire. But Candide is supported by the optimism of the protagonist. While Candide wants happiness for everyone Faust desires it for his own self. He is striving to learn everything that can be known, away from righteous pursuits. In both the works, the similarity is that both the writers have satirized the church both the protagonists are seeking happiness but while Candide has moral reasons behind the idea, Faust has personal interests. Candide marries Cunegonde even when she had become ugly and disfigured and was always in pursuit of her while Faust seduces Gretchen and when she becomes pregnant and when she drowns her illegitimate child and when she is convicted for murder, he is not with her. Though he tries to bring her out of jail but remains unsuccessful. He than flees away. While Candide's love for Cunegonde was pure, Faust's love for Gretchen was more materialistic. He desired her for his own good while Candide was really in love with Cunegonde. Gretchen says, "I love you" but the closest aust comes to saying it is during the daisy-petl-plucking scene when he says "he loves you." No turmoil in his life was able to move Candide from his morals while Faust fells prey to the teachings of the devil and even when he himself has dropped his seduction plan he is shamed into it by the devil. Works Cited Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. (1749-1832). Introduction. enotes.com. 2008. 04 Mar. 2008. . Voltaire. Candide Book Notes Summary. Book Rags. 2006. 04 Mar. 2008. . Voltaire. Candide. The Literature Network. 24 May. 2005. 04 Mar. 2008. . Study Guide for Goethe's Faust. 6 Jun. 1997. 04 Mar. 2008. . Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy. Book Rags. 2006. 04 Mar. 2008. . Read More