Professor Pangloss: The Eternal Optimist

The Character of Pangloss

Professor Pangloss is a character in Voltaire’s classic satirical novel Candide. He serves as a mentor and teacher to the young and naïve Candide, instructing him in metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology, an absurd philosophical system that Pangloss devised.

Despite abundant evidence to the contrary, Pangloss firmly believes that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.” This delusional optimism remains unshaken even in the face of the most horrendous disasters and misfortunes that befall Pangloss and his companions throughout the novel.

Voltaire uses Pangloss as a satirical device to skewer the unfounded optimism of philosophers like Gottfried Leibniz, who maintained that the world must be perfect because God created it. While leibniz employed logical arguments, Pangloss simply asserts his conclusions without evidence.

Pangloss’s Origins

Pangloss hails from the province of Westphalia in Germany. In his youth, he lives on the estate of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh, where he tutors Candide and the baron’s daughter, Cunégonde. Little is known of his life prior to this role as tutor.

Despite the lack of evidence for his beliefs, the eloquent and authoritative Pangloss convinces the impressionable Candide that this world is indeed the “best of all possible worlds.” This philosophy of optimistic determinism profoundly influences the young Candide.

Pangloss’s Adventures with Candide

Pangloss accompanies Candide when the latter is expelled from Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh’s estate for kissing Cunégonde. Their subsequent journeys span continents and see them endure natural disasters, poverty, slavery, war, inquisitions, and all manner of misfortunes.

Remarkably, Pangloss’s optimism never falters, even after he loses an eye and ear while being hanged by the Inquisition and then contracts syphilis. Whenever troubled by the day’s horrendous events, Pangloss simply remarks “all is for the best.”

At the end of the novel, Pangloss reunites with Candide and finally admits that he was wrong after witnessing the miseries suffered by so many. This glimmer of wisdom reveals that even the most stubbornly optimistic characters can change given sufficient life experience.

Legacy of an Idealistic Fool

Professor Pangloss represents an absurd parody of optimism that highlights the dangers of blind idealism. His refusal to relinquish his rose-colored worldview even when surrounded by suffering makes him appear nonsensical at best and callous at worst.

While Voltaire sharply criticizes the philosophy of Leibniz through the satire of Pangloss, he also reminds us that even amidst life’s tragedies, we have some power to shape our own destinies. Pangloss ultimately realizes the folly of his beliefs, growth that parallels Candide’s increasing wisdom and agency throughout the novel. Though hope may at times seem lost, we can write the next chapter.

Pangloss’s Teachings

Though misguided, Pangloss does try his best to impart wisdom to Candide. As Candide’s tutor, he instructs the lad in “metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology,” an absurd mishmash of intellectual concepts meant to justify why this world must be the “best of all possible worlds.”

Pangloss is also responsible for Candide’s early education in optimist philosophy. Though Candide takes these teachings a bit too literally at first, over time he comes to balance hope with pragmatism.

Some of Pangloss’s teachings that particularly impact Candide include:

The Grand System –

Pangloss believes that there is a grand order to the universe and a benevolent God oversees all. This leads him to believe everything happens for a reason.

Cause and Effect –

Pangloss emphasizes that all events are connected in complex webs of cause and effect. Though disasters occur, they ultimately serve some greater good.

Acceptance –

We must accept whatever occurs in this world, whether good or ill, since everything is predetermined. Resisting reality only brings more suffering.

Though misguided in his absolute optimism, Pangloss does try to help Candide make sense of events and come to terms with reality. He provides a mentor’s guidance, albeit colored by overzealous idealism.

Pangloss’s Enduring Optimism

No matter what fate befalls him, Pangloss maintains his upbeat philosophy. When reunited with Candide after undergoing horrific disasters, he still affirms “all is for the best.”

Some examples of Pangloss’s stubborn optimism include:

Natural Disasters –

After an earthquake destroys the paradise where Candide lives, killing thousands, Pangloss insists it was necessary to the grand scheme.

Slavery –

Even after being enslaved and whipped for rowing a boat improperly, Pangloss claims his fate is for the best.

Illness –

When he develops syphilis, Pangloss says it was necessary to bring chocolate and cochineal to man.

Inquisition –

After being hanged and nearly killed by the Inquisition, Pangloss sticks to his views.

This delusional optimism in the face of endless travails makes Pangloss seem absurd. But he uses it as a coping mechanism, steadfastly finding purpose in life’s randomness.

Pangloss’s Character Arc

While Pangloss maintains his optimistic lens for most of the book, he does finally have a change of heart after witnessing an old woman’s misfortunes. When reunited with Candide, he relinquishes his belief that this is the best possible world.

Pangloss’s character arc includes:

Naive Optimism –

He begins steadfast in his rose-colored philosophy.

Harsh Reality –

Travels with Candide expose him to life’s harshness.

Flickers of Doubt –

He begins to question his outlook but keeps reverting to optimism.

Final Resignation –

After the old woman’s story, Pangloss finally accepts his philosophy’s flaws.

Quiet Wisdom –

He gains deeper understanding of how to accept life’s randomness.

This arc demonstrates that experience can change even the most stubborn minds. With time, blind idealism gives way to nuanced wisdom.