Satire in Voltaire's Candide

In Candide, Voltaire uses satire to reject the theory of optimism. Although optimism is the main target of Voltaire’s criticisms, he also takes aim at religion, war and violence, and aristocratic pride. Candide is filled with a great deal of criticism for much of Voltaire's contemporary society. Voltaire's experiences led him to dismiss the idea that this is the best of all possible worlds. Examining the death and destruction, both man-made and natural (including the Lisbon earthquake) Voltaire concluded that everything was not for the best.
Candide, the illegitimate son of a Baron's sister, was sent to live with the Baron at his beautiful castle in Westphalia There, Pangloss, "the greatest philosopher of the province and therefore of the whole world," taught Candide that he lived in "the best of all possible worlds." His theory was that "since everything is made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end." Pangloss taught that noses were made to wear spectacles; ...