In Search Of Purpose

In the end of Candide Voltaire gives the idea that through hard work we are to find life bearable. Through work we are to give our life a purpose even if this work is only for us. It was truly interesting how Candide went through the complexities of philosophy were there isn't really a right answer to a rather simple conclusion. Working on the garden and living in the reality posed to them and not the impossible world of philosophy. That appeared to be the decision Candide was given. He could follow either path of positiveness (Pangloss) or Negativeness (Martin). Candide was mostly influenced by Pnagloss for he had been his life's tutor and that had not proved the best way to look at life. It was like living in a bubble that would burst in any moment. The idea of the world being the best it could be simply isn't reality.

This reminded me of the End of Evangelion. Here the main character Shinji Ikari is faced with a very hard decision. He has viewed all his life in a very pessimistic way. His life was the ideal Martin gave for a humans life: "Martin's conclusion was that man was born to suffer from the restlessness of anxiety or from the lethargy of boredom." (140) Ironically his situation is rather enviable but his views of life don't allow him to enjoy it fully. He is the opposite of Candide but instead of going in opposite directions the story lines meet. In the end both Candide and Shinji are faced with the choice of living in their bubble or in their reality. Shinji could have decided to stay in that place were all souls were one and there was neither pain nor pleasure, were he couldn't be hurt by others. A place were he would not be able to live. Candide could have remained a philosopher were he could complain all the time about the wrongdoings of humanity and never do anything. He would have never been truly sad since he would not suffer what humanity goes through directly and he would never have the pleasure of helping others directly.

What I liked about both works was that both characters decided to not allow their past pain trouble their life but decided to actively change their present. This idea repeats when there are bad times. Voltaire lived during the French Revolution while Hideaki Anno lived through a period of recession in Japan known as the "lost decade". These are two periods that I wouldn't like to experience. The French Revolution was one of the most violent periods in history. The "lost decade" was also a horrible time since all the people leaving high schools and universities in Japan could not find any jobs, many of these youths locked themselves in their rooms and refused to go out. Many of them ended with deep psychological problems. This is why this generation was called "the lost generation". Philosophy for Volataire and anime for Anno were the way people escaped from such horrible realities. What I loved about both works was that their message was to live your life and try to make it a better place. "'We must work without arguing,' said martin; 'that is the only way to make life bearable'"(144). Even if your work only makes you happy not doing anything (like Anno did for four years) will only drive closer to insanity. Both works made me think that even through the illusion of change that your hard work gives you, one can find happiness. Not mattering how futile your objective is.