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Example research essay topic: Philosophy Of Life Forrest Gump - 1,812 words

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A Waif in the Wind of Obsessive Corruption! A professor once asked me to write an essay on what I thought was the philosophy of life. Assuming money was no object, and society permitted it, what would I consider my garden? Not giving it much thought, I threw together what I thought would suffice. Later, upon giving it considerable thought, I realized I truly had no opinion on the subject. My mother once told me that the meaning of life was in fact, life itself.

She said that the ability to live and make our own destinies come true was the real reason behind our existence. However, society plays a large part in what we consider an ideal life. As children, were taught to conform, strive for superiority, and achieve overall success. As adults were conditioned into believing that a rejection of these values is a waste of human life. In some instances a rejection of these values is due to the anxiety associated with compliance. Society can be, and is, corrupt in many different ways.

Within our lives we are subject, but not limited to, corruptions within religion, corruptions of morals, and corruption within the government. Voltaire, the author of Candide, and Robert Zemeckis, the director of Forrest Gump, both use grotesquely nave protagonists to illustrate their view of the world in which they live. Nevertheless, Candide and Forrest, surrounded by a corrupt society, and bombarded by various character defining events, are able to come to a higher understanding as to their philosophy of life. Candide, by Voltaire, is a story about an optimistic young man who encounters various misfortunes on his search for an ideal world. Having unfortunately been kicked out of his home for the love of Lady Cunegonde, Candide suffers through many natural and unnatural catastrophes during his travels. However, holding on to his claim that all is for the best, Candide travels the world abroad with a totally nave attitude.

Constantly being reunited with many of his peers, Candide suffers the cruelty of the Bulgar army, a tempest, a shipwreck, an earthquake, and an auto da fe. Candide's optimism, stemming from his tutor Dr. Pangloss, keeps him totally determined to find his lost love, Lady Cunegonde, and an ideal world. However, Voltaire takes Candide around the world to discover that, contrary to the teachings of his distinguished tutor Dr. Pangloss, all is not always for the best. Likewise a naf is the main character of Forrest Gump by Robert Zemeckis, which spans a period of three decades centered around a growing boy with a low IQ.

Forrest manages to play an important role in every major historic postwar event except the moonwalk. As the object of abuse by local bullies, Forrest discovers his one talent: running. He becomes an All-American, is present during the integration of his college, and is sent to Vietnam after being drafted into the army. Later, Forrest receives the Medal of Honor, is present during the anti-war movement, plays a crucial role in Watergate, and finally becomes a multi-million dollar business tycoon.

Through all of this, Forrest holds one thing true in his mind: Jenny. Jenny is his first and only love. Next to his mother, shes the most important thing in his life, and the only thing he really wants. Yet, despite constant disappointments concerning Jenny, Forrest maintains his sweet-tempered, innocently nave philosophy of life. Now that I am able to discern my own philosophy of life, Ive come to two conclusions. The first is that life is entirely personal.

Its your life and entirely up to you to determine whether or not you want something from it. The second is that society can be very cruel. Society places norms and standards on what it feels an ideal life consists of, all the while corrupting a person in every way possible. However, an individual has to either be nave, or susceptible to such a corruption. In comparison, Voltaire and Zemeckis share a similar view concerning the corruptions within a society. While making a point that though corruption is evident, and life can be very uncertain, its entirely up to the individual as to the outcome of his or her future.

Throughout their lives, Candide and Forrest experience just about everything that is humanly possible to endure. In the end, they both make the choice to wind up essentially where they began; content and fulfilled. In Candide, Voltaire uses general criticisms paired with specific examples to illustrate his idea concerning the contemporary corruption of the time. It is a grinning critique of the 18 th century's excesses and cruelties (Kanfer 1). With Candide, Voltaire tried to show the world just how unjust and cruel it was. He specifically focused on the ignorance of the nobility's pride, corruption seen in religion, corruption of the government, corruption of morals, and the flaw in complacent optimism.

Voltaire takes Candide through all of these forms of corruption to make him realize his ideals and his own personal philosophy on life. Illustrations concerning the ignorance of nobility's pride are evident particularly in the Baron, the six dethroned kings, and Don Fernando. The fact that the Baron refuses to let Candide marry his sister because she has seventy-two generations of nobility in her blood is sheer arrogance. Before he knew Candide wanted to marry his sister the baron called him his brother and savior (Voltaire 56). When the Baron realized Candide's intentions he called him an insolent wretch (56). Towards the end of the story, after Candide rescued the Baron from the galley slave ship, he still refused to let him marry his sister!

This illustrates the true arrogance and ignorance of the Baron, and the point Voltaire is trying to make about the nobles pride. The passage concerning the dinner Candide shared with the six dethroned kings illustrates arrogance as well. The six kings, who were once very powerful, are now dethroned and forced to dwell upon their misfortunes. One of whom, named King Theodore, is so poor, that the others, including Candide, offer him some money.

When Candide gives him much more than the others, they are insulted. As it states, who is this ordinary private individual who can afford to give a hundred times as much as any of us (107). Even though they are dethroned, and no longer possess any power, they still consider themselves above Candide. This illustrates their arrogance and condescension.

Another example is illustrated when Candide and Cunegonde encountered Don Fernando. The Don asked Candide if he and Cunegonde were married, and Candide told him they were engaged. He immediately dismissed Candide and pursued Cunegonde. This illustrates the arrogance on the Dons part in thinking that he could steal Cunegonde simply because he thought his title made him more noble than Candide. Voltaires purpose for these illustrations is to basically say that it is silly to be arrogant. Illustrations concerning the corruption of religion are seen in many places throughout Voltaires work as well.

Perhaps the most noticeable example occurs when Candide escapes the Bulgar army. Candide stumbles upon a Protestant priest giving a sermon on charity. Yet, when Candide pleads for charity, he is punished because he would not swear the Pope to be the anti-Christ. The priest dismisses Candide for being disobedient instead of helping him in a Christian manner. Another example is seen in the fact that the old woman Candide traveled with claims she is the Popes child.

This is corrupt because the Pope was supposed to be celibate. Another example occurs when the Baron is promoted within the Inquisition for giving sexual favors. This is ironic in the sense that the values the Inquisition stood for should see this type of behavior as a sin. Voltaire uses the auto-da-fe as another example of corruption in religion. During this time, the people of the Inquisition were killing others with different beliefs, thinking that it would please God and stop an earthquake. Actually, by murdering men in the presence of God, they committed a great sin.

Throughout Candide, corruption of the government is seen in various locations. The first example is illustrated when Candide is deceived into joining the Bulgar army. The most predominant, however, is the constant raping of women by soldiers of war. In a war, both sides committed malicious acts, all the while thanking God as if it were acceptable. Ironically, God would condemn such a behavior.

Readers see another example when the English general is shot because he didnt kill enough French soldiers. To murder someone because he didnt commit enough murder is ridiculous. Another example is illustrated when Candide raises his voice to the judge in hopes that he will help recover his stolen property. The judge fines Candide instead of helping him with his problem. When Voltaire was concerned with the corruption of morals, he focused on a male / female context. For example, in the beginning, Pangloss contracts a sexual disease.

When explaining his condition he spoke of a long strain of possible carriers. This leads the reader to believe that at that time, everyone was sleeping with each other. All of the rapes seen throughout this work are rooted in a corruption of morals as well. A corruption of morals can be seen in both Cunegonde and Candide as well. Cunegonde, being an opportunist, cashes in on Candide whenever she can. Though claiming to love him, its apparent that she loves only herself.

At the end, she only marries him because he has money, and she unfortunately became ugly. Candide only marries her because he made a promise and wants to be loyal. He, in fact, is subject to this form of corruption as well. The ideals of complacent optimism stem from Dr. Pangloss, and the flaws stem from a combination of the afore mentioned corruptions. Voltaire is trying to say that optimism creates a nave person, and a nave person will get hurt.

Readers see this naivet when the soldiers force Candide into the army, and again when he namely trusts the captain to return and fetch him. However, Voltaire juxtaposes this with two other forms of personal philosophies: Martins and Cacambos. Martin represents philosophical pessimism, and Cacambo represents a mixture of both Pangloss and Martin. Voltaire puts Candide in the presence of varying philosophies, forcing him to form some of his own. In essence, Voltaire uses Candide to advocate philosophical skepticism (Beck 1). He takes Candide through every form of corruption available to examine the corresponding human capacity for optimism (Bell 1).

To read Candide and hope to simply perform a character analysis would be missing the boat. One must read Candide in a worldly context, examining the true meaning behind Voltaires work. Candide represents the traditional figure of innocent abroad (1). Voltaire sardonically seeks to discover if there is any reliable source of happiness for mankind (2).

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Research essay sample on Philosophy Of Life Forrest Gump

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