My Hero Candide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

My Hero Candide - Essay Example But to put a characterization on Candide for purposes of describing a true and authentic hero would require setting Candide up to the standards of what a true and authentic hero is. My concept of a hero is one who is morally upright, is resolute and steadfast in his convictions, stands up for others who are aggrieved or for whom he is fallen, and pursues a life direction that is worth emulating. It is against these character ideals that I shall pit the personification on Candide to see how far or how close he is to my hero model. Does Candide fit? At the beginning of the novel (SparkNotes Editors), Candide is depicted as an unassuming, innocent-looking boy in the household of a rich German baron who had a beautiful daughter named Cunegonde. Candide fell deeply in love with her, something the baron did not like and which caused his banishment from the baron’s house. Candide’s youthful innocence reflects his uprightness as an individual, even believing his tutor’s line that the world is the best that it is. It may have been an unrealistic posture but it explained the depth of his love for Cunegonde. In fact, that naivete provided the drama and the reason for him to fight to win over the struggles, the obstacles, and the misfortunes that stood his way. Against my second hero trait of resoluteness and steadfastness, Candide handily wins with flying colors.