The Politically Incorrect CandideCandide is a story that should be added to every canon of literature. It's a story that addresses issues related to human nature that other stories choose to ignore. It addresses issues such as human nature, optimism, religion and the state. These elements provide insight and perspective that readers don't typically get in everyday literature. These things are controversial, but from an honest point of view. Voltaire never tries to be politically correct – he tells it like it is or at least says it the way he sees it. Not only does Voltaire attack the ignorance of humanity, but he also directly calls into question the integrity of Church and State. This, in Voltaire's time and often today, can be very dangerous. Through it all, Voltaire strongly opposed many issues of religion and state. Because of these dangerous problems, Voltaire was forced to deny having written Candide. When Voltaire died in 1778, Candide reached fifty editions and became the bestseller of the 18th century. (p. 11 Weitz) Because of the conflict in Candide's story, it makes this story a good topic for classroom discussion. Many debates can take place on many topics. The range of offensive topics in Candide is sure to touch everyone in one way or another. Or at least raise questions interesting enough to discuss. Candide is a story that students, in some parts, can relate to, and perhaps in other parts, be offended by. It is a novel that should absolutely be read by everyone to discover a perspective that is not too often revealed in literature, especially at the time when Voltaire wrote Candide..