Final answer:
In Candide, the series of misfortunes characters endure convey a message that challenges the philosophy of optimism and reflects the harsh and absurd realities of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of Candide, bad things happen to characters to convey the message that not all suffering leads to a greater good or teaches a lesson, challenging the optimistic philosophy that 'everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.' This aligns with the idea that a narrative need not resolve positively to mimic the true nature of the world, which often lacks closure. The occurrences of bad events serve to highlight the harsh realities and seemingly absurd nature of life, pushing readers to question their complacency and the search for a meaning that may not exist. The message of the story is deepened by this juxtaposition between the characters' ceaseless misfortunes and the relentless optimism of philosophers like Pangloss.