Title: Candide
Author: Voltaire
Date written: 1759
Setting: 1750s, various places in Europe/South America
Narrator: Anonymous satirical narrator
Genre: Satire, Adventure Novel
Plot Summary: Candide is raised under the guidance of a scholar named
Pangloss, who explains away everything by saying that it had to happen in order for
this world to be the best possible world. When her father catches Candide kissing
his daughter, he expels Candid, who wanders until he is drafted into the Bulgar
army. He is sees a terrible battle, but runs away to Holland. There, in Holland, a
merciful Anabaptist, Jacques, takes him into his care. Candide, while out,
encounters an misshapen beggar, who turns out to be his old tutor Pangloss.
Jacques, Candide, and Pangloss try to get to Lisbon, but during the voyage, Jacques
falls into a whirlpool and drowns. When they arrive in Lisbon, they find that it is
under the control of the Inquisition. Pangloss starts to preach, and is hanged
immediately as a heretic, and Candide is whipped by the officials for listening to
him. Then, a mysterious old woman tends to Candides floggings and takes him to
Cunegonde, who was raped brutally and still alive but now a sex slave. Desirous of
escaping, Candide, the old woman, and Cunegonde flee on a ship to South America,
where the old woman tells her story of having been through the worst parts of
enslavement. Candide plans to marry Cunegonde, but instead, she decides to
accept another marriage proposal from the rich governor of Buenos Aires.
Meanwhile, authorities searching for the murderer of the Grand Inquisitor arrive to
arrest Candide, but Candide flees to Jesuit territory. He and his servant, Cacambo,
flee into the wilderness and avoid being eaten by the Biglugs, a native tribe.
Eventually, Candide and Cacambo encounter Eldorado, a hugely rich country that
places value on knowledge and no value on the jewels and gems that litter its
streets. Candide and Cacambo depart in search of Cunegonde, The two depart for
Turkey to find her, and they manage to purchase everyones freedom, including
Cunegondes. They decide to purchase a small farm outside Constantinople where
they can all live. All their time and energy goes into the work, and no one is left
over for philosophical speculation.
Character List:
Candide: the protagonist of the novel, good-hearted but
very naive, travels the world after being banished from his
adopted home, stumbles upon many misfortunes while
travelling the world, lives Cungonde, hopelessly
optimistic to an unrealistic degree considering the events
surrounding him, opinions and actions are mostly
determined by other people
Pangloss: a philosopher and Candides tutor, believes that
the world is the best of all possible worlds despite the
horrible misfortunes that have occurred in his life, is a
satire on overly optimistic Enlightenment philosophers
Martin: a cynical scholar, Candides travel companion, is
very pessimistic because of the sufferings in his life, more
intelligent than both Candide and Pangloss, has trouble
seeing the good things in the world because of his horribly
negative attitude
Cungonde: daughter of a German baron, loves Candide,
is repeatedly raped after her fathers castle is destroyed in
the war, rather selfish and willing to betray Candide for
her own interests, rather bland and unintelligent.
Themes:
Religion Can Be Hypocritical- In Candide, there are many religious figures
who commit actions that go against their beliefs. An example is the
Catholic Inquisitor who keeps a mistress. These religious leaders also
commit inhuman actions to people who disagree with them on religious
matter. An example of this is when Pangloss is persecuted because of his
philosophical beliefs. Although Candide does satirize religion, it isnt a
direct attack. Jacques, a member of a radical Protestant sect called the
Antibaptists, is the most generous and human character in the book.
Money Doesnt Mean Happiness- After Candide gets his fortune in
Eldorado, he realizes he is even unhappier as a rich man. His money gets
him greedy false friends, and he watches his money trickle away to
merchants and officials. In the end, we see that money, although it may
solve problems like poverty and starvation, leads to as many problems as
it starts.
Quotes:
A hundred times I wanted to kill myself, but always I loved life
more (Voltaire 337). the old woman. Even the most pessimistic
people can always find some optimistic glimmer of hope to look to.
God punished the scoundrel, the devil drowned the others. (354).
-Martin. He sees that God is unjust and the devil is cruelly
mischievous, and that the devils hand is just as evident in the
world as Gods.
Those who say everything is well are uttering mere stupidities;
they should say everything is for the best (319). Pangloss.
Voltaire uses Pangloss as an example to constantly satirize and
criticize blind optimists of the Enlightenment Era.
Conflicts:
Candide vs Society: Candide doesnt understand why all
these bad things happen to good people
Symbols:
Pangloss: represents Enlightenment thinkers and satirizes
blind optimism
The Garden: Candide and his friends find happiness in raising
vegetables in their garden, symbolizes the end of their trials
The Libson Earthquake: devastating natural events that have
no justification
Authors Style:
Voltaire loves to use the characters as a way to speak his
thoughts. In the conclusion, a Turk attacks philosophy by
saying, ...the work keeps from three great evils, boredom,
vice, and poverty (378). These words are from Voltaire
himself, expressed by the characters to get the readers
thinking. Voltaire uses irony and satire to indirectly show his
points. The events are overly blunt, which highlights the
absurdity of the characters and plot. There is no fancy
poetry, just the plain events, and eventually plain truths, as
Candide questions morality more.
