Candide or Optimism by Bevan Sullivan
Chapters 1-4
Chapters 29-30
Chapters 9-12
Chapters 5-8
Chapters 13-16
Chapters 17-20
Chapters 25-28
Chapters 21-24
At the beginning of the story, Voltaire explains Pangloss' thoughts that the world they live in is the best of all possible worlds and there is no effect without a cause. Voltaire throughout the book tries to show that this isn't true and that people are bad and make bad decisions.
"when she saw Dr. Pangloss behind some bushes giving a lesson in experimental physics to her mothers waiting woman, a pretty little brunette who seemed eminently teachable."9p.20-210 In this quote, Voltaire uses satire to show that Pangloss was actually making a bad decision by sleeping with this young woman.
In chapter 2, Voltaire explains that Candide was tricked into going into the military. He is brought to the camp and is force to learn a routine; when the routine is not done perfectly he is punished. "One fine spring morning he took it into his head to decamp and walked straight off, thinking it a privilege common to man and beast to use his legs when he wanted. But he had to gone six miles before he was caught, bound, and thrown into a dungeon by four other six foot heroes. At the court martial he was graciously permitted to choose between being flogged thirty six times by the whole regiment or having twelve bullets in his brain."(p.24) Voltaire uses sarcasm to show that these people are actually very cruel and won't show any mercy.
In chapter 5, Candide and Pangloss are on a ship that is in horrible condition. Pangloss is struck in the face by a sailor who flies off the edge with momentum. The ship sinks and only candide, pangloss, and the sailor survive. The first town they get to has a massive earthquake, leaving the town destroyed. Candide and Pangloss go around looking for survivors and eventually find people who invite them to dinner. Pangloss attempts to console these people by saying everything that happens, happens for the best. The hosts disagree and say that there is original sin.
One way that Voltaire uses satire is when pangloss is let into a house where they are served dinner. Voltaire makes fun of people being too polite. "I most humbly beg your excellency's pardon,' replied pangloss, still more politely." "Your excellency must excuse me."
Another way that Voltaire uses satire to make fun of humanity is when Candide and lady Cunegonde are together on the couch when Don Issachar comes in. "There they were when Don Issichar, one of the masters of the house, arrived. It being the sabbath day, he had come to enjoy his rights and unfold the tenderness of his love." (p. 44) Voltaire is pointing out the flaws in the sabbath day and how its overboard.
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In chapter 9, Candide, lady Cunegonde, and the old woman were in their house when Issachar pulled out a dagger and lunged at Candide. What Issichar didn't expect was Candide having a new sword given to him by the old woman. Candide kills him and they all realize that they need to leave before the police get there; They take the horses and haul out of there.
Voltaire uses satire to make fun of Don Issachar and Jewish people. "Issachar was the most excitable Hebrew that had been seen in Israel since the babylonian captivity."
In Chapter 10, Voltaire has Cunegonde and the old woman arguing about whose life is worse. He uses satire to show that humans will always try to be the best even if it is for something bad. "The way you both complain!' exclaimed the old woman. 'You haven't had misfortunes like mine to bear, I assure you.' Cunegonde started to titter with laughter, for it was amusing of the good woman to pretend to be more unfortunate than she."
In chapter 13, Candide and Cunegonde meet the governor, Don Fernando.....Souza. Voltaire shows, through the se of satire, how arrogant humans can be when they have power. "A nobleman with a degree of pride appropriate to one who bore so many names. He spoke to people with lordly contempt and with his nose in the air, and he harangued so loudly and unsparingly, assuming so imposing an attitude, and affecting such an arrogant bearing that everyone who saluted him wanted to hit him." p.58
In chapter 15, Cunegonde's brother explains to Candide his story of what happened since they had last seen each other. He tells Candide that he and his parents were taken away and were massacred. The brother lived. Jesuits sprinkled holy water on them and some got into the brothers eye; the reverend father noticed his eyes sparkling and went to feel his chest for a heart beat then proceeded to rescue him. They catch up and eventually Candide mentions how they have to save Cunegonde and how he's going to marry her. The brother has an outburst and yells at Candide and slaps him with his sword. Candide retaliates, leaving the brother dead and him in deep trouble.
"Thats what i am longing for,' said Candide, 'because i was expecting to marry her; and indeed i still hope to.'
'You insolent fellow!' exclaimed the Baron. "You have the impedance to think of marrying my sister, who has seventy two quarterings in her coat of arms, and you dare to talk to me of such a hot headed notion? Have you no sense of shame?" p.66-67 In this quote, Voltaire uses satire to show how humans are who they are and don't really change. The brother of Cunegonde turned into a jesuit but when Candide thinks he is even close to worthy of marrying her, the brother loses his head.
In chapter 17, Candide and Cacambo come across a village where the people don't consider jewels to be worth anything. These people also all believe in the same things without any dispute. Candide believes that he has found a place where things are finally for the best. "Gentlemen, it is obvious that you are strangers here, and we are not used to foreigners , so please excuse our laughter at you offering to pay with stones off the road." p.76
In this chapter, Candide and Cacambo speak with a man who is 172 years old. He tells them that the people of Eldorado praise their god everyday for providing everything that they need to survive. They decide to leave this town but before doing so they take a handful of Jewels. "We never pray,' said this good and venerable man;'we have nothing to ask of God, since he has given us everything we need. But we thank him unceasingly." p.79
In Chapter 19, Candide and Cacambo meet a man named Mr. Vanderdendur, a slave who was missing a right hand and left leg. They make acquaintances and he tells Candide his story which after hearing, makes him basically give up on optimism. "Oh Pangloss!' Cried Candide. 'A scandal like this never occurred to you! But its the truth, and I shall have to renounce that optimism of yours in the end." p.86
In chapter 21, Candide and Martin go on about whether humans are inherently good or bad. There are some parts of the country where people are simple and stupid, and others where they pretend to be witty. But wherever you go in France, you will find that their three chief occupations are making love, backbiting, and talking nonsense." p.94
In chapter 22, Candide and Martin make their way to Paris. Once they arrive, Candide receives a letter from Cunegonde saying that she has become ill. He decides to go see her but before he could, an old lady tells him that light may have an affect on her. Candide then pays her in diamonds without knowing if she was telling the truth or not.
In chapter 23, Candide and Martin arrive at an english port to find a man on his knees, blindfolded on the docks. Four soldiers stood beside him and promptly fired three rounds each into his head. Candide asked why this man needed to be killed and got an unsatisfying answer. Candide was so unsatisfied that he wouldn't get off the boat, and made a deal with the captain to take him to Venice. "Candide was so taken aback at what he had seen and heard that he refused even to set foot on english soil, and made a bargain with the dutch captain to take him to Venice without delay." p.110