Plot

=Plot =

//Chapters 1 through 3: How Candide was raised in a fine castle, and how he was chased from it; What happened to Candide among the Bulgars; How Candide escaped from among the Bulgars, and what became of him. //

Candide is living with Baron Thunder-Ten-Tronckh in a castle in Westphalia, Germany. Here, he also lives with the baroness, her daughter, Cunégonde, and his tutor, Pangloss. Because everything about the castle is so perfect, Candide believes in Pangloss’ teaching that the world is the “best of all possible worlds.” Candide is fond of Cunégonde, and one day, she drops her handkerchief. He picks it up for her, kisses her hand, and then they kiss. The baron finds them and chases Candide from the castle.

Candide walks to the next village, and because he has nothing, he is nearly starving. Two Bulgar soldiers find him and give him money and food. Because he is an appropriate height, they sign him up to be a soldier (the Bulgars are at war with the Avars). In the Bulgar army, Candide finds many hardships. First, four soldiers capture him, and they tell him that he can either be killed immediately or run the gauntlet thirty-six times. (Running the gauntlet means that he would run between two lines of men who would strike him with weapons.) Though he tries to talk his way out of it, he is unsuccessful and chooses to run the gauntlet because at least he will have a small chance for survival that way. After only two of the thirty-six runs, Candide is nearly dead because all of his skin is gone. The Bulgar king happened to walk by then, though, and he pardons Candide. Some time clearly passes because some of his wounds heal, and then he serves in the army during the war.

Candide escapes from the war when he gets the opportunity, and he goes through different Bulgar and Avar villages, only to find that war has left everything in ruins. He then goes to Holland, where he finds a man preaching to a crowd. The man asks Candide if he believes that the Pope is the Antichrist, and Candide says he does not know and that his main concern is finding food. The speaker gets extremely angry with Candide, and his wife dumps a full chamber pot on his head. Then, Candide meets Jacques, the Anabaptist, who gives him bread, beer and two florins (which are Italian coins). He even offers to teach Candide his trade, rug-making, and Jacques’ kindness restores Candide’s faith in Pangloss’ teaching. The next day, while Candide is out for a walk, he finds a beggar covered in pustules.



Chapter One

//Chapters 4 through 6: How Candide met his old philosophy tutor Doctor Pangloss, and what followed; Storm, shipwreck, earthquake, and what became of Doctor Pangloss, Candide, and Jacques the Anabaptist; How a fine auto-de-fé was held in order to hinder future earthquakes, and how Candide’s buttocks were flogged. //

Candide talks to the beggar, who reveals himself as Pangloss. Pangloss tells Candide that the Bulgars attacked the castle in Westphalia, and the baron, baroness, and baron’s son were all killed, and Cunégonde was raped then killed. Candide goes berserk about the loss of his love. Pangloss also reveals that he got the disease he now, syphilis, has from Paquette, Cunégonde’s chambermaid. When Candide asks Pangloss if the devil is at the root of all of these miseries, Pangloss denies it saying that the world is still the “best of all possible worlds.” He also says that if Columbus and his men had not brought such things as syphilis from the New World to the Old World, the Old World would have not had New World pleasures, like chocolate. Jacques has a doctor cure Pangloss, but he still loses and eye and an ear. Pangloss then becomes Jacques’ bookkeeper, and the three men go to Lisbon on business. That’s when readers find that Jacques does not fully agree or disagree with Pangloss’ philosophy because he says that men manipulate the world and make it bad.

A storm hits the ship on which Candide, Pangloss, and Jacques are on their way to Lisbon. A man falls overboard, and Jacques saves him. This causes Jacques to fall overboard, but the man does not try to save him. The ship sinks, and only Candide, Pangloss, and the selfish man survive. An earthquake just hit Lisbon (which actually did occur in 1755; this gives us a good clue about when the novel is actually taking place), and Pangloss and Candide help the victims of the earthquake. Pangloss tells the victims that it happened for the best, and an inquisitor overhears this, saying that an optimist cannot believe in original sin. Thus, he directly defied the strict beliefs which the inquisitors have.

The authorities in Lisbon decide to hold an auto-de-fé (which is basically a sacrificial ceremony, except not for some sort of primitive religious intent) to prevent another earthquake. They burn a man for being married to his godmother and two more men because they do not eat bacon (which implies that they’re Jewish). Pangloss is hung for being an optimist, and Candide is flogged for listening to Pangloss. Another earthquake occurs that day, and again, Candide doubts Pangloss’ philosophy.

//Chapters 7 through 10: How an old woman took care of Candide, and how he found again what he loved; Cunégonde’s story; What became of Cunégonde, Candide, the Grand Inquisitor, and a Jew; The distress in which Candide, Cunégonde, and the old woman arrive at Cádiz, and their embarkation. //

 The old woman took Candide and gave him new clothes, food, and a bed. She also tended to his wounds and prayed for him. She took care of him for two days but would not explain her kindness.

 On the third day, the old woman took Candide to a remote cottage. In the cottage, she led him upstairs, where they found a woman with a veil. Upon removing the veil, Candide discovered his love, Cunégonde. They shared their misfortunes with one another, and Candide found out that Cunégonde had been raped and terribly hurt many times. The Bulgar captain kept her for three months to do labor (and because he was attracted to her); then he sold her to Don Issachar. He brought her to the cottage in order to please her, hoping she would give into him.

 The Grand Inquisitor did not agree with the fact that a Jew owned Cunégonde. The Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar came to an agreement to share her. Therefore, the men did not like one another very much. The Grand Inquisitor held the auto-de-fé to prevent earthquakes, as well as to scare Don Issachar. At the auto-de-fé, Cunégonde saw Candide get flogged and Pangloss get hung. All of these events made her disbelieve that this was the “best of all possible worlds.” Cunégonde had sent the old woman to help Candide and bring him to her.

 Don Issachar showed up as Candide and Cunégonde were having dinner. Don Issachar drew his sword on Candide, but Candide killed him quickly. Not so long after, The Grand Inquisitor entered, and Candide killed him, too, so he would not interfere or, more importantly, report to the authorities that he had just killed Don Issachar. The old woman told them about three horses in the stable and advised them to flee. The three left and made it all the way to a town in the Sierra Morena Mountains before the authorities arrived.

 Cunégonde had money and jewels with her, but someone stole them. The old woman suggested they sell one of the horses, so they would not be penniless. They then rode to Cádiz. Because Candide impressed a military general there, he, Cuné <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> gonde, the old woman, two valets, and the two horses were given passage to South America.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 11 through 12: The old woman’s story; The continuation of the old woman’s misfortunes. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The old woman told her story of her miserable life and began with a very surprising claim—that she was the daughter of Pope Urban X. Until she was fourteen, she lived a rich life as a beautiful girl; she also was engaged to a prince. Then the trouble began. The prince had a jealous mistress, and she killed him. Then, the old woman’s castle was attacked by pirates. The pirates took the women of the castle as slaves to Morocco. The pirate captain raped the old woman. When they arrived in Morocco, all of the women were taken and killed because there was a mass-slaughter occurring. Only the old woman was protected because the pirate captain hid her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The old woman was able to escape, and she fainted beneath a tree. A man came along and, in her native language, described that he had just been castrated. She told her story, considering it to be far worse, and fainted again. The man took her back to a house and cared for her, and when she awoke, they exchanged stories, finding they had known one another when they were children. He promised to take her back to Italy.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Instead of taking her to Italy, he took her to Algiers and sold her to the ruler. She nearly died of the plague there. Barely surviving the plague, she was sold repeatedly: in Tunis, Tripoli, Alexandria, Smyrna, and Constantinople. There, her owner had to defend the Turkish city of Avoz against the Russians. She saw this giant slaughter of the Turks and Russians. Worse yet, the Janizaries so starving that they were going to eat the women (including the old woman). A priest convinced them to cut off one buttock from each girl, instead. The operation was performed on each girl, just before the Russians arrived, but with them, they brought a French doctor who helped them. All of the girls were sent to Moscow to be slaves (as soon as they could walk, of course), and their owner made sure that they were beaten daily.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Two years later, she escaped during the Revolt of Streltsy in 1698. She went on to become a maid in Riga, Rostock, Wismar, Leipzing, Kassel, Utrecht, Leiden, the Hague, and Rotterdam. In the end, she became Don Issacar’s maid, and that is how she became Cunégonde’s servant. During all of this, the old woman always wanted to commit suicide but decided against it because she loved life too much.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 13 through 16: How Candide was forced to part with the fair Cunégonde and the old woman; How Candide and Cacambo were received by the Jesuits of Paraguay; How Candide killed the brother of his beloved Cunégonde; What happened to the two travelers with two girls, two monkeys, and the savages called the Orejones. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The ship landed in Buenos Aires, and Candide, Cunégonde, and the old woman visited Don Fernando. Don Fernando was struck by Cunégonde’s beauty, and he asked if she and Candide were going to get married. Candide said that they were and asked Don Fernando to perform the ceremony. Don Fernando said yes then sent Candide off. When Candide had left, Don Fernando announced that he would marry Cunégonde. The old woman advised Cunégonde to marry Don Fernando—not Candide—since it could restore her wealth and status.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Another ship came along, and the Franciscan father, who had stolen Cunégonde’s jewels and money, revealed that the authorities had followed Candide, Cunégonde, and the old woman. The old woman advised Candide to flee (without her or Cunégonde, since they were not guilty of murder), even though it meant the lovers would be separated.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Candide and Cacambo, one of the valets, fled on the two horses. Cacambo said they should go to war on the side of the Jesuits, since they would welcome Candide—a military captain who knew the Bulgar drills. The two men appeared before the Baron. He and Candide talked about Candide’s German background, and the Baron revealed that he was Cunégonde’s brother. (This disproves that he was killed during the Bulgar raid). The Baron said that it would be great if they could both be reunited with Cunégonde. Then, Candide revealed his plans to marry Cunégonde. The Baron became enraged and would not accept this because Candide was not noble enough to marry <span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cunégonde. He struck Candide, and then Candide killed him. Cacambo saw all of this, and he put the Baron’s clothes on himself and Candide. They fled, pretending to be the Baron and an escort.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The two men stopped to eat food that Cacambo had brought, but Candide was too distressed to eat. He was worried about committing yet another murder and about seeing Cunégonde again. They heard two women scream because they were being chased by monkeys that were biting them. Candide killed the monkeys and thought that this would make up for killing the three men. The women did not thank him, though; instead, they were upset because apparently, the monkeys were their lovers. Later in the evening, Candide and Cacambo went into the woods to eat and sleep. When they awoke in the morning, they could not move. The two women had told the Orejones of what Candide had done, so the Orejones tied them up with bark and surrounded them. They intended to cook the men on a spit, but Cacambo was able to dissuade them from doing so.



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapter Sixteen

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 17 through 18: The arrival of Candide and his valet in the land of El Dorado, and what they saw there; What they saw in the land of El Dorado. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Candide and Cacambo were not really sure where to go because war raged in Europe, and there, they were bound to be caught by authorities and killed. In South America, they lived in fear of the natives. Candide wanted to stay as near to Cunégonde as possible, though, so Cacambo suggested they go to Cayenne. There, Frenchmen would be and may have pity on them. The journey to Cayenne was rough, to say the least. They found a canoe and rode in it until it crashed.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They went to the first town. Candide said it was even better than Westphalia, for the roads were “adorned” with ornate carriages drawn by large, red sheep. Kids wore gold brocade clothing and played quoits, which Candide and Cacambo found to be made of gold, emeralds, and rubies. The first house they encountered was like a palace. Cacambo realized it was an inn, and they found more people dressed in gold inside. They also received a very luxurious meal. Candide tried to pay with some gold he had picked up from the road, but the innkeeper laughed because to her, it was merely a pebble from the street. Their “meager” meals were free, though, because the government paid for such things. This restored Candide’s faith in the teaching that this was the “best of all possible worlds.”

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Cacambo took Candide to see a retired courtier. He was one hundred and seventy-two years old, and he told them the history of El Dorado. They learned about the government and the religion. Candide felt enlightened. the old man told Candide and Cacambo to visit the king in a carriage drawn by six sheep. They were greeted by beautiful women, and the king invited them to eat. Candide discovered the people were so happy that no courts or prisons were necessary, and he was also shown very interesting scientific instruments.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">After a month, Candide wanted to go back to Europe to find Cunégonde. The king let them go, and they left with twenty-two big, red sheep. They also took other jewels from El Dorado with them, as they set off for Cayenne to buy their own kingdom.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 19 through 23: What happened to them in Surinam, and how Candide met Martin; What happened to Candide and Martin at sea; Candide and Marin continue reasoning as they approach the coast of France; What happened to Candide and Martin in France; Candide and Martin head for the coast of England. What they see there. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The first day of travels to Cayenne, Candide and Cacambo found very pleasant. The second day was not so pleasant. The sheep with treasures were lost in a bog, and two more died of fatigue. Only two survived. Candide found hope in the fantasy of seeing Cunégonde again. They came upon the town of Surinam.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Just outside of Surinam, they found a Negro slave, who had a missing leg and hand and said his master was Vanderdendur. They nearly received passage to Buenos Aires for a reasonable price, until Candide revealed he wanted to rescue Cunégonde. Candide ordered Cacambo to go to Buenos Aires alone and pay any price for the release of Cunégonde. Candide said he would go to Venice for safety.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Vanderdendur ended up being the captain of a large ship. Vanderdendur drastically raised the fare for Candide to go to Venice via his ship, and Vanderdendur put Candide’s treasure-laden sheep on board. Then, the ship set sail before anyone gave Candide the chance to board. Angry, he went to a judge, who also tricked him out of a large sum of money. He had had enough and boarded a French ship going to Bordeaux. On the ship, Candide offered to pay the fares for a truly troubled and deserving passenger. The one he chose was a scholar who had been punished during the Inquisition.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The old scholar’s name was Martin. Candide and Martin discussed many things, including Pangloss’ philosophy and faith. Candide realized that he believed that the world was partly good, but Martin said it was completely void of goodness. While on the ship, they heard two other ships battling. One was sunk, and Candide saw one of his sheep floating in the water. This indicated that Vanderdendur’s ship had been sunk in battle. Candide concluded that because Vanderdendur had stolen from him, the righteous thing happened to him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> When they arrived in Bordeaux, Candide said he did not want to stay; he just wanted to go to Venice. He sold some jewels to pay for a carriage. Other passengers were going to Paris, so Candide and Martin decided to go, too. Candide became very ill, then even more ill. He finally recovered. After, an abbé showed Candide and Martin Paris, and they saw a tragic play. The abbé took Candide and Martin to a lady’s house, the Marquise’s house, where they played cards and ate. The Marquise tried to seduce Candide after dinner, and afterwards, Candide felt bad for being unfaithful to Cunégonde. The next morning, Candide received a letter from Cunégonde, saying that she was in Paris. Candide became rather concerned when he read that she had become ill and that Don Fernando took everything from her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Candide and Martin went to the inn where Cunégonde was staying. They were hoodwinked, though, when the ill “Cunégonde” would not speak to Candide and could only show him her hand. (This hand did not belong to the real Cunégonde). Unknowing of the truth, Candide left her many diamonds and a great deal of gold. Then, Candide and Martin were arrested for being suspicious and strange travelers. Candide requested to be taken to Venice, but instead, they were taken to Portsmouth, England. There, they saw an admiral being killed for killing too few men. After seeing this most-confusing event, Candide was able to arrange their passage to Venice.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 24 through 26: About Paquette and Brother Giroflée; The visit to Senator Pococurante, a Venetian nobleman; Of a dinner that Candide and Martin had with six strangers, and who they were. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">When Candide and Martin arrived in Venice, Candide began looking for Cacambo. When he had no success, Martin told him it had been foolish to believe that Cacambo would fulfill his mission. Moreover, he told him to forget Cacambo and Cunégonde. In the Piazza San Marco, they saw a happy couple. Candide invited them to dinner, and when they arrived that evening, the woman introduced herself as Paquette, the maid from the castle in Westphalia who had had an affair with Pangloss.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Paquette told her story: she had become a doctor’s mistress after leaving the castle. The doctor killed his jealous wife, and Paquette was put into prison for being a suspected accomplice. She was then forced to take up a profession as a prostitute. Her lover, Brother Giroflée was a monk. He and she were both rather unhappy, so Candide gave them money to make them happy.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The next day, Candide and Martin visited the senator, Senator Pococurante. He was kind to them, but they found that nothing pleased him. Another night, Candide and Martin were out to eat, and a man approached Candide, telling him to be ready to leave. It was Cacambo, and he had found that Cunégonde was waiting for Candide in Constantinople.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chapters 27 through 30: Candide’s voyage to Constantinople; What happened to Candide, Cunégonde, Pangloss, Martin, et cetera; How Candide found Cunégonde and the old woman; Conclusion. //

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Cacambo arranged for his and Candide’s passage to Constantinople aboard a Turkish ship Martin came with them, as well. Candide pestered Cacambo about Cunégonde. Cacambo admitted that he had to pay a great deal of money to Don Fernando for Cunégonde’s release, as well as some money to pirates. Cacambo was a slave to the Sultan, but in Bosporus, Candide bought Cacambo’s freedom. Then, he went toward the shores of Propontis to find Cunégonde. There, Candide found two slaves, two friends:Pangloss and the Baron (Cunégonde’s brother). Candide, Cacambo, Martin, Pangloss, and the Baron all went forth to the port to search for Cunégonde.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Candide made amends with the Baron, and Pangloss explained his survival had occurred because the rope on the noose had been wet, so it knotted, and he could still breathe. The five men were on their way to see the Prince of Transylvania because that was where Cunégonde worked as a kitchen maid. When they arrived at his house, they saw Cunégonde and the old woman hanging towels. Cunégonde was not very recognizable because she had grown rather unattractive.Candide paid for their freedom, and the old woman suggested that they buy a small farm.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Because Cunégonde had grown so hideous, Candide had no intentions of marrying her, but since the Baron still did not approve and Cunégonde begged him to, he decided to follow through. For interfering, the group decided to punish the Baron by putting him back into slavery.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">No one was very happy on the farm. The men argued about philosophy, and they women were intolerable.Paquette and Brother Giroflée came to the farm to visit.They had squandered away their money from Candide.Their presence only added to the tension and unhappiness on the farm. One day, Candide, Martin, and Pangloss met an old man under an orange tree. He admitted that he did not know much but that he found peace in cultivating his garden. After visiting with this farmer, Candide, Martin, and Pangloss returned to their farm, realizing they must literally and metaphorically cultivate their garden. Pangloss concluded that Candide had to go through all of his trouble and distress to, in the present, enjoy candied pistachios. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Candide’s reply was that, “we must cultivate our garden.”