Plot Overview

Candide by Voltaire is a very interesting book

about a young lad named Candide, traveling from
place to place, seeking for this new area to live
around. The novel first sets off at Barons castle,
where Candide grew up. Alongside with his
philosopher, Dr. Pangloss, teaching him how the
world is the best of all possible worlds. Though he
had gotten kicked out of the castle because of
making out with Cungonde, the Barons daughter,
he was banished away from the castle, making
Candide explore this so-called best world.
As Candide went away from Barons castle, Dr.
Pangloss came up to him and said how Cungonde
and her whole family had been murdered by an
army invading the castle. Since there was no
turning back, him and Dr. Pangloss has to find
another location to live on for the fast few years, or
even forever. Finding an area to live upon wasnt
easy for them at all, since Candide had been
pummeled and slapped within every direction he
took. However, with all respect, he desperately
believes that there is a better world out there.
In conclusion, Candide travels to various places,
meets a couple of people along the way, and hope
that they will all find a place to live. Will they
succeed in finding their best world, or will they tire
themselves out to the point of exhaustion, where
they will find nothing but their hopes and dreams
fading away...

About the Author

Novel Notes

Voltaire was born in November 21, 1694 and he

died on May 30, 1778. He became a fitting writer, as
for himself earning education from his college,
Louis-Le-Grand, and secondary school, Jesuit. As
an enlightenment philosopher, hes been writing in
four different categories: poetries, plays, historical
works, and philosophical works. Voltaire was writing
novels in the 1700s, one novel talking about the
rejected ideas from his old church, which was called
Dictionnaire philosophique. Other books Voltaire
wrote included Mariamne (1724), Henriade (1723),
and more.

Candide

Historical Context
Voltaire lived in the time period that still used
philosophers to have a better understanding of the
world (1700s). During those years, their time were
known as the Age of Enlightenment, or the Age of
reasoning. He was a very important French
philosopher that was triggered after his mothers
death on the age of seven. He finally then realizes
why he chose his decisions of becoming one of the
best philosopher writers in that century, trying to
solve reasons through the work of being a
philosopher.

By: Voltaire
Rodrick Alberto
March 27, 2016

Essential Quotes
Man is born to live either on the convulsions
of distress or the legarthy of boredom (Voltaire
8).
Candide resembles that of the Arabian Nights
in Gallands translation (9).
Add Work Cited Here:
"Voltaire." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television,
n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
Voltaire, and Lowell Bair. Candide. Toronto:
Bantam, 1981. Print.

Character Analysis

Themes

Candide - One of the main characters in the novel.

He portrays an innocent, kind hearted man who
plans to share his idea that the world everyone lives
in seems to be the best of all looking worlds, made
possible by the philosopher, and mentor, Pangloss.
Candides thoughts are based off of his actions
throughout the the story. He tends to travel the
world, being positive and certain that something
good will happen to him. However, Candide faces
misfortunes and misleading events along his
journey.

Hope - As Candide has been kicked out of Barons

castle he travels across regions with the
philosopher Pangloss. This shows a theme of hope,
meaning how Panglosss phrase inspired him to go
on exploring to find a better place to live in. This
includes meeting dangerous and unsafe areas to
explore. But, whatever the cause is, him and
Pangloss are ready to face head on. So, one of the
themes in the novel is hopefulness of never giving
up.

Pangloss - Pangloss acts as though he is a teacher,

or philosopher, that shows his students the way.
The effects he has shown towards other people
seems to be quite misleading, like the fact that he
would always saying the phrase best of all popular
worlds. His characteristic of being a philosopher
seems fraudy or making fun of the philosophers
work, thinking that he could turn one young lad into
a huge, famous person. Though being a
philosopher, he remains faithful to what he believes
in.

Martin - Like many protagonists, there is also a

follower that tags alongside his journey. Martin joins
in with Candide as his travel buddy to travel
alongside with him. His thoughts among Candide
and Pangloss seems as though he is the smartest
one out of all three of them. In his past, he has
suffered great pain and agony, so he preaches the
existence of a strong, undesirable outcome of the
world. Though it may seem to be negative, he
always thought as the world was a dark and dense
place to live in.

Useless Philosopher - As the novel continues to

reach its climate, Candide seems to give up
Panglosss theories. One scene happens when a
follower of Candide, Jacqueline, had drowned.
Candide could have saved her; however, Pangloss
didnt allow him. Not only that, Lisbon was also
trapped in an earthquake. Candide ask for
Panglosss help, but nonetheless, he doesn't help
him because of an enlightenment philosophy he
studied. This brought Candide false reasoning of
employment philosophers, meaning that he doesn't
trust him that often.
Money - In the novel Candide, Candide was well
known for his riches from living in a castle.
Whenever he would get in trouble, the way he
solved with was to bribe against any situations hes
stuck in. Not only situations, but any merchants,
dealers, and even his companions he travels with,
making Candide feel like he has false friends. This
brought the idea on how money can be the power
towards everything.

Motifs and Symbols

Rape and Sexual Exploration (Motif) - In the novel
Candide, some of the text and images shows how
women were sexually exploit. Few of the
characters, such as Cungonde and Paquette, were
forced into a sexual slave. In the place, they were
raped. Based off the novel, this motif shows how
rape can be very dangerous, especially to women.
Men in the story are considered that they value
more chastity women (which explains how safe
some guys are against sex).
The Garden (Symbol) - Towards the end of the
novel Candide, Candide, and the rest of his
companions alongside his journey, found a garden,
portraying how they acquired land and to live and
expand life. Pangloss expresses it as Gods grace,
believing he has given them the land, renaming it as
the Garden of Eden.
Undead (Motif) - Voltaire describes the characters
traits by believing each character in the novel never
dying, even though parts of the chapters explain
bits of information on how each character, such as
Pangloss and Cungonde, dies. Yet, characters
tend to live on with the story continuing. Specific
traits were pointed out, like Pangloss actually is a
fool of himself or Cungonde being pretty by
expressing her true love. The writer believes that
these traits will never die, and he continues to have
the character in the story.