History is stained by countless wars, often instigated by greedy and selfish individuals.

Voltaire depicts his views on greed in Candide, the adventures of the young boy Candide who travels around the world during the mid 1700s. Through the actions and behaviors of Candide and the people he meets, Voltaire satirizes mans insatiable thirst for wealth and self gain. Voltaire believes that man takes advantage of others misfortunes for personal gain. During his travels in Lisbon, Candide and a sailor survive a large earthquake that unfortunately kills many people. The sailor sees the destruction and chaos as an opportunity to loot the city and says, Therell be something worth picking up here (33). He then rushed straight into the midst of the debris and risked his life searching money (33). The sailor is presented with an opportunity to rescue people in the city. But instead of providing aid to the wounded, he only looks to steal from them. He even risks his own life to make a small profit. While Candide and his companion Martin were in Saint Marceau, France, he becomes slightly ill. Knowing that Candide is carrying around a heavy purse, the doctors in the area offer their services eagerly without Candides request. But instead of curing Candide right away, they discreetly make him sicker to prolong their services and receive more money: By dint of medicines and bleeding, Candides disorder now became serious (97). The doctors acted as if they were concerned for Candides health, when in reality, their purpose was to pilfer as much money from Candide as they could. Instead of curing Candide, the doctors take advantage of him and make him sicker so that Candide would have to pay them more. Voltaire uses Cungonde to display his belief that people will do anything to get what they want. When Don Issachar and the Grand Inquisitor fight over Cungonde, she seduces both men to receive money and jewels. When Cungondes jewels are stolen, she says, Whatever

shall we do? Where shall I find more Inquisitors and Jews to replace them? (46) Cunegonde knows that Candide suffered many misfortunes to find and eventually marry her. Despite Candides sacrifices, Cungonde seduces men to receive money, jewelry, and gifts. If Cungonde cared about her love for Candide, she would have refrained from sexual activity with other men. Cungondes attitude towards the stolen jewels also suggests that the Inquisitor and the Jew are just convenient ways to make money. In another incident, Candide is forced to flee to Paraguay for killing the Grand Inquisitor. To his surprise, Candide finds the Baron, Cungondes brother there. When Candide tells him his plans of marrying Cungonde, the Baron refuses to let that happen, You insolent fellow!...You have the impudence to think of marrying my sisterhave you no sense of shame? (66-67). Outraged and aware that the Baron would never let him marry Cungonde, Candide kills the Baron. Instead of finding a peaceful solution for the problem, Candide decides to permanently dispose of the Baron. If Candide had considered the sorrow the Barons death would cause Cungonde, he would not have killed the Baron. As Candide travels to other parts of the world, he stumbles upon the legendary city of Eldorado. Candides behavior in Eldorado conveys Voltaires idea that man will never be satisfied with what they have. Candide finds Eldorado filled with a prodigious amount of gold and jewels. On his way out of Eldorado, Candide asks the king if he can leave with a few sheep saddled with the stones and mud [jewels and gold] of the country (83). Candide and his servant Cacambo were both anxious, also, to show their friends how rich they had grownand decided to be happy no longer and to take leave of his Majesty (82-83). Candide had been through so much trouble, received so much torture, and killed so many people; Eldorado was the

perfect place to enjoy the rest of his life in peace. But Candide gives up the opportunity for a good life to find Cungonde and have a richer life outside Eldorado. During his travels in Venice, Candide meets a nobleman, Count Pococurante. The nobleman owns a large house with a lavish collection of literature and the arts, an incredible number of servants, magnificent gardens, and anything else that money could possibly buy. While many would give everything to have his life, the nobleman simply finds his life boring. Martin, Candides companion, tells Candide that [Pococurante] is disgusted with everything he possesses (124). The count is lucky to have such a lavish and extravagant life but does not appreciate it. Instead of enjoying his life, the count sits around all day criticizing everything he owns. He constantly looks for the new things to entertain himself because his fantastic life bores him. All humans inevitably fall victim to greed. Voltaire displays the fact that even love, peace, and humanistic ideas cannot blot out the power of greed. In Candide, many people have opportunities to show their love for others, to make the world a little better, or aid those in need. But many of the characters act with self-interest and personal gain as priorities. Just like Candide, todays world is plagued with conflicts. Citizens rebel against governments, nations fight wars, friends turn against friends, and brothers against brothers; and although every situation in the world is distinct and unique in its own way, they receive influence from a powerful force greed.