Voltaire, the pseudonym of Francois-Marie Arouet, was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris. He was the son of a notary. Voltaire would experience tragedy as a young child. His mother died when he was seven, leaving his father and brother to raise him. Voltaire detested both his father and brother. This created a turbulent environment and made for a fairly difficult childhood. Voltaire was educated by the Jesuits at the College of Louis-le-Grand in Paris. At the College of Louise-le-Grand, he quickly choose literature as a career, despite his father's wishes that he study law. It is during this time period of the young writer's life that he first voices his opposition to the established church and government in France.

The old woman had at one time been royalty. She was the daughter of Pope Urban X and Princess of Palestrina. As a young woman, she was extremely beautiful and engaged to marry a prince. Unfortunately for her, the prince she is engaged to marry is apparently murdered and her mother's mansion is overrun and captured by Turkish soldiers. She, along with her mother, is raped numerously, beaten almost daily, and eventually sold into slavery. After she is sold into slavery, she is sent to Morocco where a plethora of civil wars are in progress. It is here that she witnesses her mother's murder and dismemberment. After witnessing this atrocity, the woman finally manages to escape and flees Morocco. This woman, who was at one time a nobility member, spends a large portion of her life serving as an Inn maid in various parts of Russia and Europe until she finally becomes Cunegonde's maid. The story told by the old woman silences her audience and truly makes them aware of how great things can be and how catastrophic they can become. Voltaire is persistent, throughout his novel, of instilling the idea that nothing lasts eternally, especially royalty.

plunges his sword into the chest of the commander, killing him almost instantly. Candide stands over the commander's body in utter disbelief. He can hardly believe that he now has killed three men. He desperately ponders how his philosophy can possibly hold true through such dire circumstances.

Devastated by the separation from Cunegonde, his true love, Candide sets out to different places in the hope of finding her and achieving total and complete happiness. After being forced to exile, Candide is unable to see the logic between the reality of what has happened to him and the philosophy that every cause has an effect and that everything happens for the best. The initial theme of Candide is that one must strive to overcome adversity and not passively accept it. His misfortunes begin when he is kicked out of the castle. He subsequently experiences a series of horrible events. Candide is unable to see anything positive in his ordeals, contrary to Dr. Pangloss' teachings that there is a cause for all effects and that, while we might not understand it, everything happens for the best.

The group continues on their journey home. They begin to talk of their newly found idea. Greatness is a very dangerous thing Dr. Pangloss explains. With it, the good things of life may appear, but are not guaranteed. They talk of famous leaders such as Hannibal, Ariovistas, Caesar, Nero, Otho, Edward II and a multitude of others, both great and notorious. They agree that these rulers all possessed the opportunity for greatness and yet they all eventually came to a bad end: deposed, exiled, assassinated, or executed.

After escaping from the army, Candide flees to Holland. He is penniless and at the mercy of the world. He mistakenly proclaims his unmerited philosophy of Dr. Pangloss to a group of Christians. They treat Candide very cruel. After being persecuted by the Christians for being an anti-Christ, he is taken in by a kind Anabaptist named Jacques. Jacques provides Candide with food, clothing, and a bath. After he regains his strength, Candide takes a walk through the town and discovers a wretched, diseased beggar who turns out to be Dr. Pangloss. Candid takes Dr. Pangloss to the Anabaptist's stable and begins to feed him. Dr. Pangloss sadly informs Candide that Bulgarian soldiers have attacked the castle of Westfalia and killed Cunegonde, as well as her father, mother and brother. The teacher's appearance and poor condition seems to be a direct reflection of Voltaire's opinion regarding his cause and effect and that everything happens for the best philosophy. This adds to Candide's already despairing point of view. Dr. Pangloss is ill and has no money for medical attention. Candide begs the kind Anabaptist for monetary assistance in order to help his old teacher.

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Approximate Word count = 3160
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)