Candide Voltaire

A detailed Summary of Candide Voltaire


In Voltaire's "Candide" the issue of humans being confused creatures is seen through the main character, Candide. Like Candide many wander searching for ultimate happiness which they sometimes mistake for wealth, beauty, or power. In some cases, people become so obsessed with such desires that they lose consciousness of morals. Often resulting in them stealing, lying, or even killing to obtain such needs. In Candide's case it was Cunegonde which he thought could fill the void of happiness; although he later learned that happiness comes from oneself.

Money is the common desire among most people. Simply because it allows one to live an easier life, a life which one is guaranteed shelter, food, and better health. The quote "the good Pangloss had often proved to me that the goods of the earth are common to all men , that each has an equal right to them p34" illustrates Candide's reaction to having

Cunegonde's pistoles and diamonds stolen and how money for survival will cause a desperate person to steal. The line "My lady you have seventy - two quarterings and not a penny; it depends on you alone to be the wife of the


Power is also like money in that it is necessary for survival. Similarly, when people

utilized it to defend himself from Senor Don Issachar, but when it is used to maliciously

have power they feel happy by preventing unwanted effects from happening. However, when a person becomes disillusioned with power it leads to terrible misfortunes. For example oppression, war, rape, and death are all outcomes from an obsession with power that are depicted in "Candide." Throughout the book, the outcomes of war are a central focus and the lines "they slaughtered my father and brother and cut my mother into pieces." "A big Bulgarian six feet tall, seeing that I had lost consciousness at the sight of

ill luck as Cunegonde when she is raped and witnesses the killings of her soldiers, mother,

eyebrows!" "[The women who dressed and undressed me fell in to ecstasies when they

themselves. For example, a person may use money to buy friends, approval, or respect. Moreover, one can become so obsessed about having materialistic wealth which brings them short -lived happiness that they turn into a compulsive shopper. The phrase "I'm going t

Some common words found in the essay are:
South America, Candide's Cunegonde, Candide Throughout, Don Issachar, Candide Candide, Voltaire's Candide, self happiness, beauty power, wealth beauty power, common desire, outer beauty, wealth beauty, desire people, money survival,

Approximate Word count = 767
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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