Chapter 19: "What Happened to Them at Surinam"
What country does Candide visit in Chapter 19?
Surinam (in South America).
Who does Candide meet and travel with to France?
Martin
What country do Candide and Martin sail toward?
France
Who is Candide’s faithful servant?
Cacambo.
Why does Candide become disillusioned with Pangloss’s philosophy in Surinam?
The sight of the mutilated slave makes him question the idea that "all is for the best."
What does Candide do after witnessing the suffering of the slave?
He gives the man money and begins questioning Pangloss’s philosophy of optimism.
What disaster befalls Vanderdendur’s ship?
It is attacked and sunk by pirates.
How does Martin view the people of France?
He sees them as corrupt and miserable like everyone else.
What motivates Martin to join Candide?
the desire to prove his pessimistic worldview
What philosophical idea does Voltaire mock in these chapters?
Leibniz’s optimism
How does Candide end up being deceived in Surinam?
A dishonest Dutch merchant, Vanderdendur, cheats Candide by taking his money and sailing off without him.
What does the interaction between Candide and the monk on the ship reveal?
Even religious figures are willing to exploit others for their own gain.
How does Candide’s attitude toward the world change by the end of Chapter 21?
He is more skeptical but still holds onto a fragile hope.
Who is the main character on a journey to find his beloved Cunégonde?
Candide.
How does Voltaire portray colonialism?
As violent, exploitative, and hypocritical.
Why does Candide’s decision to send Cacambo to ransom Cunégonde reflect Voltaire’s view on free will?
It suggests that while Candide tries to exercise free will, his choices are still constrained by social corruption and the unpredictability of fate.
How does the imagery of the storm during the voyage function as an extended metaphor?
The storm symbolizes the chaotic, indifferent forces of nature, challenging the belief that the universe operates according to rational or moral laws.
How does Martin’s view of France parallel Voltaire’s critique of the French aristocracy?
Martin’s cynicism reflects Voltaire’s belief that the French elite are corrupt, selfish, and indifferent to the suffering of the lower classes.
Which philosopher taught Candide that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”?
Pangloss
How does Voltaire satirize European colonialism?
Through the depiction of the abused slave in Surinam and the greed of European traders.
What does the slave’s words, “It is at this price that you eat sugar in Europe,” reveal about Voltaire’s critique of consumerism?
It exposes how European luxury depends on the exploitation and suffering of colonized people, highlighting the moral cost of consumer goods.
What does Martin’s assertion that “men are born to torment each other” subtly critique about Enlightenment rationalism?
It challenges the Enlightenment belief in human progress and reason
How does the geographical imagery of approaching the French coast reinforce Candide’s psychological state?
The distant, unclear coast mirrors Candide’s uncertain faith—he is nearing “enlightenment,” but the truth remains just out of reach.
What does Candide’s continued generosity despite repeated exploitation reveal about his internal conflict?
It reflects his struggle between idealism and pragmatism—he cannot fully abandon optimism, even when reality continuously disproves it.
What event in Chapter 20 supports Martin’s worldview?
The destruction of Vanderdendur’s ship, showing that fate is indifferent to human suffering.