Characters and Philosophy
When Pangloss catches a disease, he says it’s worth it because it came from someone connected to this famous explorer.
Who is Christopher Columbus
Candide is tricked into joining the army of this country after being offered food, a satirical look at forced recruitment.
What is Bulgaria?
Voltaire uses the Baron’s family’s pride in their "noble blood" to mock this belief about how people are ranked in society.
What is the class system (or aristocracy)?
The Bulgarians offer Candide a fake choice: to be shot or beaten. This shows how Voltaire mocks this idea of fairness.
What is free will (or a choice)?
The thought that that this world is the best one possible, even when terrible things happen.
What is optimism?
Candide gets kicked out of the Baron’s castle just for doing this romantic act with Cunégonde.
What is kissing her?
Pangloss says that diseases like syphilis are part of God’s plan for the world, satirizing this religious idea.
What is divine providence?
Even though Candide suffers terribly, he keeps believing Pangloss’s idea that everything is "for the best." This is an example of this kind of humor.
What is irony?
Candide gets kicked out of this castle for falling in love with Cunégonde, showing how unfair the rules of nobility can be.
What is the Barons castle?
Candide’s journey starts with being kicked out of paradise (the Baron’s castle), a satirical version of this famous biblical story.
What is the story of Adam and Eve (or the Fall from Eden)?
The religious leaders in the story often preach charity but fail to actually help the poor. Voltaire is pointing out this behavior.
What is hypocrisy?
Voltaire exaggerates Cunégonde’s beauty and purity to make fun of this literary trope about women.
What is idealization (or romantic perfection)?