Greed in Candide
11.10.11
Engl 2333
Greed in Candide
In Voltaire’s novella Candide, the main character’s newly found wealth from an idealized Eldorado is exploited by the world’s fixation of greed that ultimately effects himself and others as he learns that money cannot buy happiness. Candide is brought up amongst greed, reared in a castle in a small corner of the world in Westphalia with the privileges of being the son of a baron’s sister, his life is ultimately influenced by this example of money and power. His journey into the world, after his expulsion, begins with the notion that “everything is for the best” from his philosopher Pangloss that every cause has a reaction (Voltaire 2). It isn’t until he is out of Europe traveling with his servant Cacambo when he is told that “this hemisphere is no better than the other” as Candide is almost eaten alive for being mistaken for a Jesuit priest (Voltaire 32).
Candide is drafted by the Bulgars that pillaged his home and raped his love, only to be labeled a deserter and flogged in the gauntlet to be pardoned by the King of the Bulgars for being “ignorant of the ways of the world”(Voltaire 4). In a time where money was scarce, Candide performs the “Bulgar manual of arms…with such grace…they gave him a company of infantry to command” for a small army that were fighting against the Jesuits (Voltaire 18). When it had become know that the jewels from her slain owners Cunegonde had stolen from her, were spotted and certainly in time Candide will have to answer for their deaths, chooses to flee for his life from Buenos Aires. Cacambo leads him to the Jesuits who would “be delighted to have a captain who knows the Bulgar drill” that should secure a small fortune (Voltaire26). As luck would have it, the commanding officer of these Jesuits, known as Los Padres, happened to be the brother of Cunegonde, who welcomes Candide. It was a brief joyous occasion before he learned of Candide’s love for his sister and his intentions to marry
Engl 2333
Greed in Candide
In Voltaire’s novella Candide, the main character’s newly found wealth from an idealized Eldorado is exploited by the world’s fixation of greed that ultimately effects himself and others as he learns that money cannot buy happiness. Candide is brought up amongst greed, reared in a castle in a small corner of the world in Westphalia with the privileges of being the son of a baron’s sister, his life is ultimately influenced by this example of money and power. His journey into the world, after his expulsion, begins with the notion that “everything is for the best” from his philosopher Pangloss that every cause has a reaction (Voltaire 2). It isn’t until he is out of Europe traveling with his servant Cacambo when he is told that “this hemisphere is no better than the other” as Candide is almost eaten alive for being mistaken for a Jesuit priest (Voltaire 32).
Candide is drafted by the Bulgars that pillaged his home and raped his love, only to be labeled a deserter and flogged in the gauntlet to be pardoned by the King of the Bulgars for being “ignorant of the ways of the world”(Voltaire 4). In a time where money was scarce, Candide performs the “Bulgar manual of arms…with such grace…they gave him a company of infantry to command” for a small army that were fighting against the Jesuits (Voltaire 18). When it had become know that the jewels from her slain owners Cunegonde had stolen from her, were spotted and certainly in time Candide will have to answer for their deaths, chooses to flee for his life from Buenos Aires. Cacambo leads him to the Jesuits who would “be delighted to have a captain who knows the Bulgar drill” that should secure a small fortune (Voltaire26). As luck would have it, the commanding officer of these Jesuits, known as Los Padres, happened to be the brother of Cunegonde, who welcomes Candide. It was a brief joyous occasion before he learned of Candide’s love for his sister and his intentions to marry
Citations: Bottiglia, William F. “The Eldorado Episode in Candide.” PMLA 73.4 (1958): 339-347. JSTOR. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. Kahn, Ludwig W. “Voltaire’s Candide and the Problem of Secularization.” PMLA 67.5 (1952): 886-888. JSTOR. Web. 05 Nov, 2011. Mylne, Vivienne G. “A "Pícara" in "Candide:" Paquette.” College Literature 6.3 (1979): 205-210. JSTOR. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. Silver, John. “The Myth of El Dorado.” History Workshop 34 (1992): 1-15. JSTOR. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. Voltaire. “Candide.” 2nd. New York. W.W. Norton & Company, 1991. 1-208. Print. Wood, Michael and Theo Cuffe. “Notes on Candide.” New England Review 26.4 (2005): 192-202. JSTOR. Web. 26 Oct, 2011.