Reflection

Well this is my last post so I'm am going to do a reflection of the book. The main thing that i got out of this book is that Pangloss' theory is wrong. The whole book is about the suffering of people through many different hardships, everything from war to rape. I also got out of this book that life isn't easy you have to fight through it to survive.

Chapters 14-16

In chapter 14 we meet Cacambo who becomes Candide's valet. Cacambo suggests that they fight for the Paraguayan Jesuits so they go and talk to the colonel. It just so happens that the colonel is Cunégonde's brother. Candide tells the colonel that he wishes to marry Cunégonde, this infuriates the colonel so he slaps Candide with his sword. Candide becomes angry and kills the colonel then flees. They then end up in the biglugs domain were they awaken to find themselves bound. They think that Candide is a Jesuits but Cacambo tells them that he is not.

Chapters 11-13

In chapter 11 & 12 the old woman tells her story, she is with Cunégonde. She is the daughter of Pope Urban X and the princess of Palestrina. The old woman talks about everything bad that has happened to her and all of it contradicts Pangloss' theory. The old woman has been through it all violence, rape, slavery, and betrayal and seen the ravages of war and greed. She then tells Candide and Cunégonde to ask all the passengers about the troubles in their lives. In chapter 13 they do and they find out that everyone has had a tough life. Then later the find out that an officer is looking for Candide because he murdered those two men.

Chapters 8-10

In chapter 8 Candide meets Cunégonde. She has also been through a lot of hardships so she doesn't believe in Pangloss' theory. Two men share Cunégonde but Candide kills them both and they leave for the new world, which Candide thinks will be the best of all worlds.

Chapters 5-7

Candide and Pangloss are on a ship to Lisbon, the ship sinks and Candide, Pangloss and one other are the only survivors. When they get to Lisbon there is an earthquake. They find victims of the earthquake and tell them that everything is for the best. One man tells Pangloss that his theory is false and they hang him.

Candide

Candide grew up in the castle so he was taught by Pangloss. Once Candide gets kicked out of the castle he learns more about the outside world. The main thing he learns is that the world is cruel although Pangloss told Candide that the world they live in is "best of all possible worlds" (12).