Greed In Voltaire's Candide

Voltaire, with a sharp tongue, satirizes several institutions, values, and ideas in '"Candide." Most noticeably, he attacks religious intolerance, greed, and the denial of love. In the beginning of the novel, after Candide is kicked from his castle, he flees from between attacking armies to where he meets an orator. The man had been giving a speech on charity, and addresses Candide as "my friend." Once he finds that Candide does not 'believe the Pope to be antichrist,' however, his attitude changes. He soon forgets his teachings and insults Candide as a "wretch" and "rogue," saying he "does not deserve to eat" (6). As well, the man's wife empties her chamber-pot onto Candide—"to what excess does religious zeal carry the ladies!" (6). Hoping …show more content…
Rather than stay in this paradise with great food, music, and quality of life, they choose to leave at great expense to the inhabitants, and take gold and jewels with them. It is more appealing to live in the real world (portrayed as quite faulty by now), but to be rich than to live in paradise on a level plain with everyone else. The King warns that they are "foolish to leave" (46), but understands the value of their 'dirt and pebbles,' for which Europeans would "murder [them] to the last man" (44). Candide later regrets leaving El Dorado. Candide, throughout the entire novel, pursues the love of his life: Cunegonde. His is turned away at least twice, being denied her hand in …show more content…
Candide was brought up on the philosophies of a Dr. Pangloss, who taught that this world was "the best of all possible worlds." He taught that everything was for the best and Candide, having never heard any other philosophies, agrees blindly. While at sea, Candide sees a man who saved his life by nursing him back to health thrown overboard. Candide is ready to jump into the raging waters after his "benefactor," but Pangloss stops him. He demonstrates that "the Bay of Lisbon had been made... for the Anabaptist to be drowned," (10). This begins to clash with Candide's instincts: if this is the best of all worlds, how was this man who was so kind and generous thrown to his death and Candide not to save him? Candide begins to second-guess this philosophy. Later, Candide meets two pessimists: Pococurante and Martin. While the three of them sup, Candide asks Pococurante about the wealth of literature of great authors that lines the former's shelves. Pococurante reveals that, of the thousands of volumes he possesses, few, if any, does he find enjoyable. Candide begins to believe this may be a better outlook on life: to "criticize where others see beauty." Martin rephrases: "That is to say, that there is some pleasure