Voltaire’s Candid and the Importance of Place

This is truly the most ridiculous story I have ever read… and it is great. It would be impossible to give any form of a summary to this story, because it is jam packed with adventure. Candid is the main character, a young man who was born a commoner, who falls in love with Cunégonde, a young woman born into a noble family. The story takes place in the 18^th century. Candid travels across Europe, South/Central America, and some of the Middle East. The reason I write on this story is because of its conclusion. Voltaire, like Lewis, emphasizes setting. After Candid’s great adventures he learns that the best, most fulfilling life, is the life of a farmer in the country. He had been a servant in a castle, a soldier in the French army, and even wandered through the golden city of El Dorado, but he only found peace tilling the earth on a farm in Greece. It is also a useful historical text because of all of its political statements towards 18^th century French society. Its also full of puns (almost literally every single sentence) and they are so bad that it is very humorous.  For example, just look up what Cunégonde means in French. Not a pretty name for a girl anymore, huh? I would say it is definitely worth reading.