Candide: What is he thinking?

During the class discussions of Voltaire’s satire, a few classmates noted that Candide’s thought processes about his actions are not addressed. However, I believe that these three characters: Pangloss, Martin and   the old lady are symbolic of his id, ego and super ego respectively. The role of each of each character is to represent which aspect of his psyche is influencing his action at the moment.

Id is described as the part of the personality that contains basic needs. It operates on a pleasure system and seeks to avoid pain or discomfort. Voltaire uses the characterization of Pangloss’s extremely optimistic philosophy on life as an embodiment of Candide’s id.  A majority of Pangloss’ actions are pleasure-based and when met with harsh reality as a consequence, he avoids discomfort by focusing on positive aspects of the situation. His affair with Pacquette leads to him being infected with an STD. Yet, he recalls his encounters with her as being in paradise and full of love. And down plays the severity of the disease by stating that its spread lead to the introduction of chocolate into Europe.  Candide is depicted to be greatly influenced by the teachings of Pangloss which in the beginning causes him to act solely based to the need to seek pleasure and avoid discomfort. His kissing of Miss Cunegend was as a result of basic need for intimacy. To avoid his unease with her affair with the Jesuit, he kills him quickly only to comprehend the consequences later.

  The ego is the aspect that tries to deal with our desires in a realistic manner. Martin is a symbol of Candide’s ego. On the surface, he seems to be very negative in comparison to Candide optimistic view on life. However, his logical assessment of the world brings Candide the balance that he is in great need of. After being robbed by a Dutch skipper, Candide witness him drown. His id in the form of his philosophy delights in this event, because it eliminates his discomfort about being cheated. However, Martin serving as the “conscience” brings into being the cost of this event. In France, Candide seeks to enjoy the company of the Parisians, all though they are mostly taking advantage of him. Martin, distrust of the Parisians, illustrates Candide’s true thoughts about their manipulative ways and his assessment of the cost of acceptance in Paris.

            Super ego determines morality and chooses what is right based on each situation.  The old lady’s advice to Candide serves as his yard of mortality based on the situation he finds himself in. Candide justifies his impulsive killings of Inquisitor and the Jew on the depth of his love for Miss Cungend and the jealousy it arouses in him. The old lady provides the voice of reasoning by advising to flee. It serves as Candide’s interruption of his killing as right because it was a reaction to the harsh life of Cungend and his need to protect her at all cost. However, the old lady soon advises Candide to let Cungend go instead of being killed by the Governor. His love for Cungend, clouded his judgment about her need to be safe till his super-ego brought it to his attention.

Candide's thoughts processes are made clear by Voltaire creative use of these characters as an embodiment of his mind.