When Candide reaches Eldorado, he has finally discovered paradise and should be content. The reason he is not is because he does in fact want to find paradise but he does not want it to be a Socialist society, in which everyone is equal. He wishes to make other people jealous: "If we stay here we shall be no different from anybody else" (82). At this point in the story, Candide's search for "the best of all possibly worlds" is a selfish one because he really only wishes for it to be his own "best of all possible worlds," and not society as a whole: "They were both anxious, also, to show their friends how rich they had grown" (82). Because it is a parsimonious quest, Candide and Cacambo "decided to be happy no longer," and to move on from utopia (83).
Candide has a second reason for leaving Eldorado and that is Cunegonde. He states that he can never be content without her in his life. While this may be, his main focus is on his riches and how they will raise him above others in the world. Lady Cunegonde is merely an afterthought; one that Candide slips in in order to make himself sound less greedy than he actually is. If Candide and Cacambo truly were only concerned with seeing their lovers again, they would not have taken nearly a hundred red sheep loaded with riches on their backs for their journey. While it is true that Candide mentions Lady Cunegonde's possible ransom, he continues on saying, "we will then see what kingdom we can but" (84). This is not the thought of a man who is longing to be reunited with a woman he supposedly loves but rather the machinations of a future tyrant.
Candide has a second reason for leaving Eldorado and that is Cunegonde. He states that he can never be content without her in his life. While this may be, his main focus is on his riches and how they will raise him above others in the world. Lady Cunegonde is merely an afterthought; one that Candide slips in in order to make himself sound less greedy than he actually is. If Candide and Cacambo truly were only concerned with seeing their lovers again, they would not have taken nearly a hundred red sheep loaded with riches on their backs for their journey. While it is true that Candide mentions Lady Cunegonde's possible ransom, he continues on saying, "we will then see what kingdom we can but" (84). This is not the thought of a man who is longing to be reunited with a woman he supposedly loves but rather the machinations of a future tyrant.
I agree with you. Part of the last post I read was saying that Candide loves Cunégonde so much and that he wants to marry her so bad. But, I do not think so. And as I said before, it is evident Candide does not love her at the end of the story when he finds out she is ugly. He even said on page 89 in the beginning of the conclusion that he does not want to marry her, but he is going to because he wanted to show Cunégonde's brother that he coulod anyway without Cunégonde's brother's approval.
ReplyDeleteI did not like Candide either because he seems to be the type of character that will kill anyone he has to to get to the top and to get what he wants. He seems power obsessed and obsessed with riches. So I agree with you in defining Candide as a future tyrant.