Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Candide, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Optimism and Disillusion
The Enlightenment and Social Criticism
Religion and Philosophy vs. The World
Love and Women
Wealth
Summary
Analysis
As the Inquisitor's minions arrive, Candide flees from Buenos Aires with his valet, Cacambo. Cacambo proposes bringing him to the kingdom of the rebellious Jesuits in Paraguay, where the indigenous people own nothing and the clergy own everything, and the government is a “masterpiece of reason and justice.” Candide agrees to go, promised that he will be able to make his fortune there.
When they arrive, Candide is told that the Reverend Commandant does not speak with Spaniards. When the Reverend Commandant learns that Candide is not a Spaniard, but a German, he agrees to see him. The Commandant turns out to be the former young Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh, Cunégonde's brother, previously thought dead. Candide and the young baron have a tearful reunion.
Here again, a character who was thought to be dead returns in a new role. This is part of Candide's comically rapid cycle of reunions and separations, successes and reversals, optimism and disillusionment.
Themes
