A beautiful young woman, daughter of the Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh. She is pursued by Candide throughout the novel, during which time she passes into the possession of a long sequence of men: the Bulgarian Captain, Don Issachar, the Grand Inquisitor, Don Fernando, and others. Cunégonde is a symbol for the futility of human desires: she is always out of Candide's reach, and once she is no longer, her beauty is gone. Her name is considered, by some scholars, to be a pun on the words for female genitals in French and Latin.
Cunégonde Quotes in Candide
The Candide quotes below are all either spoken by Cunégonde or refer to Cunégonde. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 8
Quotes
“For my part, I have so far held out against both, and I verily believe that this is the reason why I am still beloved.”
Related Characters:
Cunégonde (speaker), The Grand Inquisitor, Don Issachar
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13
Quotes
They landed at Buenos Ayres. Cunegonde, Captain Candide, and the old woman, waited on the Governor, Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza. This nobleman had a stateliness becoming a person who bore so many names. He spoke to men with so noble a disdain, carried his nose so loftily, raised his voice so unmercifully, assumed so imperious an air, and stalked with such intolerable pride, that those who saluted him were strongly inclined to give him a good drubbing.
Related Characters:
Candide, Cunégonde, The Old Woman, Governor Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Cunégonde Character Timeline in Candide
The timeline below shows where the character Cunégonde appears in Candide. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
One day Cunégonde, daughter of the Baron, happens upon Pangloss having sex with Paquette, a chambermaid. Intrigued, she...
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Chapter 7
...veiled woman to him from the upstairs room. When Candide removes the veil, he finds Cunégonde is under it: the two faint with joy and surprise. Cunégonde explains that she survived...
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Chapter 8
After Candide finishes telling his story, Cunégonde tells Candide what has happened to her. When the attack on Thunder-ten-tronckh took place, she...
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The Bulgarian Captain sold Cunégonde to Don Issachar, a Jew, who took her to live in his country house—the very...
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On the day of the auto-da-fé, the Grand Inquisitor brought Cunégonde to watch. When she saw Pangloss executed and Candide whipped, she cried out in horror....
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Chapter 9
Cursing aloud at Cunégonde, Don Issachar draws his knife and throws himself at Candide, who quickly kills him. Two...
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Chapter 10
During his escape, Candide learns that Cunégonde's jewels and money—given to her by the Grand Inquisitor—have been stolen by a friar. Though...
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Candide, Cunégonde, and the old woman arrive at Cadiz, where a military company is being mustered by...
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Chapter 11
Challenged by Cunégonde on which one of them has suffered more, the old woman tells the sorrowful story...
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Chapter 12
...love it, and continue in our struggles against death and pain. She tells Candide and Cunégonde that if they can find a single passenger on the ship who has lived without...
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Chapter 13
Upon arriving in Buenos Aires, Candide and Cunégonde are brought to meet Don Fernando, the Governor. Don Fernando takes a clear interest in...
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...the murder of the Grand Inquisitor. The Alcade learned of the whereabouts of Candide and Cunégonde through the friar who stole their jewels and money in Spain. The old woman advises...
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Chapter 14
...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.
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Chapter 15
The Commandant expresses the hope that he and Candide might be able to rescue Cunégonde from the clutches of Don Fernando. Candide agrees, mentioning that he wishes to marry her....
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Chapter 19
Upon his arrival in Suriname, Candide learns that Cunégonde has become Don Fernando's favorite mistress. He is upset, but plans to get her back...
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Chapter 20
...the recovery of the red sheep as an omen that he will be reunited with Cunégonde.
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Chapter 22
...the story of his adventures. The Abbé asks if Candide has received any letters from Cunégonde, and he replies that he has not. The very next day, a letter arrives from...
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Chapter 24
Arriving with Martin in Venice, Candide is disappointed not to immediately find Cunégonde. Martin believes that Cacambo has run off with the money, and that Candide has been...
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Chapter 27
...arranges for Candide and Martin to be taken on a ship headed for Constantinople, where Cunégonde is a dishwasher and has lost her beauty. Candide and Martin debate whether or not...
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Chapter 29
Finally, Candide, Martin, Pangloss, Cacambo and the Young Baron arrive at the palace where Cunégonde and the old woman work as servants. As Cacambo claimed, Cunégonde has lost all of...
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Conclusion
Though he no longer wants to marry Cunégonde, the stubbornness of the Young Baron's opposition causes Candide to do it anyway. He has...
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Candide, Martin, Pangloss, Cacambo, Cunégonde and the old woman spend their days arguing about the meaning of life. Martin concludes...
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