# The Old Woman — Candide character guide

> The Old Woman in Candide by Voltaire.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0008-vii-how-the-old-woman-took-care-of-candide-and-how-he-found-the-object-he-loved

## Who they are

Cunégonde's weathered attendant, once a princess of Popé, whose scarred body and harrowing history make her the company's most clear-eyed witness to human misery.

## In the story

### [How the Portuguese Made a Beautiful Auto-Da-Fé, to Prevent Any Further Earthquakes; and How Candide Was Publicly Whipped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/vi-how-the-portuguese-made-a-beautiful-auto-da-f-to-prevent-any-further-earthquakes-and-how-candide-was-publicly-whipped)

Approaches Candide after the auto-da-fé and tells him to take courage and follow her.

### [VII: How the Old Woman Took Care of Candide, and How He Found the Object He Loved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/vii-how-the-old-woman-took-care-of-candide-and-how-he-found-the-object-he-loved)

The old woman nurses Candide back to health and orchestrates his reunion with Cunégonde.

### [VIII: The History of Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/viii-the-history-of-cun-gonde)

Charged by Cunégonde to care for Candide and bring him to her.

### [IX: What Became of Cunégonde, Candide, the Grand Inquisitor, and the Jew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/ix-what-became-of-cun-gonde-candide-the-grand-inquisitor-and-the-jew)

Advises Candide and Cunégonde after the killings and arranges their escape on horseback.

### [X: In What Distress Candide, Cunégonde, and the Old Woman Arrived at Cadiz; and of Their Embarkation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/x-in-what-distress-candide-cun-gonde-and-the-old-woman-arrived-at-cadiz-and-of-their-embarkation)

Suggests selling a horse; rides behind Cunégonde; hints at her own tragic past and offers to show her backside as proof.

### [XI: History of the Old Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xi-history-of-the-old-woman)

Narrates her own history, revealing her noble birth as the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina.

### [XII: The Adventures of the Old Woman Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xii-the-adventures-of-the-old-woman-continued)

Reveals her identity as the daughter of Pope Urban X and recounts her extensive misfortunes.

### [XIII: How Candide Was Forced Away from His Fair Cunégonde and the Old Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xiii-how-candide-was-forced-away-from-his-fair-cun-gonde-and-the-old-woman)

Prudently advises Cunégonde to accept the Governor's proposal and warns Candide to flee from the arriving Alcalde.

### [XVIII: What They Saw in the Country of El Dorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xviii-what-they-saw-in-the-country-of-el-dorado)

Not present in this chapter.

### [XXII: What Happened in France to Candide and Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxii-what-happened-in-france-to-candide-and-martin)

Mentioned as having been left in Bordeaux with Cacambo.

### [Chapter XXIX: How Candide Found Cunégonde and the Old Woman Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxix-how-candide-found-cun-gonde-and-the-old-woman-again)

Found with Cunégonde hanging towels; proposes they live on a small farm.

### [XXX: The Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxx-the-conclusion)

Infirm and fretful, but later looks after the linen.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/old_woman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters