# Pangloss — Candide character guide > Pangloss in Candide by Voltaire. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Monsieur Pangloss, Doctor Pangloss, Dr. Pangloss, Master Pangloss, Mr. Pangloss, poor Pangloss, the great Pangloss **First appearance:** 0001-candide ## Who they are Candide's tutor, a philosopher who preaches that everything happens for the best in the best of all possible worlds, even as syphilis, war, and the Inquisition dismantle him. ## Relationships ### [Candide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/candide) _psychological_ Candide idolizes Pangloss as his mentor and clings to his optimistic philosophy despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, creating a dynamic of blind faith and disillusionment. ### [Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/cunegonde) _social_ Cunégonde was Pangloss's student in 'metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology,' and their relationship is one of teacher and pupil with underlying romantic curiosity. ### [Paquette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/paquette) _romantic_ Pangloss had a sexual relationship with Paquette, the chambermaid, which led to him contracting syphilis, yet he still defends his optimistic philosophy. ### [Cacambo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/cacambo) _friendship_ Cacambo and Pangloss are fellow travelers in Candide's group, with Cacambo often pragmatically countering Pangloss's absurd optimism. ### [Candide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/candide) _psychological_ Candide idolizes Pangloss as his mentor and clings to his optimistic philosophy despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, creating a dynamic of blind faith and disillusionment. ### [Candide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/candide) _psychological_ Candide idolizes Pangloss as his mentor and clings to his optimistic philosophy despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, creating a dynamic of blind faith and disillusionment. ### [Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/cunegonde) _social_ Cunégonde was Pangloss's student in 'metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology,' and their relationship is one of teacher and pupil with underlying romantic curiosity. ### [Paquette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/paquette) _romantic_ Pangloss had a sexual relationship with Paquette, the chambermaid, which led to him contracting syphilis, yet he still defends his optimistic philosophy. ### [Cacambo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/cacambo) _friendship_ Cacambo and Pangloss are fellow travelers in Candide's group, with Cacambo often pragmatically countering Pangloss's absurd optimism. ### [Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/cunegonde) _social_ Cunégonde was Pangloss's student in 'metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology,' and their relationship is one of teacher and pupil with underlying romantic curiosity. ## In the story ### [Candide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/candide) The philosopher who teaches that all is for the best; he suffers syphilis, hanging, and galley slavery, yet stubbornly clings to his optimistic philosophy. ### [How Candide Was Brought Up in a Magnificent Castle, and How He Was Expelled Thence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/i-how-candide-was-brought-up-in-a-magnificent-castle-and-how-he-was-expelled-thence) The family's oracle and professor of metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology, who teaches that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. ### [II: What Became of Candide Among the Bulgarians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/ii-what-became-of-candide-among-the-bulgarians) Referenced by Candide as the teacher of his optimistic philosophy, which he still believes when recruited. ### [How Candide Made His Escape from the Bulgarians, and What Afterwards Became of Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/iii-how-candide-made-his-escape-from-the-bulgarians-and-what-afterwards-became-of-him) Candide recalls Pangloss's philosophy; Pangloss appears at the end as a diseased beggar. ### [IV: How Candide Found His Old Master Pangloss, and What Happened to Them](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/iv-how-candide-found-his-old-master-pangloss-and-what-happened-to-them) Found as a diseased beggar; recounts the destruction of the castle and Cunégonde's death, and explains his syphilis through a genealogy. ### [V: Tempest, Shipwreck, Earthquake, and What Became of Doctor Pangloss, Candide, and James the Anabaptist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/v-tempest-shipwreck-earthquake-and-what-became-of-doctor-pangloss-candide-and-james-the-anabaptist) Demonstrates a priori that the Bay of Lisbon was made for James to drown; argues with the sailor and the Familiar of the Inquisition; insists the earthquake is for the best. ### [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) Hanged during the auto-da-fé for speaking his mind. ### [VIII: The History of Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/viii-the-history-of-cun-gonde) Mentioned as having been hanged at the auto-da-fé; his optimistic philosophy is called into question by Cunégonde. ### [XVI: Adventures of the Two Travellers, with Two Girls, Two Monkeys, and the Savages Called Oreillons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xvi-adventures-of-the-two-travellers-with-two-girls-two-monkeys-and-the-savages-called-oreillons) Mentioned by Candide in his lament about pure nature and the possibility of monkey-human mixtures. ### [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) Pangloss is not present but is referenced by Candide, who reflects that Pangloss would have been impressed by El Dorado. ### [Chapter XXVII: Candide's Voyage to Constantinople](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxvii-candide-s-voyage-to-constantinople) Found as a galley slave, ransomed by Candide, and tearfully grateful. ### [Chapter XXVIII: What Happened to Candide, Cunégonde, Pangloss, Martin, etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxviii-what-happened-to-candide-cun-gonde-pangloss-martin-etc) Describes his survival after being hanged, dissected, and revived, then sent to the galleys for picking up a bouquet in a mosque; still insists on Leibnizian optimism. ### [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) Present, relating adventures and reasoning on events. ### [XXX: The Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxx-the-conclusion) Still asserts optimism despite no longer believing it; argues with the Dervish and later acknowledges the need to work. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/endnotes) The name Pangloss is etymologically explained as deriving from Greek words meaning 'all' and 'language.' ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters/pangloss - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/characters