# Suffering and Human Cruelty in Candide

> Theme guide for Candide by Voltaire.

The novel catalogues extreme physical and psychological suffering—war, rape, slavery, natural disasters, and betrayal—to argue that evil and misery are pervasive and not part of a divine plan.

## Where it surfaces

- [Candide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/candide): The novel catalogs relentless suffering—war, rape, slavery, natural disaster, disease, and betrayal—challenging the idea that this is the 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): The chapter vividly depicts Candide's physical suffering—hunger, cold, beatings, and the gauntlet—as a result of arbitrary military discipline and deception.
- [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): The chapter graphically depicts the horrors of war, including massacres, rape, and mutilation, highlighting human cruelty.
- [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): The chapter details the brutal destruction of the castle, the rape and murder of Cunégonde, and Pangloss's disease-ridden state, highlighting the prevalence of cruelty and suffering.
- [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): The sailor's brutality, James's selfless drowning, and the earthquake's mass destruction highlight both human cruelty and natural disaster.
- [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): Candide endures public whipping and witnesses the burning of innocent people and the hanging of Pangloss, exemplifying the arbitrary and extreme cruelty of humans.
- [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): Candide's physical wounds and Cunégonde's account of her rape and family's murder highlight the pervasive cruelty and suffering in the world.
- [VIII: The History of Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/viii-the-history-of-cun-gonde): Cunégonde's account of rape, murder, enslavement, and public execution illustrates the pervasive cruelty of the world.
- [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): Candide's violent acts are driven by jealousy and survival, and the chapter shows the brutal consequences of human passions and institutional oppression.
- [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): Cunégonde recounts her horrific experiences (rape, wounds, family deaths), and the Old Woman claims even greater misfortunes, highlighting pervasive cruelty.
- [XI: History of the Old Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xi-history-of-the-old-woman): The Old Woman's tale of capture, massacre, and brutal violence exemplifies extreme human cruelty and suffering.
- [XII: The Adventures of the Old Woman Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xii-the-adventures-of-the-old-woman-continued): The Old Woman's narrative is a litany of extreme physical and emotional suffering, including rape, slavery, plague, and cannibalism.
- [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): Candide is forced to flee from the threat of being burned alive, highlighting the relentless cruelty and danger he faces.
- [XV: How Candide Killed the Brother of His Dear Cunégonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xv-how-candide-killed-the-brother-of-his-dear-cun-gonde): Candide's accidental killing of the Baron adds to his growing list of violent acts, reflecting the pervasive cruelty of the world.
- [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): Candide and Cacambo face being roasted or boiled by the Oreillons, highlighting the arbitrary cruelty of the world.
- [Chapter XIX: What Happened to Them at Surinam and How Candide Got Acquainted with Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xix-what-happened-to-them-at-surinam-and-how-candide-got-acquainted-with-martin): The chapter highlights extreme human cruelty through the slave's story of amputation and exploitation, as well as the greed and dishonesty of Vanderdendur and the magistrate.
- [XX: What Happened at Sea to Candide and Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xx-what-happened-at-sea-to-candide-and-martin): The naval battle and sinking of the ship illustrate human cruelty and the indiscriminate nature of suffering, as Martin points out that both guilty and innocent perish.
- [Chapter XXI: Candide and Martin, Reasoning, Draw Near the Coast of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxi-candide-and-martin-reasoning-draw-near-the-coast-of-france): Martin's catalog of human vices (liars, cheats, traitors, etc.) and his own suffering in Paris highlight the theme of pervasive cruelty.
- [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): Candide experiences illness, betrayal, and arrest in Paris, highlighting the cruelty and deceit of society.
- [XXIII: Candide and Martin Touched Upon the Coast of England, and What They Saw There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxiii-candide-and-martin-touched-upon-the-coast-of-england-and-what-they-saw-there): The execution of the Admiral for not killing enough men exemplifies institutionalized cruelty.
- [Of Paquette and Friar Giroflée](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxiv-of-paquette-and-friar-girofl-e): Paquette's story details her abuse, exploitation, and the miseries of prostitution; Friar Giroflée describes the torment of monastic life.
- [Of a Supper Which Candide and Martin Took with Six Strangers, and Who They Were](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxvi-of-a-supper-which-candide-and-martin-took-with-six-strangers-and-who-they-were): Each king recounts his fall from power, imprisonment, and loss, highlighting the universal experience of suffering.
- [Chapter XXVII: Candide's Voyage to Constantinople](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxvii-candide-s-voyage-to-constantinople): Candide encounters Pangloss and the Baron as galley slaves, enduring brutal treatment, and learns of Cunégonde's enslavement and disfigurement.
- [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): Both the Baron and Pangloss endure grotesque punishments—flogging, hanging, dissection, and galley slavery—illustrating the pervasive cruelty of human institutions.
- [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): Cunégonde's physical deterioration and the Baron's stubbornness reflect the ongoing suffering and cruelty in the characters' lives.
- [XXX: The Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/xxx-the-conclusion): The old woman's question about the worst suffering and the spectacles of impaled officials underscore ongoing human misery.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/chapters/endnotes): References to the Lisbon earthquake, the execution of Admiral Byng, and the cruelty of Muley-Ismael illustrate human suffering.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/themes/suffering_and_human_cruelty
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/candide_se/themes