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Candide · Theme
Wealth and Corruption
How Candide develops Wealth and Corruption.
El Dorado's genuine riches contrast with the greed, theft, and misery caused by gold and jewels in the outside world, showing that wealth often leads to corruption rather than happiness.
Where it surfaces
- XVIII: What They Saw in the Country of El Dorado
The immense wealth of El Dorado is treated as ordinary, while Europeans' greed for gold and jewels is portrayed as irrational and destructive.
- XXII: What Happened in France to Candide and Martin
Candide's diamonds lead to seduction, theft, and bribery, showing how wealth corrupts and attracts exploitation.
- XXV: The Visit to Lord Pococurante, a Noble Venetian
Pococurante's immense wealth does not bring him satisfaction; instead, it leads to boredom and a jaded dismissal of all pleasures, illustrating the corrupting and hollowing effect of excessive riches.