Summary
Chapter 1
The book starts off with Candide living in a nice castle with a lot of wealth. He is one of the most prestigious people in that village and had been brought up there. He also admired a very brilliant philosopher known as Dr. Pangloss who taught Candide and believed that whatever happens, happens for the better of mankind even if it is human suffering. There was also a beautiful woman by the name of Lady Cunegonde whose beauty mesmerized Candide. One day they started kissing and were about to engage in intercourse when Baron Thunderten-tronckh, the owner of the castle, caught them in the act. He drove Candide out of the castle and out of the town.
Chapter 2
Candide wandered into a town called Waldberghofftrarbkdikdorff where some two men took him and bought him food saying that they would like nothing in return. After eating and drinking he was bound in shackles and taken away. They called him, "The Hero of the Bulgars." Candide was confused because he did not understand why he was being called a hero. He went for a walk but then was captured by the Bulgars and they offered to beat him or shoot him. In the course of the beating he said he couldn't take it anymore so he said they should shoot him but the King of the Bulgars stopped them and said that Candide was ignorant of worldly matters.
Chapter 3
The Bulgars went to spread carnage in towns. Candide was scared at the site of what he saw so he fled to another village which was also in carnage. Candide met a good, unbaptized Anabaptist who was kind unlike the other people in town who were mocking Candide. He took Candide into his home and fed, bathed and offered to teach him to manufacture fabrics. He met a beggar the next day.
Chapter 4
Candide met Dr.Pangloss who was now a beggar after some misfortunes befell him and the others at the castle. Candide to him to the Anabaptist's stable and there Dr. Pangloss told him what had happened. He told him Bulgars had attacked the Castle and that Lady Cunegonde and Baron Thunderten-tronckh had been killed during the raid. Candide begged James the Anabaptist to take Dr. Pangloss in and he agreed. Pangloss lost an eye. James needed to go to Lisbon for business so Candide and Dr. Pangloss followed him.
Chapter 5
There was an earthquake and the ship ship had been crucially damaged. A frenzied sailor who tried to punch James the Anabaptist missed, slipped and was falling off the ship. James helped him back on but in the process fell into the sea. Candide, Dr. Pangloss and the frenzied sailor made it to the shore of Lisbon. The earthquake had affected that area also and Candide and Dr. Pangloss did what they could to help and were rewarded with a meal. During the meal the King gets offended when Dr. Pangloss says everything is for the best.
Chapter 6
Dr. Pangloss and Candide were arrested and to be put to death. Pangloss was hanged but when it was Candide's turn the earth shook again. Injured and walking away, a woman said to him, "Cheer up, my son. Follow me."
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