Running head: SELECTIONS FROM VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE
Chapters from Voltaire’s Candide that display a surprise ending
Name
Institution
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SELECTIONS FROM VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE
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Candide is a satirical French publication, exclusively authored and published by Voltaire.
Due to its eccentric and fast moving plot, it has over the years slowly gained popularity and its
humorous, erratic sarcasm hailed as it indirectly criticizes authority. The suspense in the book,
created by its ability to keep the reader glued and unsure of what follows, presents a surprise
ending at the end of each chapter. This essay is aimed at identifying the presence a surprise
ending in two chapters, chapter 6 and 7, and evaluating the authors success in validating the
surprise ending.
Chapter 6
In chapter 6, multiple surprises are evident. The authorities of Lisbon are of the belief
that slow burning of people alive is a pertinent solution to preventing earthquakes, thus
preserving the kingdom. Astonishingly, this ‘Auto-da-fe’, or ‘act of faith, has been decided by
the University of Coimbra, an education institution! It is expected of an education institution to
provide factual information to the people rather than misguide them on unrealistic notions and
irrational beliefs. Voltaire presents a surprise where Pangross is chosen by the authorities for
execution following his speaking his mind in a way offensive to the locals. Along with him is a
man who married his godmother and two Jewish men who could not eat bacon. The absurdity in
the reasons for being executed is remarkably surprising. Candide, is preached to, thrashed and
blessed at and then left alive. Surprisingly, Pangross faces a punishment seldom custom at the
time, which was hanging. This portrays the immensity with which the authorities took offense of
Pangross’s teachings and words. According to Outram (2013), the surprise exhibited in the
chapter has been met with a valid precision as the author drives the occurrences in context to a
way out of the ordinary. A probable way of punishment for an individual freely expressing their
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thoughts would be expected to be a jail term. Hanging him is an expected move. Burning an
individual for not eating bacon can be described as bizarre and appalling.
Chapter 7
In this chapter, an old woman who took Candide to her home after his ordeal at the
incarnation ceremony offers him food, anointment for treating his bloody body, after being
flogged, and a neat bed where he could sleep through the night. Such a warm and candid
reception is unexpected and surprising due to the experiences he has had with other locals before.
He was struck with amazement at what he saw, suffered and more, how charitable the old
woman was. The chapter ends in a nerve wrecking surprise on the realization that the old woman
took great care of Candide so he could meet up with Cunégonde, daughter of baron Thunder-ten
Tronckh who was in love with Candide. Cunégonde being alive meets the reader by surprise
because she was presumed dead after an attack that wiped out her family. She was raped and
disemboweled. The surprise is real and valid because the reader was earlier convinced that the
young girl was dead as her survival and existence was not highlighted.
In conclusion, Voltaire’s ability to erect surprise all through the chapters is an exceptional
work of art. The ability to create valid surprises has been ultimately achieved as he maintains the
calm of keeping his reader’s in a dark state, only focusing with the topic and issue at hand
(Lucas, 2012). Therefore, the creation of a surprise ending on the chapters, and validating the
occurrences to the mind of the reader has been successfully achieved.
SELECTIONS FROM VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE
References
Outram, D. (2013). The enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.
Lucas, F. L. (2012). Style: The Art of Writing Well. Harriman House Limited.
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