An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 657 words)
WHAT DISTRESS CANDIDE, CUNEGONDE, AND THE OLD WOMAN ARRIVED AT CADIZ;
AND OF THEIR EMBARKATION.
"Who was it that robbed me of my money and jewels?" said Cunegonde, all
bathed in tears. "How shall we live? What shall we do? Where find
Inquisitors or Jews who will give me more?"
"Alas!" said the old woman, "I have a shrewd suspicion of a reverend
Grey Friar, who stayed last night in the same inn with us at Badajos.
God preserve me from judging rashly, but he came into our room twice,
and he set out upon his journey long before us."
"Alas!" said Candide, "dear Pangloss has often demonstrated to me that
the goods of this world are common to all men, and that each has an
equal right to them. But according to these principles the Grey Friar
ought to have left us enough to carry us through our journey. Have you
nothing at all left, my dear Cunegonde?"
"Not a farthing," said she.
"What then must we do?" said Candide.
"Sell one of the horses," replied the old woman. "I will ride behind
Miss Cunegonde, though I can hold myself only on one buttock, and we
shall reach Cadiz."
In the same inn there was a Benedictine prior who bought the horse for a
cheap price. Candide, Cunegonde, and the old woman, having passed
through Lucena, Chillas, and Lebrixa, arrived at length at Cadiz. A
fleet was there getting ready, and troops assembling to bring to reason
the reverend Jesuit Fathers of Paraguay, accused of having made one of
the native tribes in the neighborhood of San Sacrament revolt against
the Kings of Spain and Portugal. Candide having been in the Bulgarian
service, performed the military exercise before the general of this
little army with so graceful an address, with so intrepid an air, and
with such agility and expedition, that he was given the command of a
company of foot. Now, he was a captain! He set sail with Miss Cunegonde,
the old woman, two valets, and the two Andalusian horses, which had
belonged to the grand Inquisitor of Portugal.
During their voyage they reasoned a good deal on the philosophy of poor
Pangloss.
"We are going into another world," said Candide; "and surely it must be
there that all is for the best. For I must confess there is reason to
complain a little of what passeth in our world in regard to both
natural and moral philosophy."
"I love you with all my heart," said Cunegonde; "but my soul is still
full of fright at that which I have seen and experienced."
"All will be well," replied Candide; "the sea of this new world is
already better than our European sea; it is calmer, the winds more
regular. It is certainly the New World which is the best of all possible
worlds."
"God grant it," said Cunegonde; "but I have been so horribly unhappy
there that my heart is almost closed to hope."
"You complain," said the old woman; "alas! you have not known such
misfortunes as mine."
Cunegonde almost broke out laughing, finding the good woman very
amusing, for pretending to have been as unfortunate as she.
"Alas!" said Cunegonde, "my good mother, unless you have been ravished
by two Bulgarians, have received two deep wounds in your belly, have had
two castles demolished, have had two mothers cut to pieces before your
eyes, and two of your lovers whipped at an auto-da-fé, I do not
conceive how you could be more unfortunate than I. Add that I was born a
baroness of seventy-two quarterings--and have been a cook!"
"Miss," replied the old woman, "you do not know my birth; and were I to
show you my backside, you would not talk in that manner, but would
suspend your judgment."
This speech having raised extreme curiosity in the minds of Cunegonde
and Candide, the old woman spoke to them as follows.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When disaster strikes, practical problem-solvers often emerge as leaders while those with formal authority freeze or retreat into denial.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot the people who actually keep things running when everything falls apart.
Practice This Today
This week, notice who in your workplace or family immediately starts organizing solutions when problems arise—these are your real allies in tough times.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Who was it that robbed me of my money and jewels?"
Context: Her first words upon discovering they've been robbed
This shows how trauma has made her focus on material security - she's learned that survival depends on resources, not love or philosophy. Her immediate panic reveals how vulnerable she feels.
In Today's Words:
How am I supposed to survive now that I've lost everything?
"Dear Pangloss has often demonstrated to me that the goods of this world are common to all men, and that each has an equal right to them."
Context: Trying to rationalize why the monk would steal from them
Candide is desperately trying to make his teacher's philosophy work, even when it leads to absurd conclusions. He's using intellectual theory to avoid facing the harsh reality of being robbed.
In Today's Words:
Well, my professor always said we should share everything equally, so I guess technically the guy had a right to take our stuff.
"Sell one of the horses. I will ride behind Miss Cunegonde, though I can hold myself only on one buttock."
Context: Immediately proposing a practical solution to their money problems
While others panic or philosophize, she focuses on concrete action. Her willingness to endure physical discomfort shows her resilience and practical wisdom born from experience.
In Today's Words:
Look, we need cash. Let's sell something and figure out how to make it work, even if it's uncomfortable.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
The old woman's servant status masks her superior practical intelligence and leadership abilities
Development
Deepened from earlier chapters - class expectations consistently blind characters to real competence
In Your Life:
You might underestimate coworkers in 'lower' positions who actually understand how things really work
Identity
In This Chapter
Crisis forces each character to reveal their true nature - philosopher, victim, or problem-solver
Development
Evolved from earlier identity confusion - extreme circumstances strip away pretense
In Your Life:
You discover who you really are not in good times, but when everything goes wrong
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The 'educated' man and 'noble' woman defer to the servant's practical wisdom
Development
Continued reversal of expected social roles - competence trumps status in crisis
In Your Life:
You might find yourself taking direction from people society tells you are 'beneath' you
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Each character's response to loss reveals their capacity for adaptation and resilience
Development
Building on earlier growth themes - growth requires facing reality, not clinging to philosophy
In Your Life:
You grow most when forced to abandon comfortable illusions and deal with harsh realities
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Shared trauma creates new dynamics - the old woman becomes the group's anchor
Development
Evolved from romantic focus to practical interdependence under stress
In Your Life:
You often discover your most valuable relationships aren't the most obvious or socially approved ones
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
After being robbed by the monk, who takes charge of the situation and how do they solve the immediate problem?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the old woman emerge as the group's problem-solver while Candide retreats into philosophy and Cunegonde despairs?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a crisis in your workplace, family, or community. Who actually stepped up to solve problems versus who just talked about the problems?
application • medium - 4
If you were in a group facing sudden financial loss, what practical steps would you take, and how would you position yourself as someone who solves rather than debates?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how crisis strips away social pretense and shows people's true capabilities?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Crisis Leadership Audit
Think of the last three stressful situations you witnessed—at work, in your family, or in your community. For each situation, identify who actually solved problems versus who just talked, worried, or blamed. Write down what specific actions the problem-solvers took and what made them effective when others weren't.
Consider:
- •Look for people who immediately assessed resources rather than dwelling on losses
- •Notice who gave concrete next steps versus abstract advice
- •Pay attention to who others naturally turned to for guidance
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to step up and solve a problem while others were paralyzed. What did you do that worked? How can you position yourself to be the go-to problem-solver in your current situation?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 11: From Princess to Slave
The old woman is about to reveal a backstory so shocking it will make Cunegonde's suffering look like a minor inconvenience. Her mysterious reference to her 'backside' hints at a tale of survival that will redefine what true misfortune means.
