Summary
Candide and Cacambo flee deeper into the wilderness, where Candide's attempt at heroism nearly gets them both killed. When he sees two girls being chased by monkeys, Candide shoots the animals to 'rescue' the women—only to discover he's just killed their lovers. The grieving girls report them to the local Oreillon tribe, who capture the travelers and prepare to cook them alive, believing Candide is a hated Jesuit priest. This darkly comic episode exposes how Candide's European assumptions about 'civilization' and 'nature' blind him to other ways of living. What he sees as bestiality, others see as normal relationships. What he thinks is heroic rescue is actually murder. The chapter's brilliance lies in Cacambo's quick thinking—he talks their way out of death by proving Candide killed a Jesuit rather than being one. The Oreillons, who seemed like 'savage cannibals' to European eyes, turn out to be reasonable people who follow logical principles of justice. They release the travelers with honor once they understand the truth. Voltaire uses this absurd situation to skewer both European prejudices about 'primitive' peoples and the dangerous naivety of assuming your moral framework applies everywhere. The chapter shows how snap judgments based on limited perspective can be literally life-threatening, while also suggesting that most people, regardless of culture, can be reasoned with when approached with respect rather than condescension.
Coming Up in Chapter 17
Just when things couldn't get stranger, Candide and Cacambo stumble upon the legendary El Dorado—a place that will challenge everything they think they know about wealth, happiness, and what makes a perfect society.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
DVENTURES OF THE TWO TRAVELLERS, WITH TWO GIRLS, TWO MONKEYS, AND THE SAVAGES CALLED OREILLONS. Candide and his valet had got beyond the barrier, before it was known in the camp that the German Jesuit was dead. The wary Cacambo had taken care to fill his wallet with bread, chocolate, bacon, fruit, and a few bottles of wine. With their Andalusian horses they penetrated into an unknown country, where they perceived no beaten track. At length they came to a beautiful meadow intersected with purling rills. Here our two adventurers fed their horses. Cacambo proposed to his master to take some food, and he set him an example. "How can you ask me to eat ham," said Candide, "after killing the Baron's son, and being doomed never more to see the beautiful Cunegonde? What will it avail me to spin out my wretched days and drag them far from her in remorse and despair? And what will the Journal of Trevoux[17] say?" While he was thus lamenting his fate, he went on eating. The sun went down. The two wanderers heard some little cries which seemed to be uttered by women. They did not know whether they were cries of pain or joy; but they started up precipitately with that inquietude and alarm which every little thing inspires in an unknown country. The noise was made by two naked girls, who tripped along the mead, while two monkeys were pursuing them and biting their buttocks. Candide was moved with pity; he had learned to fire a gun in the Bulgarian service, and he was so clever at it, that he could hit a filbert in a hedge without touching a leaf of the tree. He took up his double-barrelled Spanish fusil, let it off, and killed the two monkeys. "God be praised! My dear Cacambo, I have rescued those two poor creatures from a most perilous situation. If I have committed a sin in killing an Inquisitor and a Jesuit, I have made ample amends by saving the lives of these girls. Perhaps they are young ladies of family; and this adventure may procure us great advantages in this country." He was continuing, but stopped short when he saw the two girls tenderly embracing the monkeys, bathing their bodies in tears, and rending the air with the most dismal lamentations. "Little did I expect to see such good-nature," said he at length to Cacambo; who made answer: "Master, you have done a fine thing now; you have slain the sweethearts of those two young ladies." "The sweethearts! Is it possible? You are jesting, Cacambo, I can never believe it!" "Dear master," replied Cacambo; "you are surprised at everything. Why should you think it so strange that in some countries there are monkeys which insinuate themselves into the good graces of the ladies; they are a fourth part human, as I am a fourth part Spaniard." "Alas!" replied Candide, "I remember to have heard Master Pangloss say, that formerly such accidents...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Assumed Authority
Acting decisively in situations you don't understand because your perspective feels universally correct.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to gather context before intervening, preventing well-intentioned actions from causing harm.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel the urge to 'help' or 'fix' a situation—pause and ask one clarifying question before acting.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Noble Savage
The European idea that people living in 'primitive' societies are naturally good and uncorrupted by civilization. Voltaire is mocking this romantic notion by showing the Oreillons as both 'savage' cannibals and reasonable people who follow logical principles.
Modern Usage:
We still romanticize 'simpler' cultures or assume people from different backgrounds think exactly like we do.
Cultural Relativism
The idea that moral and social practices should be understood within their own cultural context rather than judged by outside standards. The monkeys are lovers to the girls but beasts to Candide.
Modern Usage:
When we realize that what seems weird or wrong to us might make perfect sense in someone else's world.
Jesuit
Members of a Catholic religious order known for missionary work and education. In Voltaire's time, they were powerful and often resented in colonial territories. The Oreillons hate them enough to want to eat anyone they think is one.
Modern Usage:
Any group that comes into communities claiming to help but is seen as controlling or exploitative.
Satire
Using humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize human foolishness or vice. Voltaire makes Candide's 'heroic rescue' backfire spectacularly to mock European assumptions about superiority.
Modern Usage:
When comedians or shows like 'The Daily Show' use jokes to point out how ridiculous politicians or social trends really are.
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures by the standards of your own culture, assuming your way is the 'normal' or 'right' way. Candide sees monkeys chasing girls and assumes it's assault rather than courtship.
Modern Usage:
When we assume everyone should want the same things we want or live the way we live.
Ironic Justice
When someone gets punished or rewarded in an unexpected way that reveals the flaws in their thinking. Candide tries to be a hero and nearly gets cooked alive for his trouble.
Modern Usage:
When trying to help someone backfires because you didn't understand the situation first.
Characters in This Chapter
Candide
Naive protagonist
Acts on European assumptions about civilization and heroism, shooting the monkeys to 'save' the girls without understanding the situation. His good intentions nearly get him killed because he doesn't think before acting.
Modern Equivalent:
The well-meaning person who butts into situations they don't understand
Cacambo
Practical guide
Shows cultural awareness and quick thinking by talking their way out of being executed. He understands that different people have different ways of seeing the world and adapts accordingly.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who actually knows how to navigate different social situations
The Two Girls
Grieving lovers
Their relationship with the monkeys challenges European ideas about what's 'natural' or 'civilized.' Their grief over the dead monkeys shows Candide completely misread the situation.
Modern Equivalent:
People whose lifestyle choices get judged by others who don't understand their culture
The Oreillons
Indigenous judges
Initially seem like 'savage cannibals' but prove to be reasonable people who follow logical principles of justice. They listen to evidence and change their minds when presented with facts.
Modern Equivalent:
People who seem scary or different at first but turn out to be fair and logical
Key Quotes & Analysis
"How can you ask me to eat ham, after killing the Baron's son, and being doomed never more to see the beautiful Cunegonde?"
Context: When Cacambo suggests they eat while fleeing
Shows how Candide dramatizes his suffering while actually doing exactly what he claims he can't do. He's eating while complaining about eating, revealing the gap between his self-image and reality.
In Today's Words:
How can you expect me to enjoy anything when my life is ruined?
"Candide was moved with pity"
Context: When Candide sees the girls being chased by monkeys
The word 'pity' reveals Candide's assumption of superiority - he feels sorry for people who don't actually need his help. His emotional reaction clouds his judgment about what's really happening.
In Today's Words:
Candide felt bad for them
"These two girls were their mistresses"
Context: Explaining to Candide why the girls are crying over the dead monkeys
This revelation destroys Candide's assumptions about civilization and nature. What he saw as bestiality was actually love, showing how cultural perspective shapes what we see as normal or abnormal.
In Today's Words:
Those monkeys were their boyfriends
Thematic Threads
Cultural Assumptions
In This Chapter
Candide's European worldview blinds him to other ways of living, leading him to 'rescue' women from their actual lovers
Development
Introduced here as Candide encounters truly foreign perspectives for the first time
In Your Life:
You might assume your family's way of handling conflict or showing love is the only normal way.
Snap Judgments
In This Chapter
Candide shoots first without understanding the situation, nearly getting them both killed
Development
Builds on his pattern of reacting emotionally without thinking through consequences
In Your Life:
You might make quick decisions about coworkers or neighbors based on limited observations.
Perspective
In This Chapter
What looks like savage cannibalism to Candide turns out to be reasonable justice from people who follow logical principles
Development
Introduced here as Voltaire directly challenges European superiority assumptions
In Your Life:
You might discover that people you judged harshly actually have good reasons for their choices.
Communication
In This Chapter
Cacambo saves them by taking time to explain and reason rather than making assumptions
Development
Introduced here as the alternative to Candide's reactive approach
In Your Life:
You might find that explaining your situation calmly works better than assuming others should understand you.
Identity
In This Chapter
The Oreillons' hatred of Jesuits nearly gets Candide killed for being mistaken as something he's not
Development
Continues the theme of how others' perceptions can determine your fate regardless of who you actually are
In Your Life:
You might be judged by your job title, address, or appearance rather than your actual character.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What assumptions did Candide make when he saw the girls with the monkeys, and how did those assumptions lead to disaster?
analysis • surface - 2
Why didn't Candide pause to understand the situation before acting? What was driving his need to intervene immediately?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of 'assumed authority' in modern workplaces, families, or communities?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between a situation that genuinely needs intervention and one where you're just imposing your own perspective?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how our cultural background shapes what we see as 'obviously right' or 'obviously wrong'?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Rewrite the Scene from Three Perspectives
Write three short paragraphs describing the monkey incident: first from Candide's perspective, then from one of the girls' perspectives, then from an Oreillon observer's perspective. Notice how the same events look completely different depending on who's telling the story and what they understand about the situation.
Consider:
- •What information does each person have that the others don't?
- •How do their cultural backgrounds shape what they see as normal or alarming?
- •Which perspective feels most 'true' to you, and why might that be?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you jumped into a situation based on assumptions, only to discover you'd misunderstood what was really happening. What warning signs could have told you to pause and gather more information first?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 17: Finding Paradise by Accident
Just when things couldn't get stranger, Candide and Cacambo stumble upon the legendary El Dorado—a place that will challenge everything they think they know about wealth, happiness, and what makes a perfect society.
