Summary
Candide and Martin board a ship to Constantinople, where Candide eagerly anticipates reuniting with Cunegonde. His faithful servant Cacambo delivers crushing news: Cunegonde has lost her beauty and now works as a dishwasher for an exiled prince, reduced to slavery after pirates stole their fortune. Despite this devastating revelation, Candide declares his duty to love her still, showing genuine character growth from the shallow young man we met earlier. The chapter takes a dramatic turn when Candide spots two galley slaves who look familiar. In an incredible coincidence, they turn out to be Pangloss and the Baron—both supposedly dead but very much alive and enslaved. Candide immediately ransoms them with his remaining diamonds, demonstrating both his loyalty and the practical power of wealth. This reunion scene reveals how suffering has touched everyone in Candide's orbit, yet also shows the persistence of human connections across time and hardship. Martin observes it all with his characteristic pessimism, noting that millions suffer far worse fates. The chapter captures Voltaire's satirical view of how the world operates through random chance and cruel reversals, while also showing genuine human bonds that endure through the worst circumstances. As they head toward Cunegonde, the stage is set for a final reunion that will test everything Candide has learned.
Coming Up in Chapter 28
The long-awaited reunion with Cunegonde finally arrives, but will reality match Candide's romantic dreams? After all their suffering and separation, what kind of life can these battered survivors actually build together?
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
CANDIDE'S VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE. The faithful Cacambo had already prevailed upon the Turkish skipper, who was to conduct the Sultan Achmet to Constantinople, to receive Candide and Martin on his ship. They both embarked after having made their obeisance to his miserable Highness. "You see," said Candide to Martin on the way, "we supped with six dethroned kings, and of those six there was one to whom I gave charity. Perhaps there are many other princes yet more unfortunate. For my part, I have only lost a hundred sheep; and now I am flying into Cunegonde's arms. My dear Martin, yet once more Pangloss was right: all is for the best." "I wish it," answered Martin. "But," said Candide, "it was a very strange adventure we met with at Venice. It has never before been seen or heard that six dethroned kings have supped together at a public inn." "It is not more extraordinary," said Martin, "than most of the things that have happened to us. It is a very common thing for kings to be dethroned; and as for the honour we have had of supping in their company, it is a trifle not worth our attention." No sooner had Candide got on board the vessel than he flew to his old valet and friend Cacambo, and tenderly embraced him. "Well," said he, "what news of Cunegonde? Is she still a prodigy of beauty? Does she love me still? How is she? Thou hast doubtless bought her a palace at Constantinople?" "My dear master," answered Cacambo, "Cunegonde washes dishes on the banks of the Propontis, in the service of a prince, who has very few dishes to wash; she is a slave in the family of an ancient sovereign named Ragotsky,[35] to whom the Grand Turk allows three crowns a day in his exile. But what is worse still is, that she has lost her beauty and has become horribly ugly." "Well, handsome or ugly," replied Candide, "I am a man of honour, and it is my duty to love her still. But how came she to be reduced to so abject a state with the five or six millions that you took to her?" "Ah!" said Cacambo, "was I not to give two millions to Senor Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza, Governor of Buenos Ayres, for permitting Miss Cunegonde to come away? And did not a corsair bravely rob us of all the rest? Did not this corsair carry us to Cape Matapan, to Milo, to Nicaria, to Samos, to Petra, to the Dardanelles, to Marmora, to Scutari? Cunegonde and the old woman serve the prince I now mentioned to you, and I am slave to the dethroned Sultan." "What a series of shocking calamities!" cried Candide. "But after all, I have some diamonds left; and I may easily pay Cunegonde's ransom. Yet it is a pity that she is grown so ugly." Then, turning towards Martin: "Who do you think," said...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Loyalty's True Test
True loyalty reveals itself only when the person has lost everything that originally made them attractive or useful to you.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish surface connections from genuine bonds by observing behavior when status and benefits disappear.
Practice This Today
This week, notice who reaches out when you're stressed or struggling—these are your real people, and remember this pattern when someone you care about hits a rough patch.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Dethroned Kings
Rulers who have lost their power and kingdoms, often through war, revolution, or political upheaval. In this chapter, Candide dines with six former monarchs who are now powerless exiles. This reflects the political instability of 18th-century Europe.
Modern Usage:
We see this pattern when powerful CEOs get fired, politicians lose elections, or celebrities fall from grace - yesterday's king is today's nobody.
Galley Slave
Prisoners or captives forced to row large ships, chained to their benches in brutal conditions. This was a common punishment and form of slavery in Mediterranean countries. Pangloss and the Baron end up as galley slaves after their supposed deaths.
Modern Usage:
Today we might say someone is 'chained to their desk' or trapped in a job that feels like slavery, though nothing compares to actual forced labor.
Ransom
Money paid to free someone from captivity or slavery. Candide uses his remaining diamonds to buy Pangloss and the Baron's freedom from the galley. This shows how wealth can literally buy freedom and life.
Modern Usage:
We still pay ransoms for kidnapping victims, or more commonly, bail money to get someone out of jail.
Providence
The idea that God or fate guides events in the world, often for the best. Pangloss constantly argues that everything happens according to divine providence, even terrible suffering. Voltaire is mocking this philosophical optimism.
Modern Usage:
When people say 'everything happens for a reason' or 'it's all part of God's plan' after something bad happens.
Philosophical Optimism
The belief that this is the best of all possible worlds and that everything works out for the good in the end. Pangloss represents this philosophy, which Voltaire is satirizing throughout the novel.
Modern Usage:
The toxic positivity we see today - people who insist you should always look on the bright side, even during genuine tragedy.
Valet
A personal servant, usually male, who takes care of his master's clothing, travel arrangements, and daily needs. Cacambo serves as Candide's loyal valet and proves more practical and resourceful than his master.
Modern Usage:
Like a personal assistant, house manager, or the friend who always handles the logistics when you travel together.
Characters in This Chapter
Candide
Protagonist
Shows genuine character growth by declaring he'll love Cunegonde despite her lost beauty and reduced circumstances. His immediate decision to ransom Pangloss and the Baron with his diamonds demonstrates loyalty and generosity, even when his own resources are limited.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who sticks by his girlfriend after she loses her job and looks, proving his love is real
Martin
Pessimistic companion
Serves as the voice of realistic pessimism, pointing out that their strange adventures aren't actually that extraordinary and that millions suffer worse fates. He provides a counterbalance to both Candide's hope and Pangloss's blind optimism.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who always expects the worst and reminds you that your problems aren't unique
Cacambo
Loyal servant and truth-teller
Delivers the harsh news about Cunegonde's fate with practical honesty. He's proven himself the most competent and faithful character, handling arrangements and staying loyal despite having every reason to abandon Candide.
Modern Equivalent:
The ride-or-die friend who tells you hard truths and handles business when you're falling apart
Pangloss
Philosophical mentor
Miraculously alive after being hanged, he's now a galley slave but presumably still spouting his optimistic philosophy. His survival and continued presence represents the persistence of ideas, even bad ones, despite overwhelming evidence against them.
Modern Equivalent:
The teacher or mentor who never admits they were wrong, even when life proves them completely mistaken
The Baron
Aristocratic obstacle
Also miraculously alive and enslaved, representing how even the highest-born can fall to the lowest circumstances. His presence suggests he'll continue to create problems for Candide's plans, as aristocrats often do.
Modern Equivalent:
The snobby ex who shows up at the worst possible moment, still acting superior despite their own failures
Key Quotes & Analysis
"You see, we supped with six dethroned kings, and of those six there was one to whom I gave charity."
Context: Candide reflects on their recent dinner as they sail toward Constantinople
This shows how Candide has learned to help others even when he has little himself. The casual mention of dining with six former kings highlights how random and absurd their adventures have become - extraordinary events are now routine.
In Today's Words:
Can you believe we just had dinner with six guys who used to run countries? And I actually gave one of them money.
"It is not more extraordinary than most of the things that have happened to us."
Context: Martin responds to Candide's amazement about dining with dethroned kings
Martin's pessimistic worldview makes him unsurprised by even the most bizarre coincidences. This reflects how suffering and strange reversals of fortune are actually common in the world, not exceptional.
In Today's Words:
Honestly, after everything we've been through, this isn't even that weird.
"Is she still a prodigy of beauty? Does she love me still?"
Context: Candide eagerly questions Cacambo about Cunegonde
These questions reveal Candide's romantic idealism and his fear that love might be conditional on beauty and circumstances. His anxiety shows he's still somewhat shallow, despite his growth.
In Today's Words:
Is she still gorgeous? Does she still want to be with me?
"I have only lost a hundred sheep; and now I am flying into Cunegonde's arms."
Context: Candide minimizes his losses while expressing optimism about reuniting with his love
Candide has learned to focus on what matters most to him rather than dwelling on material losses. The casual mention of 'only' losing a fortune shows how his priorities have shifted toward human connections.
In Today's Words:
I only lost all my money; at least I'm about to see my girlfriend again.
Thematic Threads
Loyalty
In This Chapter
Candide chooses to love Cunegonde despite her lost beauty and reduced circumstances, and immediately ransoms his supposedly dead friends
Development
Evolved from his earlier shallow infatuation into genuine commitment that survives harsh reality
In Your Life:
You discover who your real people are during your worst moments, not your best ones
Class
In This Chapter
Cunegonde reduced from nobility to dishwasher, the Baron and Pangloss enslaved as galley slaves
Development
Continues showing how quickly social position can collapse and how arbitrary class distinctions really are
In Your Life:
Your current status—whether high or low—is more fragile than you think
Identity
In This Chapter
Characters maintain their essential selves despite dramatic changes in circumstances and appearance
Development
Shows that core identity persists even when everything external changes
In Your Life:
Who you really are isn't determined by your job title, bank account, or how you look
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Bonds between Candide and his companions prove stronger than death, slavery, and loss of beauty
Development
Demonstrates that genuine human connections can survive the worst circumstances
In Your Life:
The relationships that matter most are tested by hardship, not celebrated in good times
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Candide shows maturity by choosing duty and loyalty over shallow attraction
Development
Marks his transformation from naive optimist to someone who acts on deeper principles
In Your Life:
Real maturity means doing the right thing even when it costs you something you value
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What news does Cacambo deliver about Cunegonde, and how does Candide respond?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Candide immediately spend his diamonds to ransom Pangloss and the Baron, even though they supposedly betrayed or abandoned him before?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your own relationships—when have you seen someone's true loyalty revealed only after circumstances changed dramatically?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Candide's position, learning that someone you loved had lost everything that originally attracted you to them, how would you handle that test?
application • deep - 5
What does Candide's willingness to love Cunegonde as a dishwasher reveal about how real commitment differs from initial attraction?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Loyalty Audit
Create two lists: people who have stayed loyal to you during difficult times, and people you've stayed loyal to when it cost you something. For each person, identify what specifically they did or what you sacrificed. Then honestly assess: are there relationships in your life that exist only because they benefit you right now?
Consider:
- •Look for patterns in who shows up during illness, job loss, or family crisis
- •Consider the difference between dramatic support (hospital visits) and sustained support (daily help)
- •Notice whether your loyalty depends on what someone can do for you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to choose between convenience and loyalty. What did you learn about yourself from that choice, and how has it shaped how you approach relationships now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 28: The Survivors Tell Their Tales
What lies ahead teaches us people rationalize their suffering to maintain their worldview, and shows us some individuals cling to failed philosophies despite overwhelming evidence. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.