Original Text(~250 words)
ADVENTURES 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;...
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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.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
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
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.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
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
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Assumed Authority
Acting decisively in situations you don't understand because your perspective feels universally correct.
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.
Modern Adaptation
When Good Intentions Backfire
Following Candy's story...
Maya sees two coworkers from different departments having what looks like a heated argument in the break room. Without listening closely, she jumps in to 'help,' suggesting they take a break and cool down. Turns out they were actually brainstorming solutions to a production problem—the animated discussion was them getting excited about a breakthrough. Her intervention kills their momentum and makes her look like she thinks they can't handle professional conversations. Later, when she tries to 'help' again by reporting what she thought was workplace harassment to HR, she discovers she's just torpedoed a mentor relationship between a senior worker and someone learning the ropes. The 'aggressive' behavior she witnessed was actually tough-love coaching that the junior employee had specifically requested. Maya's assumptions about what healthy workplace interactions should look like, based on her limited experience, nearly got someone written up and destroyed a valuable professional relationship.
The Road
The road Candy walked in 1759, Maya walks today. The pattern is identical: assuming your perspective gives you the right to intervene in situations you don't fully understand, turning good intentions into harmful actions through cultural blindness.
The Map
This chapter provides a navigation tool for recognizing when you're about to act on assumptions. Maya can learn to pause and gather information before intervening, asking questions instead of making judgments.
Amplification
Before reading this, Maya might have continued jumping into situations based on surface appearances, creating workplace drama while thinking she was helping. Now she can NAME the pattern of assumed authority, PREDICT when her interventions might backfire, and NAVIGATE by asking questions first.
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
The coming pages reveal our assumptions about value can blind us to different ways of living, and teach us sometimes the best discoveries happen when we stop trying so hard. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.