Candide's misfortune begins when he is kicked out of the castle and experiences a series of horrible events. Candide is unable to see anything positive in his ordeals, contrary to Dr. Pangloss' teachings that there is a cause for all effects and that, though we might not understand it, everything is all for the good. Candide's endless trials begin when he is forced into the army simply because he is the right height, five feet five inches. In the army he is subjected to endless drills and humiliations and is almost beaten to death. Candide escapes and, after being degraded by good Christians for being an anti-Christ, m

Voltaire believes that people should not allow themselves to be victims. He sneers at naive, accepting types, informing us that people must work (be active) to make their happiness.

At the end of the book, Candide is reunited with Dr. Pangloss who gave Candide details of how he survived his hanging. They go off in search of formerly beautiful Cunegonde who had become fat, ugly and bitter. Nevertheless, he had vowed to marry her and so he does. The reader might expect that now Candide would be happy, having realized his dream of marrying his own true love, Cunegonde and being reunited with his teacher and mentor, Dr. Pangloss. Candide is not happy! He no longer loves Cunegonde and no longer believes in the principles of his teacher.

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