Chapter 1: The Château of Thunder-ten-tronckh
* Introduces Candide, a naive young man raised in the idyllic estate of Westphalia.
* He is guided by Dr. Pangloss's philosophy of "optimism," which asserts that everything happens for a reason and the world is inherently perfect.
* Candide falls in love with the baron's daughter, Cunegonde.
Chapter 2: Candide is Expelled from the Château
* Candide is caught kissing Cunegonde and is kicked out of the estate.
* Pangloss is flogged for teaching unorthodox beliefs, and Cunegonde is sent to a nunnery.
* Candide sets out on a journey to find Cunegonde.
Chapter 3: Candide Enlists in the Bulgarian Army
* Candide is conscripted into the Bulgarian army and witnesses the horrors of war.
* He deserts and travels to Holland, where he meets Jacques, a disillusioned philosopher.
Chapter 4: Candide and Jacques Meet Pangloss and Martin
* They encounter Pangloss, who has survived the flogging but lost his optimism.
* He introduces them to Martin, a wise old man who believes in free will and the existence of evil.
Chapter 5: The Storm and the Lisbon Earthquake
* Candide, Jacques, Pangloss, and Martin sail to Lisbon.
* A violent storm shipwrecks the vessel, and the Lisbon earthquake destroys the city.
* Jacques and Pangloss drown, while Candide and Martin survive.
Example:
* "The château of Thunder-ten-tronckh was the most magnificent of all the châteaux, and its master the mightiest baron in Westphalia; he maintained a large pack of hounds, even better bred than his daughters..." (Chapter 1)
Chapter 6: Candide and Martin in Paris
* Candide and Martin visit Paris, where Candide is swindled of his money.
* They meet Paquette, a young actress, and her brother, who offers to help them.
Chapter 7: Candide and Martin in England
* Candide and Martin travel to England, where they witness a public execution and meet a Quaker who advocates for peace and tolerance.
* They are shocked by the rampant injustice and social inequality in England.
Example:
* "He had just arrived from Westphalia, and his parents had given him this name because of the gentleness of his character. They judged rightly that he would need a great deal of it, for he had been endowed with the most simple and innocent good nature..." (Chapter 1)
Chapter 8: Candide and Martin in Venice
* They travel to Venice, where Candide meets a disguised Cunegonde.
* They reunite, but Candide learns that she has been abused and disfigured by the governor.
Chapter 9: Candide and Martin in Constantinople
* Candide and Martin flee Venice and travel to Constantinople.
* They witness the execution of a certain Said Effendi, who resembles Pangloss.
* Candide purchases a small farm and settles down with Martin and Cunegonde.
Example:
* "Candide was violently agitated; he embraced Cunegonde for a long time, saying to her the tenderest things; their tears mingled; their hearts flushed with joy..." (Chapter 8)
Chapter 10: The Dervish and the Garden
* Candide meets a dervish who teaches him the importance of cultivating his garden.
* Martin explains that this garden represents the world, and that by working hard and cultivating it, one can create a better life for themselves.
Conclusion
* Candide and Martin achieve a newfound understanding of life and the importance of human effort.
* They abandon Pangloss's optimism and Martin's pessimism, and instead embrace a more realistic and pragmatic approach to the world.
* The story ends with the famous line: "We must cultivate our garden."
