Comparing Voltaire's Candide: Cacambo And The Old Lady

In this novel, Candide is a young and naive man who represents the ideas of conformity, foolishness and gullibility. Cacambo on the other hand seems to represent the ideas of knowledge and wisdom. Cacambo having witnessed both the old and new world, he is able to formulate his own thoughts. By putting these two together on a journey, Voltaire shows how these two characters react differently to various situations which helps to highlight Candide’s personality and characteristics. This literary device of foiling is not only shown when comparing Candide to Cacambo, but while comparing the Old Woman and Cunegonde as well. Although all of these characters shared many differences and similarities, Voltaire uses Cacambo and the Old Lady to showcase …show more content…
Candide has an adaptive type of personality which can be seen through his cycling of beliefs from optimism to pessimism to even becoming a simple farmer. Cacambo on the other hand represents wisdom and intelligence since he has experiences in both the New and Old Word. One event that can be referenced to from the novel is the scenario where Cacambo successfully talks to the native tribe that hates the Jesuits. He convinces them by taking leadership in the situation and stays calm despite almost being eaten. Cacambo used his intelligence and wisdom to defuse the situation whereas Candide handled the situation in a very different way. Candide instead of taking action pondered at what his teacher, Pangloss, would do. This shows that Candide’s personality and characteristics in many ways. First, this shows his naivety since he is still thinking about being optimism during a life and death situation rather than trying to figure a way out like Cacambo did. Thus Voltaire successfully showcases the idea of Candide being a helpless child like figure whereas Cacambo would be like an adult since he had more courage to act. Secondly, this also shows Candide’s personality which is based on believing ideas of others whereas Cacambo’s personality is based on experience. This deep contrast influences how they behave in this scenario and others as well throughout their