In this part of the book, the old woman is telling her story on the ship towards the New World. First, she tells that she is the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina. This is a direct critique to the Catholic institution, since popes nor any religious official aren't allowed to marry nor have children. Also, the marriage with a nobility of Palestrina is shocking, since both areas of the world (Catholic Europe and Middle East) don't get along very well at this time because of the Crusades in the previous centuries.
When the old lady's tragic story ends, she begins to doubt why she didn't kill herself after the horrible events in her life and why don't many other people do, since they also live such miserable lives. This is another clear defiance to Christianity, since suicide is forbidden in this religion and punished by spending eternity in hell. It also gives a shocking revelation to human life we had never thought of. Humans always want to know what is going to happen next, always want to grow and improve. Voltaire states, through the old lady, that humans love life and wish to enjoy it to the last straw. That is the true spirit of human nature, and quitting on life would be against it. That is why the old lady nor Lady Cunegonde quit on their tragic journey after being, almost literally, on top of the world. At some point, the only direction they could go was up, and they hoped for it so much they never quit on their sad life.
Candide and his troops, along with Lady Cunegonde and the old woman, finally arrived to the New World, the one Candide said was: "the one where all goes well; for I must admit that regrettable things happen in this world of ours, moral and physical acts that one cannot approve of." He finally admitted that their world was not the best of all possible ones and that he didn't agree with Pangloss anymore; before, he had followed and agreed to his teachings like a blind man.
An amusing part in the story (for me) was when Candide arrives to Buenos Ayres and meets the Governor of the town. He presents himself as Fernando D'Ibaraa y Figueroa y Mascarenes y Lampourdos y Souza. This is a critique towards Latin American royalty at that time, because he describes him as being so arrogant and "on a pedestal" that everyone who met him wished to hit him. It is also amusing because he is from Argentina, and even now a days Argentinians have this reputation for being arrogant and with a huge ego.
As far as I have read, the New World has been very grateful to their new visitors. It has given Lady Cunegonde a wealthy, aristocratic husband, the old woman a place to relieve herself of her past, and Candide a reencounter with an old friend from Westphalia. It is interestingly coincidental the fact that Candide has encountered so many people from his past life in the Baron's home. Who will he encounter next?
Candide and his troops, along with Lady Cunegonde and the old woman, finally arrived to the New World, the one Candide said was: "the one where all goes well; for I must admit that regrettable things happen in this world of ours, moral and physical acts that one cannot approve of." He finally admitted that their world was not the best of all possible ones and that he didn't agree with Pangloss anymore; before, he had followed and agreed to his teachings like a blind man.
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| The New World was a promise of a better world |
As far as I have read, the New World has been very grateful to their new visitors. It has given Lady Cunegonde a wealthy, aristocratic husband, the old woman a place to relieve herself of her past, and Candide a reencounter with an old friend from Westphalia. It is interestingly coincidental the fact that Candide has encountered so many people from his past life in the Baron's home. Who will he encounter next?
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