Old Lady's Story

"Where shall I find more Inquisitors and Jews to replace them" (Page 46, Candide). Heartless. This is the only word to describe the 'lovely' and 'innocent' Lady Cunégonde that Candide is in love with. How would someone even think of something like that. HThis is a true picture of humanity, of how some women are. They just look for people because of the money, because they need something. It's what in spanish we would call 'descaro'.

I was very impressed by the old woman's behaviour. She helped Candide, gave him food, shelter, and even the love of his life back. She gave him advice, accompanied he and Lady Cunégonde everywhere and was very helful, but we don't know why. Then I kept reading, and she started telling them her life-story. It is horrible. Her first years were the life everyone wishes for, but then they started to get worse and worse. She had her parents slaughtered in front of her, was raped by a negro, was sold to a governor and then had to live a plague. Her life was a misery back then. She had one but-cheek cut off and have to live as a fugitive bartender in bars. She said "I have never forgotten that I am the daughter of a Pope"(Page 57).It's ironical that Voltaire says that, because popes can't have daughters, but deeper than that, you must never forget where you came from, this will always help you move on and continue with your life. This might be why the old lady is so kind, she remembered what had happened to her, so many people helped her, so she decided to help others.