Candide's Punishments, Do They Fit His Crimes?

Candide has had some bad luck, to say the least. His life has been in danger numerous times and despite all he's been through he still doesn't have the girl. His lovely Cunegonde belongs to another man and there's not much he can do about it. Does Candide deserve all of the perils he's had to endure? It all depends on his crimes, but what are his crimes? Candide isn't a saint, he causes his fair share of evil throughout the book. But where does it all start? What is the first crime he commits? That would take us all the way back to his paradise. When he was first living with the Baron and Cunegonde. The first crime he commits is his relations with Cunegonde. All that happens to Candide afterwards is essentially because of that one act. So does Candide deserve being...wait. The better question is, what have Candide's punishments been? In every situation he's been in Candide has been able to land on his feet and sometimes in an even better position than he was before. Sure, there have been moments where his life has been threatened, but at the end of it all he's okay. When he's about to be shot by the Bulgars, the King of the Bulgars saves him. When Candide is almost boiled and eaten by "savages", he and Cacambo are able to talk their way out of it. Despite being robbed of his sheep, he gets them and their value back and ends up in Paris. During the auto-da-fe, his life is saved and he is reunited with Cunegonde.

So no. Candide's punishments do not fit his crimes. Candide has killed 3 men...and he got away with every one of his murders. I don't doubt that Candide has been punished, he certainly has. But his punishments don't coincide with his crimes.