Throughout the book we have seen how Cunégonde and Candide always find a way to end up in each other’s arms. They have received a lot of signals of how their destiny is to be apart from each other. Still, Candide risks everything he has to kiss her one more time and have her by his side. I have noticed that Candide loves Cunégonde more than what she loves him. He has been torture, punished for loving the wrong person and he has taken away four lives just for one. While he has been giving up all he has, Cunégonde is just thinking about herself. A clear example of this is when they reach Buenos Ayres and the Governor declares his passion to her and asks her to marry him.
“He declared his passion to her and swore that he would marry her the following day with the Churchs blessing or without, just as a Lady of such charming appearance should prefer.” (Pg.59)
One would have thought that Cunégonde would had immediately said no, since you can’t marry the man that you don’t love. Instead she asked for a few minutes to think about it and she went running to the old women for advice. Without thinking it twice the old women said that the best decision that she could make, at this time, was to marry him. After everything she’s been through, losing her family and being raped, she deserves to have a happy ending.
“I confess that, if I were in your place, I should have no hesitation in marrying the Governor and making the captains’ fortune.” (Pg.60)
She is letting another man buy her “happiness”, but is she really going to be happy? How can she let Candide sacrifice everything for her, when is not willing to do the same in return? I believe Candide deserves to know the truth and this way try to do the things for him and not for her. If I was Cunégonde, I would feel very guilty because it’s not fair for someone to go so far in love, when one is willing to leave him and marry another man that will give her everything she have always wanted.
I realized that Candide wasn’t aware of this situation when he had to escape Buenos Ayres and leave her behind.
“…to have to leave you just when the Governor had promised to come to our wedding! What’s to become of you, Cunégonde, now I have brought you so far from home?” (Pg.61) We can see Voltaire’s irony here, because Candide is still positive that Cunégonde will give up anything to kiss him one more time, while she is secretly considering marrying the Governor.
Once again they have been forced apart, but will love find its way back?
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