THE CHARACTERS

Note: Some of the names have meanings or derivations, but it has been suggested that Voltaire created others just because he liked their sound.

Candide: The name comes from the Latin candidus meaning white. His name reflects his character, unblemished, hopelessly naïve, pure and trusting. Incapable of thinking for himself, he absorbs the lessons of Dr. Pangloss without questioning them in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. He is the bastard nephew of the Baron which entitles him to wear the best second-hand clothes, and he is liked but patronized by the Baron whose sister refused to marry Candide's father because he had only 71 quarterings on his escutcheon in contrast to her own 72. Yet he is perfectly happy, honest and, although he no longer loves her, remains committed to Cunegonde to the end. After all the disasters he encounters, he finally rejects the theories of Pangloss and Martin and finds contentment in physical labor. It is thought that he is modelled on Voltaire, who was convinced that he himself was a bastard.

The Baron is head of Westphalia's most ancient noble family with 72 quarterings on his escutcheon. He, his wife and his son consider Candide to be unworthy to marry the Baron's daughter, Cunegonde. The Baroness weighs 22 stone or 308 pounds (350 pounds in Voltaire). This reflects the Scottish origin of this version of the opera. British measure the weight of people in stone; one stone = 14 pounds. It has been suggested that the Baron and his son were based on Frederick The Great of Prussia, but this ruler was also clearly the model for the King of the Bulgars.

Paquette is a serving maid. She gives Pangloss syphilis and later makes her living as a prostitute.

Maximilian is very vain and shallow, but he thinks he is perfection. He is extremely proud of his noble heritage and distainful of his cousin Candide. (He does not have a name in Voltaire.)

Cunegonde is bland and not very intelligent. As an innocent, she is attracted to Candide and imagines she loves him, but she really thinks only of herself. She is later willing to betray Candide with others for money, jewels and a luxurious life style. She too believes in the teachings of Dr. Pangloss.

Pangloss means "all tongues" or languages, a suitable name for a pedantic philosopher. He is a firm adherent to the optimistic teachings of the German Leibnitz and the English Pope, and he firmly believes that there is no effect without a cause; everything was created for a purpose. This philosophy was the prime target of Voltaire's satire. In Voltaire's story he continues to proclaim his theories but, at the end, no longer really believes them.

The Old Lady is very resourceful and practical in spite of her aristocratic roots. Her experiences have enabled her to become acclimated to almost every situated. She is cynical about human nature but, in spite of almost unimaginable tragedy, she loves life.

Cacambo, the South American half-breed is one of the most interesting characters. Extremely intelligent, resourceful and trustworthy, he speaks several modern languages as well as that of the ancient Incas.

The Governor of Buenos Aires is very proud of his roots as manifested by the recitation of his full name (a dig at the pride of the Spaniards). His main passion is women.

Martin, a relatively minor character in Bernstein's Candide, is much more important in Voltaire where he is the antithesis of Pangloss. (he does not drown on leaving South America but is in until the end.) He is a real scholar, very intelligent. A pessimist, he is cynical and mistrusting; he sees the worst in everything. In this he is sometimes wrong as when he mistrusts the honest and loyal Cacambo. Like Pangloss's optimism, his pessimism is absolute. He is a Manichaen

Vanderdendur, the Dutch slave owner and unscrupulous merchant is a representation of the worst of the exploitative colonists in South America.

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Revised August 2008
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