Christine Smit
									September 21, 1997
									Period 7
Eldorado Essay
	In Voltaire's Candide, most of the world is shown to be a corrupt and 
cruel place where people are customarily burned, raped, and hanged.  Only 
Eldorado, which is completely sheltered from the avarice of this world by 
mountains that circle the region, can develop a unique culture.  This culture 
seems to place a value on dignity, generosity, and gratitude.  Human nature, as 
represented by the innkeeper, the old courtier, and the King, seems to reveal an 
Eldorado that has managed to conquer the world's evil.
	One of the first people that Cacambo and Candide meet during their journey 
is the innkeeper.  The honest way in which his inn is run and the innkeeper's 
manner reveal him to be a man free of corruption.  This innkeeper keeps his 
establishment open to anyone who wishes to come in.  Even Candide and Cacambo 
are shown to the "table d'hôte" although they are strangers to the region and 
are obviously gaunt and haggard from their journey.  They are served a huge meal 
consisting of a plate of "three hundred colibris" and a condor weighing "two 
hundred pounds" simply because they have walked into the inn.  All of this is in 
stark contrast to a similar situation in Europe where a penniless Candide is 
refused any food by a clergyman preaching "charity."  The innkeeper also shows 
remarkable manners.  Rather than being rude at Candide and Cacambo's attempt to 
pay for the meal with the gold found on the streets earlier, the innkeeper asks 
that they "[f]orgive" his laughter.  The very fact that the innkeeper apologizes 
for a rather minor incivility is amazing in a book where people are routinely 
tortured and killed.  The innkeeper is even surprisingly honest and tells the 
strangers that they "don't need" to pay for the meal they have just eaten.  He 
never attempts to take advantage of Candide and Cacambo's ignorance, unlike the 
deceitful recruiters in Europe who force Candide into the military.  This 
innkeeper is moreover a modest man.  He claims that the splendid meal he has 
just served "[is not] very good" compared to that of other inns.  Rather than 
intimidating his guests with false pretenses, he seeks to humanize himself.  The 
innkeeper even goes beyond his normal duties in order to enlighten Candide and 
Cacambo by transporting the pair to "the most knowledgeable man" in the country 
to answer their questions.  This generous innkeeper, like his fellow citizens, 
seems to be free from the greed and selfishness that so infects the rest of the 
world.
The kind old courtier to whom the innkeeper brings Candide and Cacambo also 
proves to be a good representative of his society and is another man free of 
depravity.  He genially entertains many questions from Candide and Cacambo and 
also displays the surprising ability to be diplomatic.  The courtier 
"[satisfies] their curiosity" on many different subjects without holding back.  
Even though the conversation is "a long one," the courtier makes no attempt to 
end the discussion prematurely.  In spite of the fact that the courtier does not 
seem to get any benefit from this discussion, he is simply happy to educate 
Candide and Cacambo.  Likewise, the courtier willingly works to understand the 
"very strange questions" which Candide and Cacambo ask.  This an entirely 
different attitude from the men in Lisbon who indite Candide and Pangloss for 
their differing views.  The courtier also seems able to deal tactfully with 
impolite questions.  When Cacambo asks about the religion of the region, the 
courtier "[flushes] a little," but answers the question anyway.  When Cacambo 
again asks about this obviously delicate subject, the courtier "[flushes] again" 
but still responds.  He is obviously trying to be courteous in a difficult 
situation.  This diplomacy is surprising in a book filled with war and strife.  
Eldorado is obviously peaceful and happy in part because of its citizens' 
willingness to deal gracefully with difficult situations.
The king of Eldorado, the most powerful man in the nation, is a polite and 
generous host to Cacambo and Candide.  He is free of the greed and pomposity 
that contaminate his European counterparts.  The king meets the two men with 
"all imaginable graciousness" and asks to be "[kissed] ... on both cheeks" in 
spite of the fact that Candide and Cacambo are neither citizens of the country 
nor powerful men.  Furthermore, the king personally entertains Candide and 
Cacambo with "bons mots" at the supper table.  These two strangers are treated 
with respect and honor although they are essentially beggars and are entirely 
dependent on the king's hospitality.  This king, like his subjects, treats 
Candide and Cacambo with the dignity they deserve as human beings.  From this it 
is made clear that even the lowliest people are given respect in Eldorado.  This 
philosophy differs greatly from the European one where only power and station 
are respected. The king also typifies the generosity of the people in his 
country.  He immediately invites Candide and Cacambo "to supper" after their 
journey.  However, the king's generosity goes beyond a simple meal.  When 
Candide and Cacambo express their desire to leave, the king immediately offers 
to order his engineers to "make a machine" to transport Candide and Cacambo.  
The king further encourages the two men to "take all [they] want" of the gold 
and jewels that are so abundant.  He seems to be much more concerned with the 
happiness and the well being of everyone than with wealth and power.  This is in 
harsh contrast to Europe where a sailor can only think of the "rich pickings" he 
will get because of an earthquake.
A nation is made of individuals.  As such, a nation cannot succeed unless these 
individuals work to make it succeed.  In Eldorado, the success of both the 
individuals and the country is evident in the wealth and prosperity that 
surrounds everyone.  The excess of food, the lack of crime, and the abundance of 
wealth in the country show a nation that is much more successful than any of the 
European countries that are rampant with starving and poor people.  It can only 
be concluded that the country is so prosperous because every individual is 
valued and as such works hard for the nation.