Candide, Chapter 25 summary

What happens

1. Candide and Martin visit Pococurante, who receives them coolly and admits that even his two attractive servants bore him.
2. Pococurante criticizes his expensive paintings and the concert, while Candide admires them and Martin agrees with their host.
3. In the library, Pococurante rejects most celebrated literature, scientific collections, sermons, and theology, defending his right to judge for himself.
4. He values freedom of expression but condemns partisan writing, then attacks Milton and dismisses his own garden.
5. As they leave, Candide calls their host happy, but Martin distinguishes dissatisfaction from enjoyment.
6. Candide places his hope in Cunegonde, but Cacambo’s continued absence leaves him too distressed to notice two other absences.

In this chapter

What to notice

Martin exposes the contradiction in Candide’s admiration. Criticizing everything may offer satisfaction without making a person happy.

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