Who Martin is
Martin is a poor scholar whom Candide chooses as a companion for the voyage back to Europe. His own friends and family have ruined him, and he believes the world is mostly evil.
He answers Candide's hopeful arguments calmly, drawing examples from the people and events they encounter. His gloomy certainty also has a comic side, so his judgments are not simply presented as correct.
Martin and the others in the story
Martin stands opposite Doctor Pangloss, the tutor who teaches Candide that everything happens for the best. Where Pangloss finds reasons for optimism, Martin sees evidence that people deserve little trust.
Candide keeps arguing with Martin because he still clings to hope, though less firmly than before. Their conversations place two confident explanations of the world beside experiences that neither explanation fully answers.
How Martin changes
As they travel, Martin and Candide encounter tricksters, flatterers, hypocrites and wealthy people who find little pleasure in life. These meetings give Martin further examples for his pessimism, while Candide continues thinking of Cunégonde and searching for her.
Martin's role is to challenge hope without making despair the story's only answer. Voltaire treats his certainty with humour too, inviting readers to question both easy reassurance and unrelieved gloom.
Questions
Who is Martin in Candide?
Martin is a poor, pessimistic scholar who travels with Candide from Surinam toward Europe.
Why is Martin pessimistic?
Martin has been ruined by friends and family, and he sees the world as mostly evil. He uses what he and Candide witness to support that belief.
How does Martin differ from Pangloss?
Martin expects evil, while Pangloss insists that events serve a good purpose. They offer opposing views that Candide must weigh against his experiences.