The scene that I will be responding to is the when Jacques tries to save the sailor but actually falls into the water. At this moment, Candide wants to save Jacques but Pangloss responds by saying “The bay of Libson had been formed expressly for this Anabaptist to drown in (362).”

This quote by Pangloss strikes me the most because my initial reaction was that this was ridiculous. I thought, how could the bay be made entirely for Jacques to drown in, if there was a bay created there already to get travelers to Libson. Also, how can this bay be made entirely for Jacques to drown in, if everyone other passenger on the ship was perished as well. It also strikes me at how quickly they decided to let Jacques drown to his death, even after Jacques took both Candide and Pangloss in when they had nothing.

This moment seems to be important because it shows how much Candide relies on Pangloss’s teachings from the beginning of the story till the end. Even though Candide knows how much he owes Jacques for taking him in, caring for him and getting him back on his feet when everyone else in Holland treated him cruelly when he first got there, he still choose to follow Pangloss’s teachings instead of what his heart believed. It seems as if Candide does not always have control of himself, but must rely on Pangloss himself or his teachings to guide him through his life.

This moment relates to the rest of text because continuously, throughout the text when Candide is alone and believes that Pangloss is dead, he would always mention Pangloss. For example, “If Pangloss was had not been hanged, he would give us good advice in this hour of need, for he was a great philosopher (367)” or “That Pangloss would have be hard put to prove his system. I wish he were here (388).” These two quotes are examples of how even when Pangloss is not besides Candide, Pangloss’s teachings is relevant throughout. It also shows that Candide realizes how much he relied on Pangloss when he was by his side, that without him there, he still tries to think life him. When Candide is discussing with a scholar at Madame de Parolignac’s house, Candide brings up one of the teaching points of Pangloss starting “Troubles are just the shadows in a beautiful picture (395).” However, in this instance the scholar states that “Your hanged philopsher was joking. The shadows are horrible ugly blots (396).” This scene shows that Candide’s life revolved around what Pangloss has taught him and nothing else. Even after Candide and the scholar kept disputing over their differences, Candide is hesitant to agree with the scholar throughout their conversation.