In the novel Candide written by Voltaire there are several symbols throughout the story. One of those symbolic figures that seems to stand out in the story is the character Candide, a gullible and innocent boy who experiences many hardships after disappearing from Baron von Thunder-ten-tronckh's castle. Candide seems to be a representation of people's innocence and how they tend to lose it throughout their lives as they witness and experience new things in the world and become wary of the consequences that each different situation may bring. For example, Voltaire mentions early in the story that “nature had given [Candide] the kindest of dispositions. His face expressed his soul” which shows the reader that Candide is initially kind and innocent and that he has not the slightest intention of interfering in another person's life in a negative way (3). However, later in the story, after Candide kills Don Issachar and the Grand Inquisitor, Candide justifies his murderous behavior towards Cunegonde by saying that "when you are in love and jealous and have been flogged by the inquisition, one cannot know" . what can you do” which shows that the kind and gentle Candide has turned into a murderer due to his previous life experiences which in turn provides an excellent example of how people lose their innocence and turn to extraordinary violence (22 ). What Voltaire seems to suggest in his novel is that it is natural for humanity to be born innocent and develop into the evil that this world has to offer as they experience and witness this evil throughout their lives and adapt to the world around them. Therefore, Voltaire seems to use the Candide character in he...... middle of paper ......put to love only their husbands or wives and now he had been unfaithful to her with the Marchioness. This action of Candide demonstrates how Candide has adapted to the world and how people also adapt to the things that exist. Candide may have started out as an innocent boy who believed the world was perfect, but he soon adapts his beliefs and opinions to the world. around him as he realizes that there is nothing perfect in the world he lives in. This is just how people begin their lives in the world and learn to adapt to their surroundings as they experience life. Therefore, Candide can be seen as an interpretation of Voltaire's life of the people in his novel Candide. This is because, just like Candide, people adapt to the world through life experiences and can do good things and bad things. Works Cited Voltaire and Theo Cuffe. Candid, or optimism. Penguin, 2005. Print.