What is Money?

What is money? Is it a solution or a problem? Would you call it a blessing or a curse?

           When Candide reaches Paris he comes down with “a slight illness”(p.97) However since he is quite wealthy, “he was soon attended by two doctors whom he had not sent for, some intimate friends who would not leave him, and two ladies given to good works who saw that his broth was properly warmed.”(p.97) What kind of intimate friends could Candide possibly meet the instant he set foot in Paris and what kind of honest doctors could be so keen to cure a sick stranger? I’ll tell you, avaricious friends and interested doctors, that’s who. At first glance an outsider might believe that these people are friendly and helpful, yet a more detailed look will prove the exact opposite.

            As this happened, “Martin remarked: ‘I remember being ill myself during my first visit to Paris. I was very poor. But then I had no friends, no kind ladies, and no doctors, so I soon recovered.’ “(p.97) Could this mean that the doctors, friends, and ladies only aided Candide because of his rich standing? Most definitely! The only reason they even so much as thought about Candide’s wellbeing was because they realized he was affluent.

Furthermore, those that helped Candide seemed more eager to keep him sick then actually cure him. When Martin was ill and didn’t receive support he quickly recovered. On the other hand, despite all the assistance Candide obtained his sickness only gained strength. “By dint of medicines and bleeding, Candide’s disorder now became serious.”(p.97) As a result, of Candide’s large amount of money he suffered a lot more than he would have initially.

Later on, when Candide searches for a passage to England, “Three diamonds helped to make the Norman the most obliging of men.”(p.109) Of course he ultimately receives what he was looking for, yet at a much too high price. Sadly, Candide has fallen into a routine of achieving his goals by bribing and paying off others. However, he really shouldn’t have to pay his way through life and this shouldn’t be the only way for others to willingly help him.

When Candide encounters Paquette in the company of a monk he gives them money and says, “That will make them happy.”(p.117) Yet Martin disagrees and says, “It would not surprise me if those piastres of yours made them even more unhappy.”(p.117) In the end, “Pacquette and Brother Giroflée did not return to thank him.”(p.124) Proving that Candide was wrong, money isn't a way to solve problems. In fact, it never is. Many times greedy and malicious people gravitate toward it and unfortunately wealthy people many times find themselves in undesirable circumstances. Some even find themselves resolving to bribery as a means to achieve goals. Money is a difficult subject that must be treated with care and precaution, because if not it can easily lead to evil and misfortunes.