Chapter XVII is the chapter in which Candide and the
others reach the land of Eldorado; there they find precious jewels everywhere.
Everything is beautiful. "Here's a better country than Westphalia!" exclaims Candide.
He and his companion find that all the inns are run for free. With a society in which
there is no religious discrimination because there is no organized religion, the people
live in harmony. In fact, Eldorado is the "country where everything goes well," a
utopia; however, utopias like Eldorado exist only by excluding the intrusion of
others. But, Candide, finally in a perfect world, rejects
it.
Added to this flaw, the jewels awaken greed in the
heretofore innocent Candide. Now, he wants to take jewelry so he can find his love
Cunnegonde and buy her. So, even when there is no corruption, man creates some. And,
ironically, the jewels that are nothing but pebbles to those living in Eldorado are the
source of danger to Candide as he becomes a target for swindlers. The satire here is
that when things are going well for people, they will create their own misfortune. When
Candide is more content with his own blood being shed than with seeing his wealth
disappear, Voltaire also satirizes man's greed and
irrationalities.
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