Chapters 17-18
Candide and Cacambo arrive in El Dorado, where children play with emeralds and rubies as if they were stones.
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From Candide by Voltaire
Candide's discovery of the utopian kingdom of El Dorado, where gold and jewels are worthless and reason prevails, presents an ideal that he ultimately abandons.
Chapter 18
The old man explains the religion of El Dorado: they thank God continually and have no need of priests or quarrels.
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Candide chooses to leave paradise because he desires Cunegonde and status, illustrating human restlessness.
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