Candide's Punishments

The Past : the slightest misdemeanor, crime, punishment, or fault could result in serious consequences. Some which are outright ridiculous and yet the people accepted them. Those were the laws, and it is because of those faults that society did not want to disobey the law. Speaking in Candide's time, his petty crimes as little as kissing Cunegonde in front of the king, resulted in severe punishment. So the question is, does it fit the crime? Speaking in Candide's time yes, but for modern society of course not. Candide could have been sentenced to death if requested but the king had figured hey lets just cut him up through the gauntlet, he will probably die there. In today's world that would be unacceptable but hey Candide did commit a crime as little as it may be one could argue he deserved it. Living a life outside the castle, in a world where he thinks all is for the best thanks to his philosopher Pangloss. Suffering after every chapter, but for what? A girl who was love at first sight to him. Going through all this trouble, for a girl whom he supposedly loves does not justify all the crimes he had commit. One does not deserve to suffer as much as Candide does in this passage, but he should not just go around killing religious figures and monkeys and brother in laws, all for a girl. That deserves punishment, were it to be in modern day society, that would be a death sentence. So in my opinion Candide has been let off the hook more than enough when it comes to these crimes.