“…when she [Lady Cunegonde] saw Dr. Pangloss behind some bushes giving a lesson in experimental physics to her mother´s waiting-women.” (Pg. 20-21) As I was reading Voltaire´s Candide, that sentence, especially the words “experimental physics,” stuck to me. In other words, what the narrator was describing was the act of coitus between Dr. Pangloss, the philosopher of the household, and one of the workers. The lady that watched attentively was the Baron´s daughter. Eager to learn and experience what she saw, Lady Cunegonde kissed Candide, a young lad and the main character of the book. Due to their kiss, the Baron kicked Candide out of the house and he wondered of alone and broke. After some time and suffering, Candide reunited with his unrecognizable master, Dr. Pangloss. His body full of bruises and sores and when asked what was wrong with him, the answer was that he was infected by some sexual transmitted disease. Apparently, he got it when he was giving a lesson on “experimental physics.” With Dr. Pangloss´ philosophy in mind, one can argue that it happened for the best. But can it be a sin? One of the ten commandments is “Thou shall not commit adultery” and even though adultery is defined as “voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse,” (Google) it is similar with the situation on the book. Dr. Pangloss had sex with a woman that was not his wife, and was infected. This can be causality, but it can also be God´s way of punishing the people who have sex with people other than their husband/wife. Dr. Pangloss is portrayed as one of the greatest philosophers in all the world, but still, he got carried away by temptation.
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