Candide, a naive young man who was kicked out of home country for kissing his love Cunègonde, now searches the world for meaning. His tutor, Pangloss, teaches him that they live in "the best of all possible worlds," a philosophy that Candide clings to throughout his travels, even as he experiences war, natural disasters, and torture. His journey leads him through various misfortunes, and he eventually reunites with Cunégonde and his companions, only to find them all changed for the worse by their suffering.
