Chapter 1 Summary

The setting is the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, one of the most impressive castles in Westphalia. The Baron's wife is well respected and the couple has a son, and a beautiful daughter named Cunégonde. A young man, Candide, also lives there. It is rumored that the gentle and kind young man, Candide is the son of the Baron's sister and a gentleman from the village.

The children's tutor, Pangloss, is a doctor of philosophy who teaches Candide and Cunégonde that there is no effect without a cause. Candide has long since had a crush on Cunégonde but is too shy to act on it. Instead the young man concentrates on his studies.

He walks through the park one afternoon and sees Pangloss performing an experiment with one of the maids. She watches the cause and effect of the doctor's experiment...