Chapter 23 Summary

The pair land in Portsmouth, England and they immediately witness a man's execution. Candide questions someone in the crowd as to who the man was and why he was killed and is answered that the man was an admiral who was killed because he did not kill enough people in a battle against the French. The spectator tells Candide that killing an admiral every once and awhile is a good motivator for the other admirals to do well. Candide is so horrified of the scene he has just witnessed that he pays the Dutch captain quite handsomely to continue on to Venice as soon as possible. Candide and Martin stay on the ship for two days until they set sail.

Chapter 23 Analysis

Chapter twenty-three explains yet another one of man's inhumane deeds and Candide and Martin are unwilling to stay in England to...