El Dorado Explored: Explains how El Dorado was a utopia and what effect it had on Candide. It also explains how Eldorado is a counter for the evils of Europe.

El Dorado Explored In chapter XVII, Candide and his manservant, Cacambo, enter the country of El Dorado. Here, Voltaire takes the opportunity to further satirize governments, religion, philosophy, and war. All of the religious figures Candide encounters throughout the story are corrupt and sexually promiscuous even though they have taken vows of chastity. El Dorado is a counter for all of the evils of Europe. He uses El Dorado rhetorically to contrast the vices of …

…Candide seems innocent and pliable, he enjoys struggle and challenge. The character that seems to be uncorrupted is lured by the idea of having gold in ridiculous amounts. While Candide gets much food for thought in El Dorado, he allows himself to express unbridled greed, similar to what could be found in other parts of Europe. Voltaire shows how perfection isn't helpful in a society if people always choose to behave imperfectly within that society.