Comedy is the use of wit and stupidity, unyielding repetition, extreme cruelty, and resilient characters that always seem to overcome every obstacle in the quest to live happily ever after, tied with very pointed satire. These points are used throughout the story of Candide. In Voltaire's novel, Candide, the author brings near to perfection the art of black comedy.
             In chapter 4 we see an outstanding example of a satirical attack. When Candide discovers that his old teacher Pangloss has not died, he asks about his love Cunègonde and is informed that she is dead. He promptly faints on the spot and is brought back by Pangloss with sour vinegar that he found in the stable. Pangloss goes on to tell Candide how she was raped repeatedly by the Bulgar soldiers and then disemboweled. He goes on to tell the terrible atrocities that happened to the entire family. Candide faints once more. Once he has returned to his senses and says what he feels is appropriate, Candide goes on to ask Pangloss how he has fallen into such a pitiful state, (323).
             Pangloss replied as follows: -- My dear Candide! You knew Paquette, that
             pretty maidservant to our august Baroness. In her arms I tasted the delights of paradise, which directly caused these torments of hell, from which I am now suffering. She was infected with the disease, and has perhaps died of it.
             Paquette received this present from an erudite Franciscan, who took the pains to trace it back to its source; for he had it from an elderly countess who picked it up from a captain of cavalry, who acquired it from a Marquise, who caught it from a page, who had received it from a Jesuit, who during his novitiate got it directly from one of the companions of Christopher Columbus. As for me I shall not give it to anyone, for I am a dying man. (324) The text goes on to tell of how Pangloss felt that it was all part of a bigger plan that if Columbus had not c
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