Love in Aphra Behn’s Oroonko, and Voltaire’s Candide

In Aphra Behn’s Oroonko, and Voltaire’s Candide, love is a subject of prominence; it serves as a starting point for both of these characters. For example, if Candide hadn’t fallen in love with his insatiable beauty, Cunegonde, he would not have been thrown from his home, castle Thunder-Ten-Tronckh, and sent on his dreadful journey across Europe. “The Baron of Thunder-Ten-Tronckh passed by the screen and, talking note of this cause and this effect, drove Candide out of the castle by kicking him vigorously in the backside (Voltaire 356). Throughout the entire story, Voltaire discusses Candide’s impalpable feelings for Cunegonde; he even commits twice to be with his fair maiden. Throughout the entire story, Candid, discusses his impalpable feelings for Cunegonde; he even commits twice to be with his fair maiden. “It was a quick, clear chain of reasoning; without giving the inquisitor time to recover from surprise, he ran him through and laid him beside the Jew” (Voltaire 367). Candid will even leave the “best of all worlds”, Eldorado, to retrieve Cunegonde, from the Governor of Buenos Aires, whom Cunegonde willing accepted a proposal from, thinking only about her own wellbeing. “We have enough to pay off the governor of Buenos Aires-if indeed; a price is placed on Miss Cunegonde” (Voltaire 385). Likewise, Oroonko’s’ love for his beautiful, Imoinda marks the starting point of his unfortunate journey. For example, Oroonko’s lover Imoinda is sent a veil, from his grandfather, the king; the veil signified that Imoinda was now his wife, therefor, she and Oroonoko, were no longer able to pursue marriage. “He sent the royal veil to Imoinda; that is the Ceremony of Invitation: he sends the lady, he has mind to honour with his bed, a vei...

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..., after having been betrayed twice, before, hence he said, “ But Caesar told him, there was no faith in the white men, or the gods they ador’d; who instructed ‘em principles so false, that none perform’d so little; that he knew what he had to do, when he dealt with Men of Honour; but with them a man ought to be eternally on his guard , and hand; and for, his own security, never to credit one word they spoke ( Behn 239). Knowing, his family would never be free of slavery, knowing he could no longer trust the white man, Oroonko, in a sense, betrays Imoinda and his unborn child, he kills them. In my opinion this is a theoretical betrayal, because you don’t kill people you love, and I think that is why Oroonko, feels so horrible after killing them. Nevertheless, that betrayal, leads to the final betrayal, Oroonko’s murder, despite Byam’s promise not to kill him.