In Chapter 6 of Candide by Voltaire, the auto da fé (act of faith) is a significant event that highlights the themes of religious hypocrisy and the absurdity of human suffering. The auto da fé was a public ritual of penance and punishment for heretics, often involving executions, which was common during the Spanish Inquisition.
In this chapter, Candide and his mentor, Pangloss, are caught in an earthquake in Lisbon. The religious authorities interpret the disaster as divine punishment for sin and decide to hold an auto da fé to appease God. Candide and Pangloss are chosen as scapegoats, with Pangloss being hanged and Candide being severely beaten.
This event is significant because it satirizes the irrationality and cruelty of religious institutions. Voltaire uses the auto da fé to criticize the blind adherence to dogma and the misuse of religion to justify violence and oppression. The absurdity of punishing innocent people for a natural disaster underscores the novel’s broader critique of optimism and the belief that this is the best of all possible worlds.
Through this episode, Voltaire exposes the dark side of human nature and the dangers of unchecked authority, making it a pivotal moment in the narrative that reinforces the novel’s philosophical themes.