Passage #1 

 
Within our group, I talked about the use of imagery to depict the stark differences 
between Eldorado, the actual manifestation of perfection, and the surrounding 
world, which Voltaire exaggerates the appearance of to make it appear largely 
inferior in comparison. Voltaire uses images of the extremely rocky cliffs and the 
dangerous torrent waters to depict the horrid nature of everyday life, as well as how 
difficult and miraculous it would be to reach Eldorado in the first place, and then 
Voltaire uses exaggerative images illustrating the immense beauty, as well as 
absurdities like red-fleeced sheep to over dramatize the perfection that is Eldorado. 
This is similar to Candide’s original home of Westphalia in its unattainable perfection, 
again tying back to the Garden of Eden, in which both times Candide could not stay. 
As a group, we determined that Voltaire feels that reaching a utopia is impossible 
through the numerous impossibilities Candide and Cacambo had to overcome in 
arriving there.