Candide, the protagonist, is the illegitimate nephew of a German baron. He grows up in the baron's castle of Thunder-ten-tronckh in Westphalia under the guidance of the scholar Pangloss, who teaches him that this world is "the best of all possible worlds." Candide falls in love with the baron's young daughter, Cunégonde and is caught kissing. The baron then banishes Candide from his home. For the first time, Candide is soon recruited into the army of the Bulgars. He wanders away from camp and witnesses a horrific battle. He then manages to escape and travel to Holland.

In Holland, Jacques, an Anabaptist, takes Candide into his home. While his time there, he runs into a deformed beggar and discovers that it is his mentor, Pangloss. He tells Candide that the Bulgar army has murdered Cunégonde's family. Candide takes Pangloss to Jacques' home and happily takes him...