Candide's Punishments, Do they Fit the Crime?

Candide received different punishments for different reasons throughout the book. The reasons are justified in the book, but I don’t think all of the punishments fit the crime. I think this is especially evident in the beginning of the Candide’s journey. He may have done something that is considered wrong, but I think Candide should not have received the punishments that he received.

The first punishment Candide received was banishment from the castle after being caught with Cunegonde. I think that was completely unfair. Both Candide and Cundegonde were naïve and had no idea that what they were doing was considered wrong. Cunegonde saw Master Pangloss “giving a lesson in experimental physics” to one of the maids, and Cunegonde believed she witnessed a true science experiment. She was the one who had the idea to try it with Candide. I’m not saying Candide is completely innocent in this situation, but he was innocent enough to not know the consequences of his actions. Candide was banished from the castle, and he becomes less naïve and innocent as time goes on.

I think it could be argued that Candide continually pays for his “crime” throughout the entire book. He just keeps getting into unfavorable situations and ends up committing some other crime. If he was never banished from the castle in the first place, none of the crimes following his banishments would ever have happened.