Candide's satirical targets include:  The optimistic philosophy that we live in the best of all possible worlds. This is satirized by the exaggerated frequency and magnitude of horrible things that happen to the characters without comment.  Christianity, particularly Catholicism, as its highest officials regularly abuse their power, commit crime, and have seemingly no interest in religion.  The legal order, which is shown to permit and even sanction many of the horrors depicted in the book.