Inequality Of Women In Voltaire's Candide

François-Marie Arouet also known as Voltaire was born in a noble and notary family on November 21st, 1964, in Paris, France, and was educated in Collège Louis-le-Grand by Jesuits. He was a Philosopher, Historian, and a Writer. His style, intelligence, and humour made him one of the greatest French Writer and Philosopher. He produced literary work in almost every genre like poetry, play, essays, novels, scientific and historic works in over 21,000 letters and over thousands of books and pamphlets. He spoke freely and boldly for liberties of trade, gender, and religion. He satirically attacked the French and Catholic doctrines of his day in his writings. Hence, got in trouble with French authorities and which resulted in several imprisonment …show more content…
His characterisation of Cunegonde, Paquette, and the old woman shows the horrifying lives of women, despite having different origins they all had similar unprivileged positions within society. From the earliest point in the novel women are described physically as “plump, appetizing, extremely beautiful, pretty and tractable little brunette” (Voltaire and Cuffe). Even Cunegonde’s name had the Latin origin meaning “cunt” which makes her character appear sexually appealing. Paquette was also described as “pretty and tractable” (Voltaire and Cuffe) and rest of her identity was ignored. The old woman is not characterised as pretty or tractable in her first appearance but just as an “old woman”. The lack of character development highlights the role of women at the time, their submissive nature and their usefulness to men. Regardless of this lack, Voltaire represented women’s resilience and survivors of sexual exploitations. He depicted women surprisingly in Candide, raping of Cunegonde by the Bulgar is described as “until she could be raped no more” (Voltaire and Cuffe) followed by her “disembowel[ment]” (Voltaire and Cuffe) where the reader assumes her death but she appears to a surprise in the later chapter. Likewise, the old woman’s misfortunes are portrayed using the phrases “raped almost daily” and “had the plague” (Voltaire and Cuffe) but was alive even years later. The reoccurrence of the word “rape” identifies the normality as “the natural way of things” (Voltaire and Cuffe) and satisfying “the natural urges of various heroes,” (Voltaire and Cuffe) he ironically describes the perpetrators as “heroes” and reflects on the inferior position of women in the society and as subjects to the compliance and desires of the