The Hypocrisy Of Religion In Voltaire's Candide

Candide was written in 1789 by Voltaire in order to preach his thoughts about the philosophical thoughts at that time in history. In Europe, the time of the Enlightenment was taking strides as enlightened thinkers became the new celebrities. As Americans, we all know what was going on in our future country at that time. Our country was just a new group of colonies that was just starting to feel the corruption of government and European society. While our country was being taken over and formed by the settlers of North America, Europe had many other things going on. Philosophy in Europe at the time Voltaire wrote Candide was of the mindset that everything happened for the best. As long as everyone believed that whatever happened to them …show more content…
One of Voltaire’s most prominent critiques that he pushes through the story of Candide is the hypocrisy of religion. In the time that the story was written, many religions, but especially Christianity, had a very corrupt connotation. The general public did not see this corruption as many of the enlightened thinkers did at the time. Voltaire uses satire to present his view of a hypocritical Church many times throughout the book, but one of the most prominent is between Candide and the orator who spoke to the crowd. “‘My friend,’ the orator said, ‘do you believe that the Pope is the Antichrist?’ ‘I have never yet heard that he is,’ Candide replied. ‘But whether he is the Antichrist or not, I need bread.’ ‘You don’t deserve any,’ the orator said. ‘Go away, you rogue, you wretch! Don’t you come near me again as long as you live’” (10). This is important to Voltaire’s views on Christianity, because this man who was just speaking about being charitable decided to turn away someone looking for food. Another example of his distaste for the religious people is with the old woman that Candide meets. It is once again ironic, because the old women is the daughter of a Pope who is supposed to be Celibate throughout his life as Pope. “’I did not always have blurry, red-rimmed eyes. My nose did not always touch my chin, nor was I always a servant. I am the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of …show more content…
The Europeans brought slaves to both Europe and the Americas, and they thought this was the right thing to do. In Candide, slavery is not as big of an issue to Voltaire as some of the other examples mentioned, but it is still depicted as being one of the worst examples of unjust treatment in society. Slavery goes along with the general inequality of the classes at this time. There are many examples throughout the book of using social classes to either alienate or uplift another character. “’Ah, sir,’ one of the men in blue replied. ‘A man of your build and merit need to pay a thing. Aren’t you five feet five inches tall?’ ‘Yes, gentlemen, that is my height,’ Candide replied with a bow. ‘Ah, sir, sit down at the table. Not only will we pay for your meal, but we cannot abide that a man like you lacks money. Men were made to help one another’” (6-7). By using Candide’s physical appearance to impress him, the men are able to manipulate Candide to do anything they want. This is just one of the many satirical examples that Voltaire uses to attack the social classes in society. Candide’s encounter with Vandurdender is an even more concrete example of Voltaire’s feelings on the concept of slavery. Vandurdender is a violent owner of slaves who steals one of Candide’s precious animals. As a repercussion for this crime against Candide, Vandurdender is