Voltaire

At the beginning of his novel, “Candide,” Voltaire introduces the character Pangloss and his greatest philosophical and spiritual ideas he passes to Candide and Cunégonde: “Pangloss gave instruction in metaphysico-theologico-cosmoloonigology. He proved admirably that there cannot possibly be an effect without a cause and that in this best of all possible worlds the Baron’s castle was the best of all castles and his wife the best of all possible Baronesses. It is clear, said he, that things…

During the European period of Enlightenment, Europe was going through a time of intellectual movement that helped ignite the French Revolution. Moliere’s Tartuffe (1669) and Voltaire’s Candide (1759) are two stories both received heavy criticism and censorship because of their ideals against religion. In this time era, it was difficult to write stories and share beliefs that were not in the bible or shared by the king. Both these authors challenged the authorities and questioned the social class…

progress, and liberty. The Enlightenment was mostly led by the philosophers of Europe including Cesare Beccaria, John Locke, Mary Wollstonecraft and Thomas Hobbes. Another one of these philosophers was Francois Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire. Voltaire often used satire to combat his opponents and to criticize the world he lived in. He made frequent targets of the clergy, the aristocracy, and the government. He published many works as a writer, including political essays, philosophies,…

Moliere believed in the religious hypocrisy and fanaticism. Candide satirized the European society by criticizing the hypocrisy of the clergy. Voltaire supported the importance of flexible thinking and scientific reasoning. Even though he believed in the existence of God, he was still judgmental of critical of revealed religion as well as of religious optimism and fanaticism. Tartuffe was an evaluation of religions hypocrisy as expressed in Tartuffe. Orgon believed Tartuffe was loyal…

of optimism makes him appear blind to the suffering he goes through. Voltaire intentionally uses the characterization of Dr. Pangloss to poke fun at Leibniz’s philosophy. Similarly, to “Candide,” Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” also include characters who pride themselves in their logic, but are indeed blind. Elizabeth, the protagonist of the novel, let’s her prejudice blind her. In the first chapter of “Candide,” Voltaire introduces Candide as an innocent young person, who is naïve and…

Throughout the novel Candide Voltaire employs satire as a method of criticizing organized religion and to mock and dispel the popular philosophical thoughts of the time. As Candide traveled across the world in search for his true love, he meets characters that have different religions and belong to different philosophical systems of thoughts. The religious characters are hypocritical and commit detestable sins ranging from sexual brutality to greed and theft and are the most intolerant…

philosophical speculation. Voltaire positions the reader to recognise the insincerity incumbent in organised religion as well as the futility of war at that time. He also positions the reader to comprehend the folly of optimism, and the uselessness of philosophical speculation. Voltaire explores the notion of the insincerity of organised religion during the Age of Enlightenment – a transition, among many others, from a religious based worldview to one based on science…

the kings remain obscure beggars. 11. What does "We must cultivate our garden," Candide's epiphany, mean in the context of Voltaire's satire? In the context of 21st century life? Voltaire satirizes both Pangloss’s beliefs and Martin’s beliefs to show the absurdity of their philosophies. At the end of the book, Voltaire has Candide form his own philosophy stating that you need to work to earn things and not just wait until they happen. Pangloss’s theory takes the idea of waiting for things to…

formulate his own thoughts. By putting these two together on a journey, Voltaire shows how these two characters react differently to various situations which helps to highlight Candide’s personality and characteristics. This literary device of foiling is not only shown when comparing Candide to Cacambo, but while comparing the Old Woman and Cunegonde as well. Although all of these characters shared many differences and similarities, Voltaire uses Cacambo and the Old Lady to showcase…

In his novel, Voltaire takes us on a Journey; the journey of Candide as he travels from continent to continent in search of people and in search of answers. At the heart of his trek, lies Candide’s longing for his love, Cunegonde. Throughout his journey to end up with Cunegonde, Candide faced many treacherous passages and persistent hardships along the way that seem to constantly leave him pondering philosophically with his companions or with himself. Some of these thoughts and questions that…