The French Satire, Candide, By Voltaire - 1831 Words

The French satire, Candide written by Voltaire, was a response to philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The publication of Candide, in 1759, was also inspired by the Seven Years War and the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. The Lisbon Earthquake specifically, influenced the way the generation viewed the idea of optimism. Coining the concept â€Å"all is for the best in this all of best possible worlds. Voltaire openly rejected this idea, believing if this were the best of all possible worlds, it should be better. Voltaire uses the earthquake in Candide, satirically describing it as a terrible disaster in the best of all possible worlds. In the novel, Voltaire portrays the foolishness of optimism. In the end of the novel Candide purchases Cunegonde’s freedom. Candide is disappointed when he sees Cunegonde has become ugly, but follows through on his promise and marries her anyway. Although Candide keeps an optimistic attitude throughout the novel, he never succeeds in his pursuit of pleasur e, and is never truly content. Through Candide’s personal journey, and by Voltaire’s deliverance and development of new characters, the idea that human beings will never be satisfied in their endeavor for happiness is portrayed. Therefore, the concept that â€Å"all is for the best in this all of best possible worlds† is too simplistic to fully describe the imperfections in the world and is a foolish representation of evil. Candide grew up in the home of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh. He is tutored by theShow MoreRelatedThe Influence of Voltaires Philosophical Works on the French Revolution1128 Words   |  5 Pagesthe French Revolution The philosophical works of Voltaire, such as Candide, influenced the beginning of the French Revolution, promoting new ideas and concepts. Voltaire used both wit and sarcasm to prove his points against injustice and cruelty. Voltaire was exiled to England for many years, and while there, he became influenced by the English government systems, associated himself with Sir Isaac Newton, John Locke, and Sir Francis Bacon. Voltaire wrote many well known works, but Candide is theRead MoreVoltaire s View Of Candide1511 Words   |  7 Pages Voltaire s Candide is a satirical work written in 1759 as a commentary during the Enlightenment. One of Voltaire s most famous works, it also functioned to reflect Voltaire s opinions. Candide is considered Voltaire s signature work in which he levels his sharpest criticism against nobility, philosophy, the church, and human cruelty. Though often considered a representative text of the Enlightenment era, the novel criticizes a number of Enlightenment philosophies. As reading and books wereRead MoreVoltaire and The Enlightenment1142 Words   |  5 PagesThe Enlightenment was revolutionary because of Voltaire, a writer that used his ideas to attack the established Catholic Church, and to propagate the freedom of religion, scientific thoughts, skepticism and experiential philosophy. Voltaire was born in 1694, a year that was under the regiment of Louis XIV. At that time, the aristocracy ruled France in an extreme way that most commoners were struggling in poverty. From a middle-class family, Voltaire did not like the political environment of FranceRead More Intelligent Satire in Voltaires Candide Essay868 Words   |  4 PagesIntelligent Satire in Candide      Ã‚   In the story Candide, Voltaire uses the experiences of the character Candide and dialogue between characters to dispute the theory by other philosophers that Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds (Voltaire). Voltaire believed that the society that he lived in had many flaws, flaws which are illustrated throughout the story. Voltaire uses satire to take aim at the military, religion, and societies emphasis of physical beauty, toRead MoreCandide : A Reflection Of The Enlightenment1325 Words   |  6 Pages Candide: A Reflection of the Enlightenment Francois-Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire was an 18th century French philosopher and writer during the Enlightenment period. Voltaire’s most famous work of literature; Candide follows a young man who grows up in a Baron’s castle (Castle Thunder-ten-tronckh), under the instruction of Dr. Pangloss, a tutor and philosopher who worships optimism even under extreme circumstances. Throughout Voltaire’s novel, Candide and his companions encounter aRead MoreAnalysis Of Candide And The Pen Name Of The Frenchman 1464 Words   |  6 PagesCameron Donald Candide Book Critique Candide was written by Voltaire, the pen name of the Frenchman, Franà §ois-Marie Arouet, and was first published by Gabriel Cramer in Geneva during early 1759 . This book was assigned by our teacher because it expresses the beliefs of Voltaire who was a prominent thinker during the Enlightenment Age in Europe. Such thinkers held various philosophical beliefs which were a major cause of social change at the time. This ties in perfectly with our class’s current unitRead MoreSatire in Candide by Voltaire Essay example1474 Words   |  6 PagesSatire in Candide by Voltaire Voltaire who was a French writer, philosopher and one of the leaders of the Enlightenment is known as one of the greatest satirist ever. Voltaire wrote about important genres: tragedy, history, philosophy and fiction just as his English contemporary Samuel Johnson. American heritage dictionary defines satire as, An artistic work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. Irony or caustic wit used to expose or attack human follyRead MoreVoltaire Candide1311 Words   |  6 PagesMarie Arouet de Voltaire was the French author of the novella Candide, also known as Optimism(Durant and Durant 724). Voltaires Candide is a philosophical tale of one mans search for true happiness and his ultimate acceptance of lifes disappointments. Candide grows up in the castle of his uncle, a German baron, along with his optimistic scholar, Pangloss, and his young, beautiful cousin, Cunà ©gonde. When Candide falls in love with Cunà ©gonde and his uncle sees them kissing, Candide is thrown outRead MoreCandide by Franà §ois-Marie Arouet 979 Words   |  4 Pagescommonly known as Voltaire, wrote Candide. Voltaire â€Å"was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state (Wikipedia).† He was born November 21st 1694 into an upper-middle class family. Voltaire started showing an interest in writing at a young age. Candide was published in 1579. It was a French Satire. A satire is â€Å"the useRead MoreAnalysis Of Voltaire s Candide 964 Words   |  4 PagesCandide is a French satire that was first published in 1759 by Voltaire, who was a philosopher during the Enlightenment Age. It is a story about a young man, Candide, who is a follower of Leibnizian optimism. Candide witnesses and experiences many hardships in the world that puts his life at risk and tests the s trength of his beliefs. During Candide’s many adventures, he faces many historical events that Voltaire uses to simplify subtle philosophies and cultural traditions, by highlighting their