Essay about Use of Satire in Voltaires Candide - 1568 Words

Successful Use of Satire in Voltaires Candide Voltaires Candide is the story of how one mans adventures affect his philosophy on life. Candide begins his journey full of optimism that he lives in the best of all possible worlds, but he learns that it is naà ¯ve to say that good will eventually come of any evil. Voltaire successfully uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century. He criticizes religion, the evils found in every level of society, and a philosophy of optimism when faced with an intolerable world. Candide portrays religious persecution as one of the most worst aspects of society. Voltaire rejects the superstitious beliefs that the church†¦show more content†¦Christianity teaches that we are all Gods children, but the Negro is a slave to a cruel master that has cut off his arm and leg. The old woman tells Candide a story of a supposed holy man that convinces the Janizaries not to kill the women for food, but only to slice off one of their buttocks to eat. This pious and compassionate Moslem priest convinced them that heaven will be pleased by such a charitable action (Voltaire 48). Voltaire attacks the corruption within the church and its officials as well. The Grand Inquisitor, a significant clergyman, makes Cunegonde his mistress at a Mass service. Even more ironic is that he shares her with a Jew. It was a Franciscan priest that robbed Lady Cunegonde of her money and jewels. The old woman identifies herself as the bastard daughter of a pope, and the papacy is also identified as keeping soldiers for private use. When Candide is ill in France, a clergyman is one of the many that harasses him in attempt on his wealth. Ironically, the disease that Pangloss catches from Paquette, originated from a Franciscan priest. Voltaire portrays the church as violent and corrupt and the clergy as parsimonious fortune hunters. Candide also discovers evils in every level of society. Voltaire criticizes the inordinate pride ofShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz773 Words   |  4 Pages The Use of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide Satire. According to dictionary.com it is â€Å"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize peoples stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues†. During a time when going against the common mindset, which at the time was philosophical optimism, was rare and often looked down upon, using satire in order to not only communicate one’s beliefs but also mock those who shared the mainstreamRead MoreEssay on Use of Satire to Attack Optimism in Voltaires Candide1358 Words   |  6 PagesUse of Satire to Attack Optimism in Voltaires Candide       In its time, satire was a powerful tool for political assault on Europes corrupt and deteriorating society. Voltaires Candide uses satire to vibrantly and sarcastically portray optimism, a philosophical view from the Enlightenment used to bury the horrors of 18th century life: superstition, sexually transmitted diseases, aristocracy, the church, tyrannical rulers, civil and religious wars, and the cruel punishment of the innocentRead More Use of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaires Candide 602 Words   |  3 PagesUse of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaires Candide    In his work, Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century.   Voltaire successfully criticizes religion, the military, and the philosophy of optimism.   Religious leaders are the targets of satire throughout Candide. Voltaire portrays the religious clergy as men who use their positions to further their own causes. 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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 MoreCandide by Voltaire847 Words   |  3 PagesCandide Paper Many critics argue that Candide is not an enlightened work, but Voltaire’s satire thoroughly reflects on the philosophical morals and lessons of the Enlightenment. Voltaire’s satire comments on the political, social, and religious views of the time, emphasizing the beliefs of a majority of enlightenment thinkers and philosophers. Voltaire demonstrates three different enlightenment thoughts or views in his work: anti-feudalism, optimism, and the hypocrisy of the Christian church.Read MoreCandide by Voltaire Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesCandide Voltaire’s most classic work, Candide, is a satiric assault on most everything that was prevalent in society during the author’s lifetime. The entire novel can be regarded as a bleak story where every character compares life stories to see whose life is worse. Just when the novel cannot get anymore morbid or depressing, it does, to a much greater degree. While Candide is generally considered a universal denunciation, it is optimism that Voltaire is attacking to the greatestRead MoreVoltaire Candide1311 Words   |  6 Pageswas 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 out of his home and enrollsRead MoreCandide Essay1302 Words   |  6 PagesCandide Essay Compare/Contrast of 2 Characters Throughout the story of Candide, the author Voltaire uses many of the characters to portray important things in life. The two characters that Voltaire used the most were Candide and Pangloss. Voltaire used these two characters to represent a particular idea or folly that he had about the world. In the story Candide, Voltaire is always portraying his own ideas by using the characters to illustrate his own ideas. Candide and Pangloss represent theRead More Essay on Satire in Voltaires Candide625 Words   |  3 PagesUse of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Voltaire successfully uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about life.   In his novel, Candide, Voltaire satirizes the philosopher Liebnitzs philosophy that this is the best of all possible worlds.   In the novel, the perpetually optimistic and naive character, Candide, travels around the world, having various experiences that prove, at least to the reader, that evil does exist.      In one particular passage, Voltaire uses explicit