Voltaire's Candide: The Age Of Reason

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In the novella, Candide, by penned by French philosopher Voltaire, the author offers numerous messages detailing his thoughts on the role of human beings in both the natural world, as well as in human society; in addition to that, he also articulates a variety of criticisms in regards to the society he was born into. Voltaire, originally known as François Marie Arouet, was born in 1694, which, incidentally was just as a new era was to begin, the Age of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a time of great change in both Societal and Scientific thoughts. These changes led to revisions in how European citizens viewed their previously accepted philosophical and political structures. It would be fair to say that …show more content…
Be them simply wealthy or religious figures in power, they are never shown to be anything but cruel. While Voltaire wasn’t against religion, he was against what religion could drive people to do and how people abused religion to serve themselves. More specifically, he was often outspoken against hypocrisy, as shown in Candide, as it is fairly common to see several men of the cloth who are unable to remain celibate around Cunégonde, the romantic interest of the eponymous hero, Candide. As Cunégonde says, “[...] the Grand Inquisitor noticed me one day at Mass, he ogled me throughout the service, and then sent word that he had to speak with me on private business [...] a proposition was made on his behalf [...] the Jew would have Mondays, Wednesdays, and the Sabbath, the Inquisitor would have the other days of the week [...]” (Voltaire 20). This is one of several ways religious officials are shown to go against their assumed positions. Early on in the story, not long after Candide had been kicked out of the castle of Baron von Thunder-ten-tronckh and subsequently being conscripted by the Bulgars and his escape from them, he found himself on the street, begging for bread. Seeing that an orator had just been giving a speech about charity, he decides to ask if he could have some bread, in return, the orator asks if he believes the Pope to be the Antichrist. Innocently, Candide replies, “[...] I’ve not heard it said before now [...] but whether he is or is not, I am in need of food [...]” (Voltaire 9). As a result of his unwillingness to confirm the Pope’s “Antichrist Status” he is then insulted, and has human waste poured on him. Voltaire writes this to illustrate his aforementioned dislike of hypocrisy. That’s not to say his displeasure was limited strictly to religion, as he showed even Candide’s teacher, Dr. Pangloss showed hypocrisy. Eventually, a friendly Anabaptist named Jacques took
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