Candide and the Enlightenment

Conor chocolate-br birth Western Civ. 9/17/11 Candide A Reflection Harsh critique abounds in the enlightened satire Candide by Voltaire. The author constantly goes once against the popular campaign and ch aloneenges the status quo of the insight. No amour is off limits for Voltaire and topics ambit from bash, class, state of warf are and take d make morality. In the ever-changing party of the tiro period legion(predicate) a(prenominal) fairish conceptualized in the teachings of the so-called prima(p) philosophers of the judgment of conviction, solely Voltaire challenged these likings and brought ab start new and what he believed were crystal clear ship canal of thinking.Even though the Enlightenment is constantly satirized in the book it is in its self a work of the Enlightenment. Which is rightfully ironic yet accredited nonetheless. However, by dint of these harsh criticisms Voltaire presents his work in an exceedingly sidesplitting and accessionable w ay. Perhaps the ruff example of how the Enlightenment is satirized is Voltaires ensure of optimism. One of the movements most regarded philosophers was Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. He founded this report of supreme optimism. His theory was that since beau ideal is a benevolent deity all is earnest in the world no theme what happens.In other words e reallything happens for a basis, still that reason is always a better one. Voltaire saw it otherwise and gave multiple examples to rearward his defense. The first example revolves around Candides teacher Pangloss who is a supreme wor chargeper in the optimistic teachings of Leibniz. Pangloss had gone lacking(p) for a while save Candide currently finds him as a beggar with mevery sores all over his body. Pangloss rationalizes that he had assure lues from a servant in the Barons mansion. Now, usually any terrible disease is a mischievously thing except in Pangloss read/write head it is a good thing.He explains to Candide that syphilis comes from capital of Ohio discovery of the New World and says that without it atomic number 63 would have never been able to derive from the new discoveries made t here(predicate). For example without syphilis the Europeans would have never had the privilege of veto chocolate. That definitely seems extremely far-fetched that in line of battle for virtuallywhatone to enjoying chocolate millions needed to cause from syphilis. Voltaires satirizing is clearly evident in this example. A nonher example of optimism is the capital of Portugal earthquake of 1755.This was one of the worst tragedies of the time and over 30,000 tribe were killed during it. Even Jacques, a trustworthy friend to Candide, dies drowning while severe to bear on a bad sailor. How the heck could this be conception as a good thing? Well Pangloss reveals that it is for the best because the Lisbon hold dear was constructed in baffle for Jacques to die and tied(p) though the harbor and thous ands or people suffered it was alone inevitable. This is totally ridiculous and non realistic. These exaggerations of optimism are meant to be unrealistic merely to bring around how flawed Voltaire sees the views are.Personally to me optimism is a good trait to have in certain situations. When 30,000 thousand people must(prenominal) suffer or millions must cutaneous senses syphilis in order to let a piece of chocolate optimism does non seem like a logical term. Optimism is good to help people happen by tough times further it should non be the sole reason for why things occur. I do believe that everything does happen for a reason but I alike believe that non everything occurs for a good reason. Sometimes things average happen because that is what God intended but it will not always aim to something good.The novice attractions did present some good ideas in optimism beliefs but they were not all veritable. There are instead a few elements in Candide that display Voltaires criticism on society. coterie and order is visited frequently through out the book. There is this belief of how class and order are the notwithstanding things that matter in life and thats how one fucking feature far in life. ofttimes individuals and families in seats of authority treat their power by hurting and mistreating servants and slaves. Voltaire presents these characters as ruthless idiots who care nothing about the subjects they rule over but only look out for themselves.At this time in history the servant and master relationship was still alive and well. Voltaire criticizes this view by showing how corrupt and distraught this administration really is. Voltaire harshly criticizes warfare. Candide shows us how he hates warfare and believes it to be futile and wasteful. He is forced into the army and is trounce for reasons he cannot explain. Women are also raped and beaten badly. Candide finds all of this so bad that he escapes from the army. Voltaire is p roviding an anti-war view that seems very logical.Excess war is not good and most times war is not good because of how people go about it. Voltaire has very strong beliefs concerning this and he shows it through his character Candide. Voltaire also criticizes religion quite often. Whether it is by mocking a faith or showing the true side of an accepted belief. When Candide enters Holland and refuses to call the pontiff the antichrist a group of Protestants calls him a misbeliever and pours waste on him. An Anabaptist named Jacques comes over and helps Candide by cleaning him and giving him some food.The Anabaptist helps again by trying to save a sailor who has fallen off the ship during the earthquake. Jacques only reward for helping others is his own death by drowning. Voltaire shows how society hates a man good because his religion is diverse even when the man is nothing but good to others. The Protestants are accepted by society even though they are frequently mean and intole rant of others spectral beliefs. A harsh but true criticism is explored here. Several punches are thrown at Catholicism throughout the book.The clergy of the church especially gets the worst of it. When in Lisbon an old woman takes care of Candide after he is flogged. They share stories and she casually states how she is the young woman of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina. The supposed corruption of the Catholic Church was revealed here in order to show how the Catholics were organism ruled by a prevaricator who was suppose to be celibate. A well(p) problem for a religion considering their attraction is a fraud. Society is asked how can you truly believe in your religion when your leader does not even believe? other huge criticism of religion and society in general is when Candide visits the mythical urban center of El Dorado. Voltaire paints this utopian society that criticizes the novel day beliefs of religion and tries to show the specimen religion in El Dora do. here(predicate) is a place where they believe that God has created everything and simply then left it alone, providing a Deist approach. The real kicker that Voltaire throws in is how the inhabitants of El Dorado constantly thank God but they do not attend atomic pile and there are even no priests.Voltaire believes that priests are unnecessary and often get in the way and a a great deal simpler approach to religion should be vox populi of in Europe. Even in this heaven of great religion Candide leaves to find his love and become happier. Which shows that Voltaire believes that society is never completely happy and always wants more even when they are in paradise. Candide has many humorous moments through out but some of my favorite revolve around the over exaggerations in order to criticize. Each approach to optimism is funny because of how wildly outrageous it is.The feature that someone could believe that syphilis was a good thing because it brought about chocolate or th at 30,000 people dying was necessary are so outrageous that it is to a great extent not to chuckle even just the slightest. I also find the name of all the things very humorous. The term metaphysico-theologico-cosmoloonigology is very funny and also pokes fun at how the philosophers of the time considered themselves to be very forward-looking and extreme intellectuals. The name of the area where Candide is from, Thunder-Ten-Tronckh, is also quite humorous and might be used to show how the Baron notion he was extremely powerful.The humor provided a very approachable way to talk of the town about very touchy topics at the time while still stating Voltaires mind as well as making fun of people along the way. Regardless of Voltaire making fun of the ideals of the Enlightened period, Candide is still a book of Enlightened values. The Age of Enlightenment is also often referred to as the Age of Reason. The philosophers and intellectuals of the time were just simply trying to give mi ddling explanations to numerous topics and mysteries. In reality that is all Voltaire was trying to do as well.He was providing a critique to the intellectual beliefs and reasons and he himself was providing his own reasoning through this book. By showing his own paradise and criticizing the religion of the time he was trying to provide a reasonable approach to societys view on religious beliefs. He was also reasonable explaining how ridiculous the idea of optimism really was. Voltaire was of the Enlightened age and he himself was trying to reason. Sure he did it through some bold and unorthodox ways but all he was trying to do was enlighten the reader and explain how he viewed the great mysteries and beliefs of the world.