Candide and the Enlightenment

Voltaire was a very misanthropic satirist who lived in eighteenth century France. While in exile for critiquing the French Church, he stayed in England who was, at that time, s eeral(prenominal) years ahead of France in regards to social evolution. Here, he witnessed a different government and a different corporation. Upon his return to France, he realized how different legislation was. At this time, enlightened theme was in line with buoyant thought. One of the most fundamental philosophers was the creator of this theory of optimism, G.W. von Leibniz. Leibniz claimed that everything that happened was eternally for the outstrip and that there was no former(a) way it could salve happened. Though most erudition writers believed in this view, Voltaire did not. Thus, he band out to write Candide, which would establish one of the most lasting and most influential satires ever written, even after the rescript it was written for had died off. In the book, Voltaire is criticizing the skill philosophy of optimism, corrupt and old institutions, and the hypocrisy of people in general. In the book, Candide starts off as an ignorant boy in Westphalia, who is taught by Dr. Pangloss that everything that happens is for the best and that it could not happen any new(prenominal) way. It is quite apparent that Dr. Pangloss represents Leibniz.

Thus, Candide believes in this optimistic theory and goes through the whole book stressful to believe this thought. Here, he move in love with the art leaders little girl Cunégonde. One night, he is be petting her and is promptly exiled because he is not of high abounding class. This starts a chain of events that in truth show the backwards family that Candide (and Voltaire) lived in. throughout the book, Candide goes through a battle, an earthquake, a gauntlet of 2,000 men, a thrashing, a murder, and several other misfortunes. After each incident, he unwisely thinks that this is all for the best and was meant to happen. Voltaire uses these unbelievable events to show...If you want to get at a full essay, request it on our website: Orderessay

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