Similarities Between Voltaire And Candide

During the 18th century, Enlightenment thinkers were concerned with a number of social issues. For example, Swiss born Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote of the struggle of man to create a free yet functional society. He was troubled with the idea of citizens being completely free and doing whatever they please. He believed that the people should do what they can for the common good. Also, the English philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft was deeply devoted to women’s rights. In Wollstonecraft’s society, women were viewed as ornaments of beauty and marriage. She was dedicated to advocating better opportunities for females. Additionally, in his writings, French philosophe Voltaire was attentive to the corruption that ran through the veins of society.
In his works he satirizes the crookedness of religious institutions by representing priests and religious leaders as rotten hypocrites. He frequently touches upon the government’s manipulative tendencies and abuse of power. Furthermore, he portrays money as another source of evil in a human being. The Enlightenment intellectuals were involved in the ridicule of numerous societal flaws. Voltaire tackled societal corruption by mocking it. Throughout his works he used insults and scorn to express his opinions. Firstly, Voltaire felt that both the government and church were the physical incarnates of corruption. He recognized that the government had complete control over its people, as if it were an all powerful puppeteer, looming over its toys. Demonstrating he beliefs, he said, “It is dangerous to be right when the established authorities are wrong.” He related this to the people’s limited right to expression, stating, “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” Voltaire speaks of how those in control restrict public opinion. The government’s abuse of power leads to an imprisonment of the people’s thoughts and beliefs. They are forced to conform to unjust principles. This false system of education creates a perpetual chain of corrupt individuals. It acts as an infection which seeps through citizens’ minds. Those who do not go along with the injustice become outcasts; social heretics in danger of grim punishment. In addition, Voltaire denounces the clergy, seeing them as blatant hypocrites guilty of contradicting the very ideology that they slaughter others for.
In his novel Candide, he thoroughly shares his thoughts on religion. In the text, the Pope himself has a daughter, breaking the papal oath. Voltaire also used an interaction between Candide and an old man to stress the hostile practices of the church. When Candide was questioning a man about his people’s religion, he asked the man about meeting a priest. The man replied that there were no priests, and everyone worshipped God equally. To this Candide exclaimed, "What! You have no monks who teach, argue, rule, plot and burn people who don't agree with them?” The shock expressed by Candide shows how Voltaire felt that the clergy were too commonly people of unsavory behavior and standards. Voltaire’s works were filled with vitriolic attack on the religion institutions of his
time. Voltaire also believed that wealth led to the corruption of man. He states, “Don’t think that money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” He sees that money will make a person change their ways, and that the ultimate state of happiness it creates is only a facade that has been brilliantly upheld. Once again, Voltaire expresses his thoughts through Candide. After Candide receives his money, he has to suffer through it all trickling away. The money only gathered fake friends, who in the end cause Candide’s levels of optimism to plummet. Candide’s companion tells him, “…your presents would soon be dissipated, and only make them the more miserable. You have rolled in millions of money, you and Cacambo; and yet you are not happier than Friar Giroflée and Paquette.” Candide’s gifts only made people increasingly troubled, and pushed Candide himself into a state of despair. The power of money to corrupt the individual remains unfading. Many of the social issues addressed by the Enlightenment philosophers are still in discussion today.
For example, humanity still struggles with religions toleration. Voltaire once stated that “the right of intolerance is absurd and barbaric.” In modern times, many are still unaccepting of others’ beliefs, such as anti-Christian groups in Nigeria and Indonesia. There has also been a spike in anti-Muslin sentiments in the United States. Religious discrimination is still a growing issue in contemporary society. An additional parallel between the Enlightenment and current times would be women’s issues. Mary Wollstonecraft’s cry for female education has still not been universally granted. In many Middle Eastern and North African regions young girls and women are being denied schooling, whether it be by vigorous cultural forces fighting against them or deep rooted familial tradition. Even if a family desires to send their daughters to school, they hold back to due to poor education systems and a need for someone to work at
home. Another concern from the Enlightenment would be questions over natural rights and spreading corruption. In nations with poor governments and citizens who lack knowledge of the law, natural rights are often ignored. John Locke’s principles of unalienable rights are something humanity strives for but not always reaches, as thousands of people are being killed or denied justice in conflicts around the world. Also, in places such as South Africa and Sierra Leone, corruption not only fills the government, but businesses and corporations have taken to corrupt behavior. For example, in 2001, the Agriculture Minister of Sierra Leone was convicted of embezzling $1.5 million United States dollars from World Bank development funds meant to help buy rice seed for struggling farmers. Social issues from the Enlightenment Era are still prominent in present day society.