Religion in Candide by Voltaire

825 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: voltaire's views on religion in candide

Every culture has almost a religion in the world. A religion is a collection of beliefs, views and cultural characteristics that completely reflects the culture and relate humanity. Religion continues to effect the people of any culture for a long time. In the books which they read, ın the places which they go or even ın their thoughts in which on their heads, religion is an important phenomenon for them. In world literature, there are many books which are written on this issue.One of the books is ‘Candide’. In this essay, we will analyse that how Voltaire’s portrait of religious figures is in ‘Candide’. In this book Voltaire portrays several religious groups and on these religious groups he conveys his opinions.
Voltaire often criticizes the religious figures of the times in ‘Candide’. His criticism of religion surfaces through the whole story. There are many figures that Voltaire criticizes and one of them is Jacques the Anabaptist. This is Voltaire’s satire. The Anabaptists are Christians who are in the radical reformation in the 16th century. During this period, the Anabaptists made a claim that resisted the Roman Catholic Church by expressing that baptism was reserved for only believers. Voltaire said that Jacques was a good Anabaptist in the ‘Candide’ though he was never baptized. The Anabaptist represents a solution or viewpoint of the sufferings. Anabaptist is a member of a radical sixteenth-century Christianity in which is a sect of the Reformation He cares for Candide and Pangloss. Pangloss says Candide that
‘Private misfortunes contribute to the general good, so that the more private misfortunes there are, the more we find that all is well’(pg 31) The kindness of the Anabaptist that Candide meets, sho...

... middle of paper ...

...status. There is a irony situation that one of the main principles of the Jesuits is social justice. Pangloss and his religious authorities say that ‘received this present from a very learned Franciscian monk who owed it to a marquise, who caught it from a Jesuit’(pg 38). This shows that Voltaire’s view of them is selfish and snooty. However, it is suggested that the Jesuits see themselves better than the other religion sects.
In conclusion, in ‘Candide’, there are so many attacks and criticism on religion. Voltaire criticise the religion figures in a different ways. He attacked the religious figures by showing an example in which they judged the people. He criticised the corruption of the people who work in religious ministry by writing about the life of the daughter of Pope and he attacked the intricacy of religion by showing the benefits of the religion.

Show More
Related

  • Candide, Death Of Ivan Ilyich, And The Metamorphosis

    1380 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author, Voltaire, wrote in the Enlightenment period, a literary movement characterized by the rising concern of philosophy, science, and politics. Voltaire’s writing was influenced by the Enlightenment movement to create awareness of global issues. This is evident in the repeated tragedies Candide stumbles upon. Social issues, corrupt authority figures, and war are real world topics that Voltaire chooses to address in Candide. The satirical nature of Candide allows for an in-depth discussion between the characters regarding the problems they face and the problems of the people they meet, creating a perspective that the audience is forced to look through. It is also a coming of age story, not just for Candide, but for the rising awareness in global issues. Voltaire’s inclusion of the issues of his time reflect the severity of those issues. Satire is used as a reaction to a society’s hypocrisy. Candide as a satirical piece reflects what people have neglected to pay attention to. Coming into a new era of awareness and responsibility leads Candide to reflect on the live he lived in Westphalia and the people he encountered across

    Read More

  • Hypocrisy In Candide

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout Voltaire’s Candide, the implications of religious symbols and figures are used to satirize the philosophy of paternal optimism by highlighting hypocrisy in the Church. The role of the Church in historical context offers significant insight into the analysis of the text. Candide was written in 1759, a period where people started questioning the authority of the Church to explore reason as a means for acquiring knowledge. With this in mind, Candide’s religious implications are relevant with consideration to the time period. By stressing the theme of institutional hypocrisy and separation between the Church and religious values, Voltaire invalidates the Church’s role as a supreme authority and thus addresses man’s need for an altered

    Read More

  • Examples Of Hypocrisy In Candide

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a time of religious upheaval in Europe, post-Lutheran theses and in the midst of political revolutions, Voltaire offers another option to the religious institutions of this time in his novel Candide: deism. He poses this option by satirizing organized religions to illustrate their corruption and hypocrisy.

    Read More

  • Literary Criticism Of Candide

    2241 Words  | 5 Pages

    Autobiographer, essayist, playwright, poet, satirist, Enlightenment writer and philosopher – these are just a few of the hats worn by French born François-Marie Arouet, more famously known by the adopted pen name Voltaire. Beyond his written work Voltaire was an outspoken advocate for the freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state. He used his versatile literary work as a tool to criticize the Catholic Church and overall intolerant French society. Voltaire’s cynical writing reached its highest potential in his rapid-fire satire Candide, or Optimism. In the novella, Voltaire told the story of Candide – a young man on a quest for happiness and spiritual fulfillment who encountered tragic setbacks that eventually led to bitter disillusionment. The purpose of Candide was to mock philosophers of the

    Read More

  • Use of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaire's Candide

    603 Words  | 2 Pages

    Use of Satire to Target Religion, Military, and Optimism in Voltaire's 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.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Knowledge And Power

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    Voltaire, Francois-Marie A. “Candide.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature: 1650-1800. Eds. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack. 2nd ed. Vol. D. New York: W. W. Norton, 2002. 520-567. Print.

    Read More

  • Criticism In Voltaire's 'Candide'

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    In chapter 5 of book Candide, the Enlightenment period and the birth of tolerance were on full display. In Candide, the Enlightenment thinkers’ view of the optimum world is challenged through satiric examples of the Lisbon Bay and Lisbon Earthquake. Voltaire continues to use ironically tragic events to test Pangloss’s contention with the phenomenon of evil. The use of grotesque and naive behavior between individuals in this chapter makes you really question their irrational thinking with the cause and effects of the events that just transpired.

    Read More

  • Optimism and Pessimism in Voltaire’s Candide

    1176 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Voltaire’s Candide, we are taken by the hand through an adventure which spanned two continents, several countries, and to a multitude of adverse characters. The protagonist, Candide, became the recipient of the horrors which would be faced by any person in the 18th century. But Candide was always accompanied with fellows sufferers, two of which our focus will lay, Pangloss and Martin. In equal respects, both are embodiments of different philosophies of the time: Pangloss the proponent of Optimism and Martin the proponent of Pessimism. Each of the two travelers is never together with Candide, until the end, but both entice him to picture the world in one of their two philosophies. Throughout the story there is an apparent ebb and flow from Candide on how to think of the world. By the end of his journey, Candide will be presented with evidence to lead to his agreement of either Optimism or Pessimism. But I submit, Candide does not become a firm believer in either philosophies but rather retains a philosophy in between Optimism and Pessimism, somewhat of a stoic mentality. Thus Voltaire’s opinion on philosophy will be predicated upon his character, Candide.

    Read More

  • Criticism of Religion in Voltaire’s Candide

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his novel Candide, Voltaire often criticized religious beliefs of the times. His criticism of religion surfaces throughout the entire story. The kindness of the Anabaptist that Candide met showed the silliness of religious prejudices. The old woman's story of her father, Pope Urban X, and the life of wealth she lived as a child shows the corruption of the Catholic clergy. Finally, the conversation Candide and Cacambo had with the old man in Eldorado shows the benefits of a simple religion, a contrast of the European religions of the time.

    Read More

  • Religion, Politics and Morals in Voltaire’s Candide

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each chapter of Candide is a part of the story which Voltaire carefully expresses his concerns and criticism of 18th century society. Chapter 11 “The History of the old women” in particular criticises the pre-modern era in regards to religion. The enlightenment period called for freedom of religion from many philosophers ...

    Read More

  • Sarcasm about Religion in Voltaire´s Candide

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion has always been something that has been argued for centuries long ago. Voltaire has never been afraid to clearly speak his opinions on how he sees religion really is. Many have argued whether religion is actual belief or just a lot of hypocrisy from religion towards the world. The way Voltaire portrays religion in Candide it is some belief but mostly hypocrisy due to the secrets being held and all of the lies being told. He was never a big fan of religion and he satires it a lot and reveals what some religion really does. What Voltaire says is that religion seems fair but it is deep within lies that they do not follow their own rules and he addresses that by showing the many examples when they do something they should not do. Voltaire shows it with sarcasm and he uses wit as well seeing if the reader can notice how it would be ironic for religion to be portrayed in that manner.

    Read More

  • Social Criticism In Voltaire's Candide

    1641 Words  | 4 Pages

    Voltaire uses the episode of “The storm, the shipwreck, the earthquake, and what became of Dr. Pangloss, of Candide, and of Jacques the Anabaptist” to speak about the idea of nature being good being false. Through the use of various characters and episodes, Voltaire criticizes and attacks religion, social class structure, and the idea that nature is good by creating situations in which he shows his opinion on the overall flaws of society.

    Read More

  • Candide Religion

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Ecrasons l’infame,” which is interpreted, “We must crush the vile thing.” This is the expression Voltaire used to articulate his feelings for organized religion. With many natural theists soon to follow his path, Voltaire expressed his hatred for cultural religions, opting for a universal God of nature. Given a few more centuries, Darwin would have given Voltaire the scientific theory to support his desire for atheism. But alas, with no other theory in place, intelligent individuals of 18th century France were forced to use creationism to explain the world in its beauty and organization. This, as previously stated, was not a problem for Voltaire. His issue was the moral implications that separated religious groups, often to the point of war with one another. Religious intolerance was a subject he dealt with in many of his works, especially Candide. The religious characters in this work were mostly negative with the exception of Brethren predecessor, the Anabaptist, and the old woman. His opinion of various religions was also established in Candide, although it was simply a vague one, clumping all organized religions into an “evil superstitions” category. The conclusion of this work also gave us insight on Voltaire’s view of religion as either positive or detrimental to society and the individual.

    Read More

  • Candide

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the entire book, Voltaire portrays religious men, such as monks and priests, as hypocrites who do not live up to the religious standards that they set upon others. Voltaire first attacks the men of the Church and their hypocrisy in chapter three. After escaping from the Bulgars, Candide was obviously in need of food and possibly medical attention, but could find no help. When he came upon a minister who had just spoken of charity, Candide asked for some food to eat, but was harshly turned away. After speaking of charity to others, the minister turned Candide away just because they didn’t share the same view of the Pope. To make matters worse, the minister’s wife proceeded to throw a pot of urine over Candide’s head. Voltaire used these rather repulsive acts to show the hypocrisy found in many church affiliated men of his time. One minute the minister was talking to the townspeople of charity and brotherly love, while the next minute he rudely dismissed a man in need of that very Christian ideal. While I don’t completely agree with Voltaire that the religious men of that time were so blatantly hypocritical, ...

    Read More

  • The Meaning of Eldorado in Voltaire’s Candide

    2476 Words  | 5 Pages

    Voltaire, Francois-Marie Arouet de. “Candide.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. Shoter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 100-59. Print.

    Read More

More about Religion in Candide by Voltaire

Open Document