`` Candide `` A Satire Of The Social, And The Scientific...

The Enlightenment was a time when authority was questioned, which enforced change. It emerged out of the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. The Reformation called for a reform of the catholic church. The Scientific Revolution called for moral, social, and political thought to rely on the scientific method and reason rather than the current system of tradition cultural authorities. These changes and ideas continued into the Enlightenment. During his time Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), who wrote under the name Voltaire, was an Enlightenment thinker who helped invoke this change. One way he did this was through his novel Candide, a satire of the issues in society. Throughout this book, the character Candide experiences†¦show more content†¦Throughout the book Candide searches for Cunà ¨gonde to save and marry her. When Candide finally finds her and asks the Baron for approval for marriage, he responds, â€Å"I shall never allow her to disgrace herself so meanl y†¦ No, my sister shall never marry none but a Baron of the Holy Roman Empire† (Voltaire, Candide, p.138). The Baron, Cunà ¨gonde brother refuses to allow this marriage to take place because of Candide’s lack of high social status. Candide response to this is stating all he has done to prove himself, â€Å"I have taken you from the galleys and paid your ransom, and I have paid your sister’s, too. I found her washing dishes, and she’s as ugly as a witch. Yet when I have the decency to make her my wife, you still raise objections† (Voltaire, Candide, p.138). The fact that Candide has done so much to save those two after their home was destroyed, their parents murdered, and they were forced into many hardships just shows how much weight is on social status rather than a worthy mate. Voltaire is using satire to exaggerate what a person could do and still not be considered worthy enough to marry someone of a higher status. This is unjust and by poi nting out this flaw in society in a satirical way, he exposes people to Enlightenment ideas in a way that people may listen to. In the end of this book Candide marries Cunà ¨gonde anyways, and the Baron is sent back to the galleys to suffer. This shows that thereShow MoreRelatedCandide : A Reflection Of The Enlightenment1325 Words   |  6 Pages Candide: A Reflection of the Enlightenment Francois-Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire was an 18th century French philosopher and writer during the Enlightenment period. Voltaire’s most famous work of literature; Candide follows a young man who grows up in a Baron’s castle (Castle Thunder-ten-tronckh), under the instruction of Dr. Pangloss, a tutor and philosopher who worships optimism even under extreme circumstances. 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