Background Notes – Voltaire and Candide
Voltaire
Born in France in 1694; died 1778
Writer, essayist, deist (belief in existence of a god on the evidence of reason
and nature only; rejects supernatural revelation), philosopher
Voltaire is pen name for Francois-Marie Arouet
Considered one of the greatest satirists in literature
One of several Enlightenment figures
His work influenced important thinkers of both the American and French
Revolutions
Outspoken supporter of social reform (hence the connection to the
Enlightenment/Age of Reason)
Known for his wit, philosophical sport, defense of civil liberties, including
freedom of religion
Most famous works – Dictionary of Philosophy; L’Ingenu (1767); Zadig
(1747); and Candide (1759)
Credited with creating/inventing the philosophical novel – minimally defined as
a genre in which characteristic elements of the novel are used as a vehicle
for the exploration of philosophical questions and concepts. In its “purest”
form, it perhaps most properly designates those relatively singular texts
which belong to both the history of philosophy and of literature. Term is
often used interchangeably with the more recent concept of the “novel of
ideas.”
Was Enlightenment’s most vigorous anti-religious polemicist (practictioner of
disputation or controversy); well-known advocate of intellectual freedom
Writing Style
Known for restraint (focus on primary subject/target) and simple verbal treatment
Candide is best example of his style (story attacks religious and philosophical
Optimism)
Almost all of his works (whether verse or prose) are preceded by Prefaces – this
models Voltaire’s caustic yet conversational tone
Works frequently contain phrases that refer to abuses of the people by royalty or
the Clergy
Candide features satire, irony, sarcasm and hyperbole
Style becomes tedious and onerous at times
Primary literary device as a satirist – IRONY (all types)
Irony is characterized by grim humor and understatement
Depended especially on exaggeration – also used euphemism, caricature (a
grotesque imitation or misrepresentation), parody
Candide Background
Story is a farcical, humorous, far-fetched tale of satire (uses BOTH Horatian and
Juvenalian)
Satirizes the philosophy of the time – Optimism (founded by Gottfried Wilhelm
Leibniz) which stated “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”
Leibniz was a brilliant mathematician, philosopher, and thinker who contended
that Earth is the best world possible inasmuch as it was created by a
benevolent, omniscient, all-powerful God. It was this idea that Voltaire
mercilessly satirizes in Candide.
Voltaire ridicules Leibniz and his philosophy as simple-minded and unrealistic –
uses the character Pangloss in the story as a parody of Leibniz.
Reflects Voltaire’s scathing response that Leibniz’s philosophy is an easy way to
rationalize evil and suffering in the world.
As a philosophical novel (or philosophical story), Candide features swift-moving
adventure story where characterization counts for little and the moral (or
sometimes immoral) lesson for much.
Story is said to be influenced by the injustices against Voltaire (exiles, abuses,
imprisonments, etc.)
Sentences are brief and sharp; original text is easy to understand; narrative moves
at lightening speed.
Because Voltaire sustains his rapid-fire presentation of details throughout the novel
and resorts repeatedly to irony, hyperbole, and sarcasm for effect (presented
in same sentence patterns); style becomes tedious at times.
Story reflects extensive use of ‘superlative’ – the ‘most beautiful castle’, the
gentlest of characters’, etc. – used with exaggerations to prepare readers for
dire events that follow (is a STRUCTURAL element)
Story overview - is a tale of an innocent/naïve young man embarking on a series of
adventures during which he discovers much evil in the world.
KEY FACTS – Story
Themes:
Corrupting power of money; religious hypocrisy; uselessness of philosophical
speculation; folly of optimism
Motifs:
Resurrection; rape; political oppression
Symbols:
Pangloss; the garden; the Lisbon earthquake (basis of Voltaire’s criticism of
Leibniz’s philosophy)
Genre: Satire; adventure novel
Language: French
Time and Place Written: Schwetzingen, Prussia; and Geneva, Switzerland;
1758–1759
Date First Published: January or February, 1759
Narrator: Anonymous satirical narrator
Point of View: The narrator speaks in the third person, focusing on the perspective
and experiences of Candide. Events and characters are described objectively most
of the time. Occasionally, they are described as Candide sees them, but this is
always done with an ironic tone.
Tone: Ironic; melodramatic
Tense: Past and present
Setting (Time): 1750s
Setting (Place): Various real and fictional locations in Europe and South America
STORY ELEMENTS:
PROTAGONIST ·
Candide
MAJOR CONFLICT ·
Candide and Pangloss’s optimistic world view is
challenged by numerous disasters; Candide’s love for Cunégonde is
repeatedly thwarted.
RISING ACTION ·
Candide is expelled from his home for kissing Cunégonde;
he wanders the world attempting to preserve his life and reunite with his
beloved.
CLIMAX ·
married.
Candide finds Cunégonde enslaved in Turkey; the two are
FALLING ACTION ·
Candide, Cunégonde, Pangloss, and their friends struggle
with boredom; they find solace in gardening.
FORESHADOWING ·
There is virtually no foreshadowing in this wildly
chaotic narrative. Candide’s repeated musings about what Pangloss would
think of events foreshadows Pangloss’s ‘resurrection’