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Essay on ŸWPC{‹‹‹
| Date: |
01-28-01 11:19pm |
| Subject: |
History |
| Word Count: |
832 |
| Page Count: |
3.33 |
ÿWPC{‹‹‹
S'English 204(c)06
Mary Ann Gasior
4 March 1997
Ô'Ô'that there were many problems with European society. He expressed these views
through satirizing one young manÀ Às adventure throughout the world. One of the
elements of European society he disagreed with was the religion. Voltaire felt that
there was hypocrisy and problems with both the religious beliefs and the religious
figures of Europe.
Á44¢perfect country of EldoradoÀ Às religion (pg. 67), by pointing out how unchristian many
Christians act (pg. 23(c)24), and through the meaning and effects of auto(c)de(c)fÀ)Às (pg. 35).
In Eldorado they only worshiped one God (pg.67). TodayÀ Às Christians as well as
EuropeanÀ Às Christians claimed to worship only one God. Voltaire might have been
referring to the unconscious worshiping of other inanimate objects such as money and
wealth as well as placing to much emphasis on saints and other personages. In
Eldorado people didnÀ Àt ask God for anything, instead they thanked him for what they
had (pg. 67). The people of Eldorado were more grateful and less demanding than the
Europeans. A good religion should be grateful and not demanding, which is what
Voltaire was trying to point out. The monks of Eldorado did not burn everyone who Ôother people views and beliefs that the church officials simply kill anyone who does
not agree with them. Voltaire felt that Eldorado was as near perfect a society as could
be achieved. He shows us the blueprints of EldoradoÀ Às religion to point out the error
in the actual religions of the time.
Á44¢believe Christians were as caring and compassionate as they should have been. The
country of Holland was know for its Christian values and caring nature. When
Candide went to Holland the treatment he received from the Christians was anything
but Christian and caring. In Holland, he asked a man who had just finished delivering
a speech on charity, for something to eat. Instead of giving him food the man called
him names and turned him away. His wife then proceeded to dump a full chamber
pot on Candide (pg. 24). In this land of Christians the only person Candide could find
to help him was James the Anabaptist who was not a baptized Christian (pg. 24).
This short scenario is similar to the biblical story of the good Samaritan, the person
who it seems is the only one without an obligation or is expected to help the poor and
unfortunate is the only one who does. Voltaire is pointing out through this short scene
in Holland the lack of Christian values and actions that the supposed Christians are
demonstrating.
Á44¢Voltaire makes the practice of an auto(c)de(c)fÀ)À look like a cruel and inhuman activity. In
Lisbon the Grand Inquisitor orders the murder of perfectly innocent people in an autoÔwhat he wants (pg. 35). The idea of a religious authority using an auto(c)de(c)fÀ)À for
purely personal reasons is not the way a good religion is established. The Grand
Inquisitor also treats the auto(c)de(c)fÀ)À as a form of celebration (pg. 35). The murder of
innocent people is not a very honorable form of entertainment. Voltaire obviously
does not agree with the practice of an auto(c)de(c)fÀ)À and points out the problems through
satire.
Á44¢the hypocrisy involved but he also has a problem with the individual religious figures
and their legitimacy. He satirizes both the Catholic and Jewish authority figures when
he looks at the tug or war they play over the ownership of Cunegonde. Voltaire
makes it seem as both the Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar want Cunegonde for
their own personal property (pg. 35). The catholic church prides itself on the chastity
of itÀ Às clergy. In this book the fictional Pope Urban X has a daughter (pg. 42) A
footnote that is supposedly VoltaireÀ Às makes it seem as though this is not an unusual
situation. À ÀNote the authorÀ Às extreme discretion! So far there has been no pope
named Urban X; he is afraid to ascribe a bastard daughter to a known pope. What
circumspection! What delicacy of conscience!ÀÀ (note 3). The old woman tells the
story of her past during which she is being held captive with a group of other young
women. The young women along with their guards are being starved out by an
enemy. A Moslem chaplain in the fort told the guards to cut of one buttock from each
of the women to eat so they Ôpart of someoneÀ Às body is not what would be thought of as a À ÀcharitableÀÀ action.
Voltaire is pointing out what a charitable action really is, and what it is not. The
Jesuits do not seem to have a very charitable or generous nature either. According to
the Jesuits the best form of government is when the Fathers have everything and the
common people have nothing. À ÀThe Fathers have everything, the people have nothing;
itÀ Às a masterpiece of reason and justice(pg. 53).ÀÀ No one would call this a good
religion or government. This is how Voltaire viewed European government and
religion.
Á44¢parallels between the European religion and the religion of the people Candide met
along his journey. He felt that many religions were hypocritical and were not as good
and charitable as they should be. The church figures that Voltaire introduces are not
as honest, and divine as they should be. He gives the example of the imaginary
country of EldoaraÀ Às religion for what European religion should be more like.
Ô'Ô'
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