The title character is instructed in the concept of optimism, which through the course of the short novel, he finds unraveling about him. So, too, is the faith in the power of human reason and equality between men, best represented by the garden at the end of the novel. Voltaire's Candide is a decidedly playful romp through certain parts of history, satirizing religion, philosophy, and government along the way. This direct, irreverent criticism of subjects considered sacred for centuries prior is central both to the Enlightenment, and to Voltaire's work. Characters like the Grand Inquisitor, the Bulgarian Captain, and the haughty Young Baron showcase the prejudice and irrationality of 18th century institutions. Churches, the aristocracy, and the military are viciously lampooned. They also advocated for greater legal and social equality between men.Īs a novel of the Enlightenment, Candide satirizes and critiques almost every powerful institution of its era. Enlightenment thinkers believed in using reason and scientific experiment, rather than doctrine and custom, as a guide in the remaking and improvement of life and society.
It questioned, and often harshly criticized, traditional views of science, religion, and the state.
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe which flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries. Candide is a central text of the Enlightenment.
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