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. A picaresque novel with a story similar to that of a more serious coming-of-age narrative ( Bildungsroman ), it parodies many adventure and romance clichs, the struggles of which are caricatured in a tone that is bitter and matter-of-fact. This direct, irreverent criticism of subjects considered sacred for centuries prior is central both to the Enlightenment, and to Voltaire's work. Candide is characterized by its tone as well as by its erratic, fantastical, and fast-moving plot. 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. Voltaire's challenge to the aristocracy of his day proves refreshingly amusing and biting today. Candide is a central text of the Enlightenment. Candide A satirical novel following the travails of Candide, a hopeless optimist whose faith in his tutor's mantra that his is 'the best of all possible worlds' is tested beyond all limits.
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