In the first chapters of the satire Candide by Voltaire the reader may clearly notice how a constant tone of sarcasm is present as the environments of the book are described. In the very first page the stereotypical and conservative oligarchy of 18th century Europe is made fun of as Voltaire informs the reader “the most influential noblemen in Wesphalia” was a man who had a house with a door and some windows in it and for that he was called his Lordship (19). A tittle often given to men of considerably wealth and power within monarchies, yet in this case he only has a door and windows to defend such a title. Additionally Voltaire makes fun of the common believe in those days that everything that is and happens does so for the best of reasons and results. Through the dialogue of Doctor Pangloss he makes fun of such a theory as he states “Legs were clearly intended for breeches, and we wear them” (20). An incredibly absurd argument to be made in favor of such a theory, as it creates the opposite effect evidently making fun of the nature of the argument and those who usually make it. Implying that those who argue such a theory have no true argument that proves them right, and dispute stupidly, just like Doctor Pangloss. Moreover, when Doctor Pangloss is trying to convince James, an amicable Dutch Anabaptist that all was designed for the best, James adamantly disagrees. As they debate the ship is captured in what Voltaire describes as a “most terrible storm”, in no form can it be a coincidence that the ship encountered a storm in such a specific moment (32). The message is quite evident as it directly contradicts Doctor Pangloss statement as they are about to enter panic and most likely tragedy, not at all a good thing to happen.
Furthermore, when Cadide, the protagonist is kicked out of his noble house by the prominent Baron, Voltaire unequivocally mocks the way a general would describe warfare as Candide himself presences the horrors of war. To begin with, all recruits and members of the army are referred to as “heroes” a label ideally only given to the most courageous and honorable of fighters. However not in this world as every soldier is given such a name, even those who fight for the other faction are referred to as “heroes”, hence suggesting that by only being in the army a man may be a hero. As the story develops the diction utilized to portray the destruction left by war is the one a general would use to hide the atrocities committed by his men. After the battle Candide informs the reader how “girls who had satisfied the appetites of…heroes lay disembollewed in their last agonies”, note that in no way is the heinous act of rape stated contemptuously (26). Nor are the men called savages instead of heroes, in fact, it is stated as if the victorious general said those girls deserved it and his men had to be rewarded. Later on when Candide finally leaves the affected area, what he leaves behind is not described as an ominous and dreadful place, but rather as “the theater of war” (26). As if such massacres were an everyday doing that did not violate our very own humanity. Such use of diction can only have the purpose of making fun of the typical way generals or men in power try to soften the evil done through words.
This is only the beginning of the story and I am sure much more is to come, I am eager to see what other ways of attacking society Voltaire has through Candide’s adventures. I can see why this is called a true example of satirical writing as it uses absurdity, irony and hyperboles to target and ridicule reality.
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