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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay that discusses the role and depiction of women in Voltaire’s Candide. The word “optimism” was coined and first appeared in print in 1737 (Wood 192). It was associated with a philosophical position that, despite the existence of problems and evils in the world, God’s creation is “as good as it could be” (Wood 192) and, therefore, the society of the early eighteenth century enjoyed the “best of all possible worlds” (Voltaire 3-4). This is the concept that Voltaire satirizes in this brilliant comedy Candide. Among the many themes and aspects of European society that Voltaire mercilessly lampoons in this satire is the position women in society at that time. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khwomcan.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and evils in the world, Gods creation is "as good as it could be" (Wood 192) and, therefore, the society of the early eighteenth century enjoyed the "best of all
possible worlds" (Voltaire 3-4). This is the concept that Voltaire satirizes in this brilliant comedy Candide. Among the many themes and aspects of European society that Voltaire mercilessly lampoons in
this satire is the position women in society at that time. There are only three female characters in the novel, Cunegund, the old woman and Paquette-and they are all
raped and sexually exploited. Part of the humor of the work is the incredibly casual attitude that the all of the characters have toward the horrendous actions that are described.
This suggests the commonplace nature of female suppression, oppression and exploitation. While Candide, the novels na?ve and perpetually optimistic hero, is devoted to Cunegund, the love of his life, even
he cannot perceive the position of women in society realistically and how men demand chastity in women, but then may it virtually impossible for chastity to be maintained. Through
the stories of Cunegund, the beautiful daughter of the Baron of Westphalia, and Paquette, their lovely chambermaid, Voltaire relates the nature of life for women at both ends of the
social spectrum. The old womans story also charts the fall and misfortunes of an individual who was once a beautiful young woman, and her story shows that older women have
no wisdom or advice to offer young ones, as their stories are similar, and general end in a neglected old age once beauty has faded. When Paquette runs
into Candide at an inn, she informs him of the nature of her life. While she was "innocence itself" when they first met, she was first seduced by a her
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