VOLTAIRE

AN ENLIGHTENMENT FIGURE

By Aisha, Sindy and Harni

 FRANCOIS-MARIE AROUET DE VOLTAIRE

D.O.B: November 21
1694 He never married or
fathered any children

Died at age 83
(in 1778) Largely a
historical
writer,
playwright
but did write
some
A famous political
French writer essays
 KEY IDEAS
 Voltaire agreed with the English system of government
 Praised English law (believed it was of greater liberality than French law)
 This was received as an attack on the French monarchy which meant his literature was perceived as being
controversial; his writing was banned or publicly burnt
 A major advocate for freedom of expression
 A critic of the power of the Catholic church
 A Republican; the ideology of governing a nation as a republic with an emphasis on liberty and the civic
virtue practiced by citizens
 He believed above all in the efficacy of reason, he believed social progress could be achieved through
reason and that no authority (religious, political or otherwise) should be immune to challenge by reason
 He emphasised the importance of tolerance within his work, specifically religious tolerance
 OVERVIEW: PERSONAL LIFE

Voltaire spent two year in England, where he learnt the language, he admired the
English liberalism

Envied the discussion of religious and philosophic questions

Returned to France at the end of 1728

He attempted to revive tragedy by imitating Shakespeare and his writing

Issues a warrant of arrest because of his religious and political viewpoints in his
literature so he took refuge in the Chateau of Mme du Châtelet and began his
relationship

His relationship with the intelligent (and married) author and scientist Émilie Du
Châtelet was a 16-year-long affair

They were constantly on the move between Brussels, Cirey and Paris

Later on in life, he also had a relationship with his niece Marie-Louise Mignot, they
lived as a married couple from the early 1750’s and even adopted a child in 1760

Émilie Du Châtelet
 VOLTAIRE’S
WORK
Candide (1759)
Lettres Philosophiques (1734)
L’Orphelin de la Chine (1755)
Le Sentiment des Citoyens (1764)
The Henriade (1723)
Lettre a d’Alembert sur les Spectacles (1758)
La Pucelle (1755)
Mariamne (1724)
 Regarded as “one of the great monuments of French literature”

MAIN PUBLICATIONS
 His work promoted an ideal of progress and freedom, his work varying
from classicism (a widespread and influential movement in painting and
other visual arts) and the revolutionary era (the end of the Ancien
Régime)
 Candide (1759) - arguably his most famous publishing - was a savage
criticism of metaphysical optimism, influenced by the Lisbon
earthquake in 1755 and the Seven Years’ War, he publicly ridicules
science, philosophy, government, literature and religion
 The fictitious Lettres Philosophiques (1734) are primarily a
demonstration of the benign affects of religious toleration
 Voltaire’ work varied significantly, from plays to poetry, to historical and
philosophical works
 In his work, and this source, Voltaire tended to place comparisons between England and France rather frequently; this
demonstrates how Voltaire sheds England into a much more elevated light from national civil wars, the succession in the
monarchy and the more passive way the laws were enforced.

• In the first paragraph of the source, Voltaire repeatedly uses the noun "blood", creating vivid and gory imagery of a battlefield,
creating the idea that these sorts of violent battles were common of that time. The use of the phrase "only to enslave them
more" shows the lack of awareness of the people living in France and creates the idea they are easily manipulated. Through
wittily pointing out the irony of the situation, Voltaire informs us of what happened during the 18th century. 

• Voltaire mentions Charles I's "subjects treated (him) just as he would have treated them, had he been powerful and at ease,"
suggesting he was a weak king. Also, he implies Charles I was not comfortable in his position as King because of threats
against him, indicating that there were people who did not want him as King, and he had an unstable reign.

• However, Voltaire also criticizes the people of France, recalling the murder attempts of the other Kings such as Henry VII,
Henry III and Henry IV. The idea that these are "wicked attempts" portrays them as evils, evidencing that Voltaire provides an
equal and fair argument for both the monarchy and the people.

SOURCE ANALYSIS Taken from “Lettres Philosophiques” (1733)

• His style of writing is straightforward: "Charles 1. defeated in a pitched battle, imprisoned, tried, sentenced to die..."
He displays a lack of empathy for both Charles 1 and the people of France. 

• In addition, he focuses on criticizing all- the Church, the government, the Clergymen, other countries, including Spain, Turkey
and France. He points out their faults and offers an alternative that would have helped them succeed, stating facts to help
prove his point.

• From his writing, it is evident that Voltaire is arrogant and believes he is smarter than everyone else: "none of these civil wars
had a wise and becoming liberty for their object." He explains the reasons for the failure of the civil war, essentially talking
down upon the French people.

• He is very witty: "Those who can make you believe absurdities Can make you commit atrocities." 

• Also, he is quite sarcastic: "Clergymen: A generic title under which is designated any Christian who consecrates himself to
the service of God, and feels himself called upon to live without working at the expense of the rascals who work to live."

STYLE OF WRITING & PERSONALITY