Targeting Religion

The purpose of satire as we learned in class is to critique society. Satire uses absurdity, hyperboles, and irony to expose and ridicule its target. In Candide, Voltaire critiques many parts of society but he most often exposes religion. The author is incredible at incorporating his strong opinion in what has become a love story between Candide and Lady Cunégonde. In recent chapters, we had been told that Bulgars had killed our main character’s true love. Now, a few chapters later we’ve learned that she is very much alive and in love with Candide. So, our story has evolved into the truly magical and great thing that is a love story.

“The University of Coimbra had pronounced that the sight of a few people ceremoniously burned alive before a slow fire was an infallible prescription for preventing earthquakes” (Pg. 36)

The author develops the satire so well that he makes it seam as if no absurdity is present. As a statement alone it seams absurd that a group of academics could think sacrifice would make the difference, nevertheless we know religion had a big influence in those times. The words used are of great importance because they increase the absurdity. Words like “infallible” and “ceremoniously” really make the difference. Infallible shows the stubborn and dumb way of thinking that such an act would be the only way because they said so. Ceremoniously exposes the cruel and morbid scene that must be a person dying at the stake.

“The Cardinal was buried in a beautiful church, and Issachar was thrown on the dunghill.” (Pg. 46)

Through lady Cunégonde’s story there is a heavy symbolism between the Cardinal and the Jewish fellow. The Cardinal being an important figure in the Inquisition had threatened Issachar if he did not give him the lady. The two fellows ended up sharing Cunégonde: the irony is obvious, for it is strange that two opposites share the same prize. In the quote however there is a symbolism with some irony. The Cardinal being a man of the inquisition and having tried to make love with Candide’s love should be punished. The irony is that he isn’t punished and is rewarded by being buried in a church or what symbolizes heaven. Don Issachar being an honest man is thrown out, without burial because he was a Jewish man. Heaven is only for Catholic believers.

The story has turned into the fleeing of Candide, his love, and her maid from the police. I don’t know what to expect down the road, just hope it isn’t a love story.