English Literature

English Literature

Imagine, A man being shot because he did not kill enough men. "He was an admiral," The Frenchmen told him, "But he had not enough men to his credit." (Voltaire 111). This man is an admiral and he has just been killed because he did not kill enough men. The old order had many flaws that included things such as this. In the book Candide by Voltaire, Voltaire shows his dissatisfaction with the old order in many ways. His disappointment can be seen through various everyday events involving Candide and the church, government and the people.

These events state clearly why Voltaire is so frustrated with the old order. Voltaire is correct in his opinion that the old order permitted unfair and unlawful treatment to people. In Candide Voltaire shows events where the Church members were breaking their vows of celibacy and the government and military officials were taking advantage of their powers. Also the people are providing more specialty treatments to those with more money then those without and causing pain to others for reasons unknown. In the Book Candide by Voltaire, Voltaire shows his disenchantment with the old order through Candide's dealings with the church, people and the government.

Voltaire illustrates his displeased feelings about the old order with Candide's dealings with the church. As Voltaire says, "These people behaved most politely when they learned I wasn't a Jesuit." (Voltaire 72). After the people realized that Candide was not a Jesuit their attitude changed from not caring about him and Cacambo and planning to eat them to bending over backwards for them. When people judge others based on their beliefs, it is going to stand out as a flaw in the church and clergy that is easily noticeable by people like Voltaire. He says, "I am the daughter of ...