I am sure Voltaire is trying to show us how the Catholic Church looks like such a fine institution when it really has so many flaws. For example, when the diamonds and moidores are stolen form Lady Cunégonde, and the first person they suspect of is the Reverend Friar who slept in the same inn as they did. “I don’t like jumping to a hasty conclusion, but I remember that he entered our room twice and left the inn before we did.” (pg. 47). I wonder why the friar entered the room twice? Maybe he wasn’t pleased with the jewelry. Candide tries to take a little guilt of the Friar by telling them how Pangloss believed that everyone had the equal right to goods, so he must have left them enough to finish the journey. On the other hand, Voltaire makes it so the Roman Catholic Church looks worse, because when Lady Cunégonde looks they have absolutely nothing left. No one would ever suspect a man from the church, a friar, would steal jewels, first because it is considered a sin, in fact the seventh commandment is DO NOT STEAL and second because they are one of the most influential examples to men, and they teach us every Sunday what we are not supposed to do. On my first blog, I did a list of things that Voltaire mocks in his novel, well, I am going to add one more thing to that list. The church.
I am surprised on how many people made their blog entries on religious subjects. It´s useful for us as readers to be able to read the ten commandments: You made a great use of the visuals.
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Lina I am also surprised on how many people caught on to Voltaire’s consistent mocking against the church, but mainly its devotees. If you continue to read the book you will find that this constant satire against Catholicism does not stop, you will find that the Pope now has a daughter and she has the cruelest of lives, because life is never fair.
ReplyDeleteAlso just read your quote above by Jack Carroll and I believe it connects with Voltaire's way of looking at life.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how you examined Voltaire's mockery of the church in detail by citing various examples. Your take on it was very interesting and I completely agree, especially with the last example. Its ironic how the worse man (the inquisitor) was awarded with an elaborate burial, while the Jew was thrown into a sewer. I'd also like to add one more example, when the old woman says she is the Pope's daughter. Of course, the Pope shouldn't be having sexual relations, much less children, yet here she is, further proving the deep corruption in the church.
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