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Voltaire: Difference between revisions
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Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694 in Paris, France. He was the fifth son of his middle-class parents. Voltaire's father was a prosperous lawyer and notary who became treasurer to the Chambres des Comptes (Lowers 5). Upon Voltaire's birth, it was thought that he would not live very long, so a priest came to baptize him immediately, hoping to save his soul (Darrow). During this time, France was close to bankruptcy and was basically run under the rule of one church. The church in itself set a standard of beliefs that must be followed explicitly, at least in all outward appearances. Literature questioning the church's accepted practices would be deemed heretic and destroyed, the author most likely suffering the same fate (Darrow). Thus, Voltaire had plenty to write about in his works. | Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694 in Paris, France. He was the fifth son of his middle-class parents. Voltaire's father was a prosperous lawyer and notary who became treasurer to the Chambres des Comptes (Lowers 5). Upon Voltaire's birth, it was thought that he would not live very long, so a priest came to baptize him immediately, hoping to save his soul (Darrow). During this time, France was close to bankruptcy and was basically run under the rule of one church. The church in itself set a standard of beliefs that must be followed explicitly, at least in all outward appearances. Literature questioning the church's accepted practices would be deemed heretic and destroyed, the author most likely suffering the same fate (Darrow). Thus, Voltaire had plenty to write about in his works. | ||
His early education was the responsibility of an irreligious priest named Abbe de Chateauneuf, who tired to keep Voltaire's mind free of the superstition of the times (Darrow). He later refers to Abbe as a scoundrel in his novel ''Candide.'' Near age 10, Voltaire was sent away to a boys' school, where the the first stages of his writing began. Later, Voltaire's father decided that his son should be an attorney, even though Voltaire had already expressed his desire to write. His father said, "Literature is the profession of the man who wishes to be useless to society, and a burden to his relatives, and to die of hunger" (Darrow). However, Voltaire did not die of hunger or become a burden on society. Instead his works often provided great social sommentary, and mocked society and its accepted practices. Voltaire was incarcerated twice in the Bastille for his satiric writings. The first time was in the years 1717-1718 for eleven months and the second time was in 1726. These imprisonments did not discourage him from pursuing a literary career. | His early education was the responsibility of an irreligious priest named Abbe de Chateauneuf, who tired to keep Voltaire's mind free of the superstition of the times (Darrow). The Abbe introduced him to deism and taught him to recite lines from the satirical and shocking poem ''Moisade'' (Lowers 5). He later refers to Abbe as a scoundrel in his novel ''Candide.'' Near age 10, Voltaire was sent away to a boys' school, where the the first stages of his writing began. Later, Voltaire's father decided that his son should be an attorney, even though Voltaire had already expressed his desire to write. His father said, "Literature is the profession of the man who wishes to be useless to society, and a burden to his relatives, and to die of hunger" (Darrow). However, Voltaire did not die of hunger or become a burden on society. Instead his works often provided great social sommentary, and mocked society and its accepted practices. Voltaire was incarcerated twice in the Bastille for his satiric writings. The first time was in the years 1717-1718 for eleven months and the second time was in 1726. These imprisonments did not discourage him from pursuing a literary career. | ||
Voltaire spent most of his life in Paris, until his exile to England by Chevalier de Rohan, a nobleman. While in exile, Voltaire was greatly impressed with the monarch system which England used. He liked the freedoms he had there in speech and religion. Voltaire wrote a fictional document about the English government entitled the "Lettres Philosophiques (Letters on English)" (Mason). Voltaire created much controversy with this document being as it shined upon the English system being more advanced than the French system, especially in the areas of religion. | Voltaire spent most of his life in Paris, until his exile to England by Chevalier de Rohan, a nobleman. While in exile, Voltaire was greatly impressed with the monarch system which England used. He liked the freedoms he had there in speech and religion. Voltaire wrote a fictional document about the English government entitled the "Lettres Philosophiques (Letters on English)" (Mason). Voltaire created much controversy with this document being as it shined upon the English system being more advanced than the French system, especially in the areas of religion. | ||