What Are Voltaire's Accomplishments

547 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Voltaire influence on society

Biography Profile

Voltaire

Voltaire's accomplishments were writing many masterpieces and speaking his mind on what he thought was right.
Voltaire's real name was Francois Aurette. His father was a notary, which provided him with a life of upper class and comfort. Sadly his mother died when he was 7, and that horrible cause made him rebel. He went to his godfather who was a freethinker. He was a very smart man and got an education of an upperclassman. He attended the “Louis-Le-Grand” in Paris. While in Paris he found a passion for literature. When Voltaire was young and attended “Louis-Le-Grand” in Paris, he wanted to become a writer. His father made him work as a legal assistant, but he didn't do much of a good job at that. Instead he …show more content…

He got kicked out of Paris France so many times, many that lead him to speak (or write) his mind. He was very brave to write and get kicked out. It didn't really phase him when he did because then he could write something new in a peaceful way. In this person's adult life, once again nobody really helped him. His guidance was his own and he made many accomplishments because of it. Challenges that Voltaire faced was getting kicked out of Paris France, going to prison, (although he was very successful in writing during that time) being an enemy of many. Getting kicked out of France helped him write many things that lead him towards more success. Going to prison made him write “Oedipe” which gave him his name Voltaire. Having enemies made him get ahead of his rivals and ahead of his time. He wrote 2,000 books made with 21,000 different letters. Voltaire's accomplishments were achieved in 1717, when he made the play “Oedipe”. Then in 1746 his publications lead him to be voted for “Academie Francaise” when taking religion more seriously. Yes, i think Voltaire is an important historical figure because he helped france become a better city in many ways and he was an excellent writer. He is one of the greatest writers and philosophers today. He thought

Show More
Related

  • The Enlightenment Dbq

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    The experiences he went through in his lifetime helped him develop his views on religion. He believed that everyone had the right to choose their religion and be free to practice that religion where they want. There would be conflicts between religious citizens and the government if there wasn’t freedom of religion. This choice should be available in England, according to Voltaire, to prevent problems from arising. “If one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were two, the people would cut one another's throats; but as there are such multitude, they all live happy and in peace.”

    Read More

  • Voltaire's Satire In Candide

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    Voltaire, more formally known as Francois-Marie Arouet, was a writer, philosopher and historian in the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was the period of time from the late seventeenth century through early nineteenth century in which European thinkers and philosophers began to question and contradict typical styles of thinking. The belief behind this new Enlightenment thinking was that the human race could better themselves through simply creating reasonable change.

    Read More

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events in Voltaire's Candide

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    Voltaire. Candide. New York: Boni and Liveright, 1918. Project Gutenberg. Web. 11 January 2014. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19942/19942-h/19942-h.htm

    Read More

  • Candide

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    Voltaire looked at the world with the idea that there could be something done about all the evil in the world. Although he knew the world would never be perfect, he wanted people to see that the world they were living in was one that could be improved upon.

    Read More

  • The Life and Work of Francois-Marie Arouet, a.k.a. Voultaire

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many classic books of literature of the French Enlightenment era comes from the famous author Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as his pen name, Voltaire.The French author was born on November 21st, 1694 and died May 30th, 1778 in the city of Paris. He started school at the Jesuit College of Louis-le-Grand at the age of 10 and graduated in 1711 with a motive of being a writer. However, Voltaire’s father did not agree with his choice of study and wanted Voltaire to study law. He went back to school to study law for another two years after his graduation. Voltaire was sent to The Hague, Netherlands in order to act as a secretary to the French ambassador at the time. During his visit, he became infatuated with Catherine Olympe de Noyer. Due to his love affair, Voltaire was discharged from the Dutch country to France “disinherited, and threatened with exile to the New World.” (Stanley 67). A few years later, Voltaire was accused of writing two satiric poems against the French regime because of his reputation in writing and was imprisoned at the Bastille from 1717 to 1718. During the time spent inside the prison, Voltaire wrote the tragedy called the Oedipe. After being released, Voltaire adopted the new of De Voltaire due to the commonness of the original name. His father died in 1722 and was released from his control. Voltaire also met Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher, the same year in Brussels, Belgium. From 1726 to 1728, Voltaire was sentenced to another term in the Bastille and exiled to England due to an encounter with “his growing squadron of enemies and spearheaded Chevalier de Rohan” (Stanley 67). He met the author by the name of Jonathan Swift during his exile. Voltaire was able to re-enter France in 1729, and p...

    Read More

  • Comparison of Civil Disobedience

    3701 Words  | 8 Pages

    Voltaire was never able to connect with the masses, and that is the main catalyst for the fact that he was jailed and ignored. Mandela reflects on the accomplishments made in four centuries. While man still does not have absolute free speech, he is not so suppressed that he must hide his feelings by literary means.

    Read More

  • Candide Religion

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...andide came to the realization of the importance of living life as best as one can, despite the trials and tribulations of the world. Voltaire said more through Candide, though. This quote revealed a certain philosophical and metaphysical individuality. Voltaire wanted people to shut their ears to a world of so-called “peaceful” religions, instead focusing on performing one’s life and the duties therein the best that one can. “We” must do it ourselves. One should not leave it to religious authorities to determine their salvation. His call is for each person to work out his or her own way to God, and thereby reap what he or she has sown.

    Read More

  • Voltaire's Use of Satire to Compare Europe and El Dorado

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...he Age of Enlightenment in his writing. He is initially trying to show that El Dorado is a successful village where the philosophy behind scientific breakthroughs from the scientific revolution were applied to politics and religion. Which means that science, religion, and philosophy coexist in the nation of El Dorado. This was something that most of Europe was trying to do at the time, yet many people fell to the Catholic Church and their rulers to persecution over their practices. Voltaire had witnessed these things in France and is what really drove him to begin writing about the journey made by Candide to find Miss Cunégonde. Through his writing, he is able to express his philosophy and beliefs of how he believed Europe should truly be.

    Read More

  • Literary Criticism Of Candide

    2241 Words  | 5 Pages

    Autobiographer, essayist, playwright, poet, satirist, Enlightenment writer and philosopher – these are just a few of the hats worn by French born François-Marie Arouet, more famously known by the adopted pen name Voltaire. Beyond his written work Voltaire was an outspoken advocate for the freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state. He used his versatile literary work as a tool to criticize the Catholic Church and overall intolerant French society. Voltaire’s cynical writing reached its highest potential in his rapid-fire satire Candide, or Optimism. In the novella, Voltaire told the story of Candide – a young man on a quest for happiness and spiritual fulfillment who encountered tragic setbacks that eventually led to bitter disillusionment. The purpose of Candide was to mock philosophers of the

    Read More

  • Religion, Politics and Morals in Voltaire’s Candide

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Overall Voltaire is successful in promoting his ideas and beliefs. It is clear he wants to see a drastic change in religion, politics and morals in the pre-modern period. Throughout his novel Candide he is able to criticise society with a light hearted mockery but also with a seriousness using extreme examples to address his points and concerns. It is arguable that his ambitions were far too high at a time of hope and debate in the 18th century.

    Read More

  • Candide: A Satire On The Enlightenment

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though he was by no means a pessimist, Voltaire refused to believe that what happens is always for the best. The Age of Enlightenment is a term applied to a wide variety of ideas and advances in the fields of philosophy, science, and medicine. The primary feature of Enlightenment philosophy is the belief that people can actively work to create a better world. A spirit of social reform characterized the political ideology of Enlightenment philosophers. While Voltaire’s Candide is heavily characterized by the primary concerns of the Enlightenment, it also criticizes certain aspects of the movement.

    Read More

  • Optimism and Pessimism in Voltaire’s Candide

    1176 Words  | 3 Pages

    Voltaire, , and Roger Pearson. Candide: And Other Stories. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. Print

    Read More

  • Voltaire's Affect on Modern Western Society

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to death your right to say it,” were the famous words of Fracois Marie Arouet, more commonly known under the pen name of Voltaire. He was known for being very outspoken and rebellious, which got him into trouble with the authorities for most of his life. Voltaire advocated the French bourgeoisie as being ineffective, the aristocracy as being corrupt, and the commoners as being too superstitious. Voltaire’s beliefs on freedom and reason is what ultimately led to the French Revolution, the United States Bill of Rights, and the decrease in the power of the Catholic Church, which have all affected modern western society.

    Read More

  • The Meaning of Eldorado in Voltaire’s Candide

    2476 Words  | 5 Pages

    Voltaire, Francois-Marie Arouet de. “Candide.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. Shoter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 100-59. Print.

    Read More

  • Essay on Voltaire’s Candide: Relevance of Candide’s Message Today

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frautschi, R.L. Barron's Simplified Approach to Voltaire: Candide. New York: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1998.

    Read More

More about What Are Voltaire's Accomplishments

Open Document