Symbolic Objects in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar

Francois-marie Arouet, known as Voltaire lived in an age of turmoil. Born in a middle-class family in Paris, Arouet witnessed general public in state of crushing poverty while French aristocracy governs with strict law relentless hierarchy. Meanwhile, the Enlightenment movement spread across Europe and spurred challenges of intellectual ideas, human equality, basic rights, etc. The movement emphasized importance of objectivity and scientific reasoning. Such a mixed environment lent Voltaire multifaceted knowledge of the society.

During his early age in a Jesuit college, Voltaire had demonstrated his intelligence in rhetorical speeches and controversial writings. Later, he served shortly as French Ambassador to Holland but soon decided to devote his life to writing. His words attacked high-class aristocracy and even states or churches. In the early 1750s, specters of injustice and appalling disasters in Europe shocked the general public and captured the focuses of writers including Voltaire. Candide was published in 1759. The books consisted real historical events such as Lisbon earthquake in 1755, the horrifying Seven Years’ War in German states in 1756, and the controversial death of English Admiral John Byng in 1757. Embedded with intriguing plot and thought-provoking ideologies, Candide is a representative masterpiece for Enlightenment writings and answers to diverse topics such as religious tolerance and basic human rights. This paper will focus on examining women’s situation in early modern times.

The women characters in Candide are all under-developed and do not have substantial position in plot development. They are described to be physically inferior and subjected to horrible rape and misfortune. They suffer regardless ...

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...appy as the old women points out. So that we can see human beings suffer from not only outside factors such as violent war and religious oppression but also their intrinsic flaws of intrinsic flaw and restlessness. It may be caused by absence of suffering instead of absence of happiness.

The experiences of Cunegonde and the old woman insinuate the exploitation of females in nineteenth century. Some female may have greater knowledge due to the experience that they have but the knowledge cannot help them to be independence entity. It can only help them to understand the inferior status and better survive in the male dominant society

How did the situation of women compare to that of men (in the novel and in society)?

How were women described and treated?

What role did beauty and sexuality play in women’s lives?

What was the role of women in society?