The radical shift in European culture, covering almost a century and a half of the region’s history, is commonly referred to as the Age of Reason, or simply, The Enlightenment. This period, spanning from about 1650-1800, is best characterized by rapid political, philosophical, and cultural reform. Many influential and radical thinkers spearheaded the movement, questioning the current societal norms while continuing to stress the importance of employing reason and logic rather than relying on blind faith when making decisions. These thinkers, including the likes of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, advocated for a shift in power away from the church and state, and are responsible for the subsequent decline in the influence of the two over-controlling entities. Focusing specifically on the …show more content…
Both authors strongly believed in the importance of individualistic thinking and discount the notion that the church should have total influence on one’s decision making. Through the use of satire, Moliere and Voltaire were able to convey their personal criticisms of religious hypocrisy, as well as illuminate the growing public disdain for the church. Moliere uses Tartuffe, the main character in his play Tartuffe, to express his enlightened views towards religion and the church. Tartuffe is a manipulative scoundrel who plays on the weaknesses of those around him. Throughout the play he uses deception to achieve his personal agenda, continuously using religion
Mini-Q Essay A time period known as The Age of Reason or The Enlightenment was when philosophy, politics, science and social communications changed drastically. It helped shape the ideas of capitalism and democracy, which is the world we live in today. People joined together to discuss areas of high intellect and creative thoughts. The Enlightenment was a time period in which people discussed new ideas, and educated people, known as philosophers, all had a central idea of freedom of choice and the natural right of individuals. These philosophers include John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft.
In his work, Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century. Voltaire successfully criticizes religion, the military, and the philosophy of optimism.
The play "Tartuffe", by Moliere, is a work that was created to show people a flaw in their human nature. There are two characters who portray the main flaw presented in the play. Both Madame Pernelle and Orgon are blinded to the farces of Tartuffe and must be coaxed into believing the truth. The fact that Orgon and Madame Pernelle are too weak to see the truth is an important theme of the play.
A strong example of religious hypocrisy from Tartuffe is in Act 3, Scene 2. Tartuffe tells Dorine to “Cover that bosom” because he thinks she is being immodest(Moliere, 81). Although this was understanding that the servant needs to be modest, in the very next scene, it describes how Tartuffe is trying to seduce Elmire and betray Orgon, her wife and head of the house. (Molier, 83) “When you pray, don 't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”(New Living Translation, Matthew 6:5) Moliere creates Tartuffe deliberately in contrary to what God requests in the
“Tartuffe” is a famous satire from the 17th century, written by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière. Molière utilizes comedy in his work to demonstrate the hypocrisy sometimes found within religion. During the 17th century, anyone believed to be righteous was viewed as a role model. It was normal to believe the words and follow the rules of these leaders. Since religion was considered the center of the 17th century society, “Tartuffe” was originally banned from public viewing due to objections of church leaders who felt it was an attack on religion and people of faith. Molière uses Tartuffe, one of his main characters, to play the role of a man who manipulates others for personal gain by acting righteously; he is a symbol of religious hypocrisy. Orgon, the other main character, represents a man blinded by his devotion to his religious faith who then welcomes Tartuffe into his home and family. Everyone in the household, except Orgon’s mother, realizes Tartuffe is a religious imposter. They try to warn Orgon of Tartuffe’s false pretense; however, he is so deceived by Tartuffe that he refuses to listen
By the late eighteenth century, the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason as it was called had begun to rapidly spread across Europe. People began believing in the ideals of popular government, the centrality of economics to politics, secularism, and progress. This cultural movement was sparked by intellectuals and commonwealth thinkers such as the influential writer John Locke and the famous scientist Isaac Newton, both who emphasized the fact that man, by the use of reason, would be able to solve all of his problems-whether it be problems with the government, morals or the society. However, these ideals weren’t just limited to the European nations where they had first begun. On the other side of the world, off in the United States, American intellectuals began to reason with these ideas as well. As a result, the influence on the profound of modern economic and political thought had a huge impact on the United States, resulting in one of the most important documents in known in American history; the Constitution.
Voltaire an eighteenth century French philosopher and prolific writer is well known for his literary satirical attacks. One of Voltaire's attacks was of traditional Christianity and the Catholic church in On Toleration. He criticized the church on the grounds that it was overly superstitious. There were many superstitions that were held by the church: a geocentric universe, the tides not being due to gravity, a rainbow not being a phenomenon of light, etc. Voltaire felt that the most grievous of these superstitions was the belief that only those who follow their own religion are given eternal salvation and all others will suffer eternal damnation. The result of this was severe persecution of those who had a faith other than their own. Voltaire's satirical view of this is evident when he says, 'And is it not evident that it would be even more reasonable to worship the sacred navel, the sacred prepuce, and the milk and dress of the Virgin Mary, than to detest and persecute one's brother'; (1109). Assuredly Voltaire believed that it was incredibly foolish of humankind to persecute their fellow men for having beliefs that did not coincide exactly with their own. His detest of such actions can be inferred from his suggestions that the worship of such bizarre things as the sacred navel, foreskin, and the dress and milk of Heavenly Mother being more sensible than the great persecutions of people based on religious pretext. Voltaire did not feel that this was what religion was about. He felt the true religion to be 'The Golden Rule';, that is to love thy neighbor as thyself. This becomes evident in Voltaire's Religion.
In Moliere’s comedy Tartuffe, the main focus is not on Tartuffe but of Orgon who is blindly infatuated with Tartuffe. The character Orgon represents how man could be so blind in devotion to a belief that he is unable to make accurate decisions and uses that belief to end up deceiving him. Due to Orgon’s blindness and gullibility, Tartuffe is easily able to manipulate him; gaining access to becoming Orgon’s son in law as
Through out Tartuffe, Molière's play repeatedly states that there is a difference between piety for God and piety for personal gain and that he commends the former and only condemns the latter. From the very onset of the play, in the first act, Cleante, characterized as the voice of reason in the play tells Orgon, the duped main character:
During the Age of enlightenment people began to reform society using reason, challenge ideas of tyranny and of the Roman Catholic Curch. People for the first time started advancing knowledge through the use of the scientific method. Enlightenment type thinking has had a huge impact on the culture, politics, and g...
In Moliere's comedy, Tartuffe, the main focus of the play is not of Tartuffe, but of Orgon's blind infatuation with Tartuffe. It just so happens that the title character is the villain, rather than the hero. Orgon is Moliere's representation of how a man can be so blind in his devotion to a belief that he cannot make accurate judgment as to the sincerity of others who would use that belief to deceive him. Tartuffe easily achieves total power over Orgon's actions because of his gullibility. However, as the play progresses, Orgon's view of Tartuffe changes and results in Tartuffe's removal.
François-Marie Arouet, as known as Voltaire, was a man who flourished in the French Enlightenment—a time where society strives to become better through reason and knowledge—in the 18th century. During this time period, France was still under the heavily Catholic, influencing the political structure of the country. However, that did not stop Voltaire from stating his perspective on Christianity. “[Christianity] is assuredly the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody religion which has ever infected this world” (Mathews). Unlike many philosophers before him, Voltaire did not live under the major threat that the Church would break down his door and exterminate him for heresy; however, he could have damaged his reputation. Many philosophers still did not appreciate the presence of the Church everywhere in France; therefore, some have criticized the church and literary pieces that support the theological thinking. For instance, Voltaire wrote a satire, Candide, against Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz’s Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil. Voltaire mocked the statement, “metaphysical considerations concern the nature of the possible and of the ...
The Enlightenment period, also known as The Age of Reason, was a period of social, religious, and political revolution throughout the 18th century which changed the thoughts of man during this “awakening” time. It was a liberation of ignorant thoughts, ideas, and actions that had broken away from the ignorant perception of how society was to be kept and obeyed thus giving little room for new ideas about the world. Puritan society found these new ideas of thought to be extremely radical in comparison to what they believed which was a belief of strong rational religion and morality. Enlightened society believed that the use of reason would be a catalyst of social change and had a demand of political representation thus resulting in a time in history where individualism was widely accepted amongst the new world. Puritan society believed strongly in myth, magic, and religious superstitions that was immensely used by the Puritans before democracy, capitalism, and the scientific revolution gave rise from the Enlightenment period.
The 18th century is referred to as the ‘Age of Enlightenment’. The trends in thought and letters from Europe to the American colonies brought a new light and attention upon mankind. This new movement described a time in Western philosophy and cultural life in which reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority. ‘To understand the natural world and humankind’s place in it solely on the basis of reason and without turning to religious belief was the goal of the wide-ranging intellectual movement’ (Hackett). At the heart of this age, a conflict began between religion and the inquiring mind that wanted to know and understand through reason based on evidence and proof rather than belief in faith alone.
Tartuffe is a 17th-century play written by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, typically referenced by his stage name, Molière. Molière utilizes comedy in his work to prove the hypocrisy at times found within religion. During the 17th century, anyone believed righteous was viewed as a role model and it was common for people to believe the words and follow the rules of these leaders without questioning. Due to religion being a major focus of 17th-century society, Tartuffe was originally banned from public viewing as a result of objections by leaders of the Catholic Church, who felt the play was an attack on religion and people of faith. Molière uses Tartuffe, one of his main characters, to play the role of a man who manipulates others