The Use Of War In Voltaire's Candide

Famous politician and activist, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said, “All wars eventually act as boomerangs and the victor suffers as much as the vanquished”. This criticism can easily align with Voltaire’s own anti-war sentiment as illustrated in his famous novel, Candide. Voltaire took advantage of his literary capabilities in order to present to the world a novel that attempts to not only dismantle social norms, but also subvert humanity’s common - and corrupt - way of thinking about war. More specifically, being personally influenced by the 18th century Seven Year’s War, Voltaire turned away from any positive opinions on war and instead, developed intense opposition toward the armed conflict so prevalent within our society. With this anti-war

Absurdity is an element of satire that authors use in an effort to ridicule extreme, bizarre circumstances within literature. In Candide, writes with the intention of persuading the audience to believe in the irrationality of war and how it has no real reward. For example, Martin reveals to Candide that, literally, just “a few acres” serves as the motivation for nations to engage in a full-on war with one another (110). Here, Voltaire reduces the vast, emphatic impact of war to a miniscule amount of land. Voltaire takes advantage of the effectiveness of absurdity and mocks the participating nations for taking such a momentous risk that only might result in a measly reward. Here, war is painted as not only foolish, but also pointless. More specifically, an activity in which nations ship their own people to their own morbid graves so they may preserve national pride. The author is trying to underscore the idea that logically speaking, the ends of winning a war do not justify the means of fighting it. Also, Candide is later told that it “pays to shoot an admiral” every now and then (111). A mindset like this, in all reality, is completely lacking in any wisdom or good sense. Those who informed Candide of this oddity conveniently failed to inform him specifically how and why this tactic would prove advantageous. The only reason that can be concluded

With exaggeration, authors craft their writing to have an even greater, more impactful effect on their audiences. This enhanced effect found in Candide serves the purpose of highlighting how humans adopt a type of absolute viciousness and inhumanity in times of war. One example is the instance where Candide - a member of the Bulgar army, at the time - must choose between being “flogged” by the entirety of the military command, or to endure “twelve bullets in his brain” (24). Here, Candide is given a nonsensical, almost ludicrous, ultimatum. Voltaire offers an embellished example that serves to demonstrate the barbaric military practices that come with war. Being a recurring aspect of war, Candide is, essentially, forced to choose between death and death. In fact, along with exaggeration, Voltaire satirizes war even further as the choice of whether it be a gradual or speedy demise is Candide’s own luxury. Voltaire does not just simply antagonize the ramifications of war, but rather, he ridicules all facets of war. Another example within Candide is when the Old Woman reveals the story of her own life as proof of the grim hardship that she too has experienced. In the midst of another battle, “one buttock” was cut off of the live bodies of every woman present in the interest of feeding the starving soldiers (56).