Free Candide Essays: Successful Writing Techniques :: Candide essays

The Successful Writing Techniques in Candide   In Candide, Voltaire theatrical roles many theme techniques that can also be found in the pass waters of Cervantes, Alighieri, Rabelais and Moliere. The determination of the various styles and conventions shows that, despite the passage of centuries and the language differences, certain writing techniques pass on always be effective.   One common literary technique is the authors drop of nonpareil or more of his characters as his voice to speak protrude the authors views on a certain subject. For instance, in Molieres Tartuffe, the author uses the character of Cleante to speak out against religious hypocrites ( scalawag 1419, lines 99-102) Nothing that I more cherish and admire Than echt zeal and true religious fire. So there is nothing that I find more base Than specious pietys dishonest face. In Candide, Voltaire makes use of several characters to voice his opinion mocking philosophical optimism. On page 1594, Candide is asking a gentleman about whether everything is for the best in the material world as well as the moral universe. The man replies ...I take nothing of the sort. I find that everything goes wrong in our world that nonentity knows his place in society or his duty, what hes doing or what he ought to be doing, and that outside of mealtimes...the rest of the day is spent in useless quarrels...-its one unending warfare. By having this character take on such a pessimistic tone, he directly contradicts the obviously over-optimistic tone of Candide. In the cultivation (page 1617) an old turk instructs Candide in the futility of needless philosophizing by saying that ...the work keeps us from three great evils, boredom, vice, and poverty. In each of these examples, the character elect by the author comes across as a fair and ripe person, making the authors point of view seem just as reasonable and respectable.   Another technique Voltaire uses in Candide is that of taking actual people and events and twist into his work of fiction. He often does this to mock or ridicule his political and literary adversaries, as shown in the conversation between the abbe and the Parisian supper guests (page 1593). The abbe mentions dickens critics who in Voltaires time have criticized his work. The critics are referred to as boring and bracing by the supper guests. In much the same manner Alighieri, in The elysian Comedy, has placed many of his enemies in various circles of Hell.