A Feminist Critique of Voltaire's "Candide"

Paper Summary:

In Voltaire's "Candide", the accounts of three women serve to exemplify the questions of gender status in Voltaire's Europe. The stories of Cunegonde, Paquette, and the Old Woman are discussed to highlight the suffering of women during this time period. Collectively, the three women and their tales are used to demonstrate that regardless of financial status, political roots, or physical appearance, women are destined to encounter hardships. A variety of contemporary examples are provided to loosely draw a connection between Voltaire's Europe and the state of affairs in our current society.

From the Paper:

"In Voltaire's "Candide", women are used to accentuate the exploitation of the female race in Voltaire's Europe. In the course of the story, we meet several different women, each of whom provides an account of intense suffering and hardship. Cunegonde, for example, was the daughter of a German baron. At the outset, she is described as a beautiful young woman. However, by the end of the story, her physical beauty has diminished as a result of the persecution and abuse she suffered. The old woman, as we know her, was the daughter of a Pope. She provides perhaps the most disturbing story, which includes the death of her spouse, rape, and cannibalism. Again, Voltaire's satire is evident as he demonstrates that not even strong political affiliation could save her from suffering. The third character, Paquette, was originally a chambermaid for Cunegonde's mother. Her story is filled with tales of forlorn prostitution and affliction. Each of these women highlights the oppression and sexual abuse endured by females in Voltaire's satiric critique of Europe. In essence, they act as submissive recipients of action who possess very little complexity or importance."

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