Voltaire's Candide is a satire of life before and during the enlightenment period, a black comedy, this story often makes light of religious purgings, executions, the church in general, royalty, government, nobility, ideals of love, war and the country of France. About the only things not mocked are the ideals of true happiness and paradise.

The institution of family is mocked when Candide and Cunigonde are caught making-out by her father the king and is banished from his home. Later in the story, Cunigonde's brother fights Candide because he is unworthy to marry his "sister, who has seventy-two quarterlings!" (361). Candide's responce is "she has many obligations to me, she wants to marry me"(361). The reason for the brothers' anger is that Candide can not trace his lineage. For some reason this was important to the nobility of the time so they could in effect "stay in the family" and

From marrage to earthquakes, life seems to be very monotoned in Voltaires' obscure view of life in these times. No one was safe from caos. And those most deserving punishment go free. Satire is a weapon of the writer used to inform his readers of how sick the world really is, and for them not to believe the lies told to them on a daily basis. Sometimes it is neccessary to step back and see what is going on around you, if only to laugh, but more importantly to stay alive.

keep there line pure. Unfortunatly that inbreeding resulted in birth defects and sickness later in life. I guess the moral is not to date your friends sister.

In chapters 2 and 3, the wars of the time are somewhat serious to those involved. Early on, the Bulgar army takes pity on Candide and recrutes him. The recutement practices of the day were far more impressive than todays "signing on the dotted line". Having "irons on his legs" does not sound like it

Some common words found in the essay are:
Auto-da-fe' Lisbon, Candide Cunigonde, Theodore Corsica, Voltaire's Candide, Bulgars Abares, Martin Candide,
Approximate Word count = 642
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)