satirical story that begins in 1689 when a ship of English merchants are coming

to France to trade. This is when the Ingenu is first introduced. The French

are most intrigued by his appearance. Because of a picture believed to be the

brother and sister-in-law of the Abbe de Kerkabon and Mademoiselle de Kerkabon,

the Kerkabons felt that they saw a resemblance and take him in as their nephew.

This is only the beginning. With no set beliefs, the Huron comes to live with

these people of France and is taught to live as they do. Under appearingly

unfortunate circumstances, he becomes imprisoned and able to educate himself.

He learns of the French society on a hands-on basis by feeling their cruelty.

This Child of Nature symbolizes John Locke's "blank tablet". The Ingenu, also

known as the Child of Nature, Becomes enlightened through his experiences with

French society by having no prior worldly knowledge of his own, being taught by

the French, and disregarding everything they have taught him to learn for

himself the lessons of French society.

The Child of Nature comes into the French society with no worldly knowledge of

French society. He starts representing Locke's "blank tablet" which opens itself

himself to erase the thoughts and beliefs on this tablet and fill it up with his

Blair J. Mickles

everyone in the Bible is, but they tell him that it is no longer done. When the

"Gentlemen, where I come from, people take it in turns to speak" (Voltaire,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Child Nature, Saint Yves, Frenchmen Frenchmen, Kerkabon Kerkabons, Prior Mademoiselle, Voltaire L'Ingenu, Kerkabon Mademoiselle, Child Nature's, Jesuit Fathers, Nature England, french society, child nature, mademoiselle de, de kerkabon, voltaire 191, blank tablet, taught french, taught learn lessons, enlightened experiences, nature enlightened, locke's blank, lessons french society, disregarding taught learn, french society child, french disregarding taught,
Approximate Word count = 1205
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)