Voltaire's work acts like a thermometer for the age of enlightenment. During the enlightenment era, there was a shift in thought and deed regarding humanity. As a result of this shift, the use of torture, punishment, and the death penalty were reevaluated. Speaking about torture, Voltaire said that "[r]edifined tortures, in which one can see how the human mind has worn itself out making death frightful, seems to be more the inventions of tyranny than of justice"(Voltaire,245). Here, Voltaire comments on how a select few in power use tyranny to oppress the members of a society in the name of justice. Instead of serving the state, the death penalty and torture have adverse affects on the state. Society grows cautious and afraid of its government. It is important to point out that the commoner (both sexes, working class, not of any noble decent) was subject to horrible torture and harsh punishment while there were times when the rich or affluent could use their wealth and power to escape their sentence. This unequal distributi

on of "justice" further eroded the people's sense of community. It is difficult to grow together as a society when you live in constant fear of your government. When people are afraid to voice their opinion about community issues for fear of persecution, they draw back from the public realm and concentrate on living their private life. Life becomes a series of day to day struggles with no sense of togetherness or unity.

Voltaire had other reasons for arguing against the death penalty. It can be inferred that Voltaire placed a higher value on life during the enlightenment. "Our masters, our first legislators, respected the blood of their fellow-countrymen. We squander the blood of ours"(259). Voltaire reminds society that France was not founded upon the principle of death and oppression. Voltaire might have felt that the constant display of execution and death would have sent a message to the members of society that life had little value. Once people started to think in this way, they would place little importance on bettering themselves or their communities. Voltaire believed in "humanity, which is stronger than the law"(259).

Voltaire suggests that the death penalty will erode away the very strength of a society. The death penalty and other act

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