AP+P3+2014-15+Voltaire

=**Voltaire**=

Cultural
Emmalee Mauldin Two to three hundred years later, Voltaire is still altering how essays, novels, and other works of literature are developed today. While Voltaire had an enormous impact on the Enlightenment period and helped to establish its satirical tone and voice, his satire is easily transferred to writing today. It is explained that, “The reader is constantly drawn into dialogue – by a footnote which contradicts the text, or by one voice in the text which argues against another. The use of the mask is so relentless and the presence of humour, irony, and satire so pervasive that the reader has finally no idea of where the ‘real’ Voltaire is” (Cronk 1). Students analyze Voltaire’s “irony” and “contradictions” and then are told to explain how it affects his writing; they could possibly be wrong, or right, or both. His works allows the mind to expand to think outside of what one believes and further see the possibilities of humor in it. In a serious and demanding society like the 21st century, it is relaxing and entertaining to be able to laugh and find humor in serious issues. New writers and philosophers copy his satirical and ironic tone, and then apply it to society today to make a joke out of how society is run and the aristocracy of it all. Voltaire’s ideologies on society, aristocracy, human weakness and folly, and more importantly, the opportunity for change (Shank 1), still relate to today. Voltaire’s depiction of how society can be changed and manipulated is very accurate as to how the world revolves today, with aristocracy, money, and social power. Additionally, his opinions on human nature, including weaknesses and follies, are especially applicable in many circumstances that have happened in the news, worldwide, recently. Voltaire may not have an active or prominent impact on culture today, but the majority of his ideologies and works can still be analyzed and applied to today’s society, even if they are humorous and satirical.

//**Works Cited**// Cronk, N. E. "Voltaire and Enlightenment." //The Voltaire Foundation.// University of Oxford, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

Shank, J.B. "Voltaire." //Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.// Stanford University, 31 Aug. 2009. Web. 04 Jan. 2015.

Christopher Bohlman Voltaire was a Enlightenment leader who decided that his audiences were those who had strong views on social reform, whether that involved freedom of religion, organized religion, or separation of church and state. His various works satirized and sometimes attacked religion and other schools of optimistic thought, as his audience often received works that became very controversial back in his day. Voltaire’s skepticism earned him many enemies, however, as he “attack[ed] what he saw as the intolerance of the religious establishments, as well as to propose the separation of the church and the state” (VOLTAIRE - BIOGRAPHY). Voltaire’s attacks were deliberate and common, as he routinely published essays that criticized, especially essays directed towards the absolute monarchy of France. It was this that drew the ire of the rulers of France, as Voltaire was repeatedly exiled from his homeland and forced to live elsewhere (Cronk). However, this did not stop him from because one of the most widely popular writers in his homeland, and when he returned to France after a lengthy period of time at the end of his life, he was celebrated. Therefore, while Voltaire did not write for popular opinions to his audience as his works were very controversial, he wrote to defend people from religious persecution and to challenge the monarchs to let people control their own lives. Voltaire’s audience was one that embraced progressiveness in 18th century France, and Voltaire himself encouraged them through his many appeals for change within his view of a repressed society.
 * Audience**

//**Works Cited**// Cronk, Nicholas. "Voltaire Biography by Nicholas Cronk." //The Voltaire Foundation//. University of Oxford, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

"Voltaire-Biography." //The European Graduate School.// European Graduate School, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

Lauren Letarte Since his birth in November of 1694 to his passing in May of 1778, Voltaire had a multitude of talents and was known for his many different works. “The French poet, dramatist, historian, and philosopher, Voltaire was an outspoken and aggressive enemy of every injustice but especially of religious intolerance” (“Voltaire Biography”). Furthermore, Voltaire was thought of as an Enlightenment figure, influences thinkers of future revolutions. Although forced to study law by his father, Voltaire continued to write aside from his school and became best known for his poems until becoming further recognized as a historian through his 1751 Le Siécle de Louis XIV, a written text in which Voltaire aims to demonstrate the prosperity instead of the actions of Louis XIV. He later on created more historical works in which have uplifted his prominent gift as a historian and historical writer. Voltaire’s philosophical involvement began through his short stories such as Candid, Micromégas, and, later on, Philosophie de l’histoire. He later evolved to writing philosophical poetry which became well known through it’s diversity for eighteenth century writing. Through his practice with law, Voltaire became a more outspoken figure during his time period, mainly though defending victims of prosecution. His views typically aligned as a critic of persecution and religious intolerance. He sought to bring change upon his society, which he did, having a major impact on his social surroundings during his lifetime. Regardless of his current environment, living with strict censorship, he continued to express his beliefs as a very outspoken supporter of social reform, despite the consequences, making his character extremely scarce but valient for those in need during his time period.
 * Historical**

//**Works Cited**// "Voltaire | Author and Philosopher." //Voltaire | Author and Philosopher//. Lucidcafe Library, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 Jan. 2015.

"World Biography." //Voltaire Biography.// Encyclopedia of World Biography, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2015.

Michael Baldwin
 * Aim**

Voltaire strove to entertain people with plays and poems, but he also strove to spread his way of thinking with books. Voltaire refuted many common beliefs of his era and had many unique beliefs, “In 1764, he published another of his most important philosophical works, Dictionnaire philosophique, an encyclopedic dictionary embracing the concepts of Enlightenment and rejecting the ideas of the Roman Catholic Church” (Voltaire). He was extremely outspoken and was willing to argue with anyone, which cause one of his imprisonments and being exiled from France. He was very willing to speak his mind no matter the audience. Voltaire was well rounded in areas that he was interested in and dedicated his time to, “Voltaire was particularly interested in the philosophical rationalism of the time, and in the study of the natural sciences” (Voltaire). Despite the controversy that surrounded Voltaire he was still very influential. He was a major part of people changing their thinking during that time. Despite his writings that seemed to bash the French government, when he was allowed to return his writings were seen as literary achievements and he was welcomed as a hero.

//**Works Cited**// "Voltaire." //Bio//. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 06 Jan. 2015.

"Voltaire." //Voltaire | Author and Philosopher.// N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.