Candide – Voltaire – Religion, Clergy and Ecclesiastical Power

A concise analytical resource in French examining religion, the clergy and ecclesiastical power in Candide.

This resource provides a clear and structured exploration of the religious context of the Enlightenment and Voltaire’s satirical critique of institutional power, hypocrisy and intolerance as depicted in Candide.

Key features:

• Overview of the religious landscape in 18th-century Europe
• Analysis of the role and influence of the clergy
• Exploration of hypocrisy and corruption within religious institutions
• Examination of key episodes, including the Inquisition
• Insight into Voltaire’s advocacy for reason, tolerance and freedom of thought

Includes an accompanying worksheet to reinforce and practise key concepts.