Groupe de Lecture - March 25, 2024

For this session, we will discuss Voltaire with Candide et Zadig.

These two classic coming-of-age stories by Voltaire parody the romanticism of his day with the ruthlessness that has made him the undisputed master of social commentary.

Candide, which is alternately titled Optimism, is a philosophical fantasy.  The protagonist, Candide, is an innocent and good-natured man. Virtually all those whom he meets during his travels, however, are scoundrels or dupes. Candide's naivete is slowly worn away as a result of his contact with the story's rogue elements. The wisdom Candide amasses in the course of his voyages has a practical quality. It entails the fundamentals for getting by in a world that is frequently cruel and unfair. Though well aware of the cruelty of nature, Volitaire is really concerned with the evil of mankind.

Zadig, or the Book of Fate is a novella of another optimist —young, rich, beautiful, and engaged to a woman he loves. When his early hopes and assets are destroyed, he embarks on a journey that will systematically explore science, religion, and the military, contributing to each, betrayed by all. Through these trials, he will eventually win the kingdom of Babylon.

Thank you for registering below and we looking forward to seeing you soon!