his speech and Candide simply for listening with "an air of approbation" The reason given for this hanging is that the people believed a ritual hanging would keep the earth from quaking again. Voltaire uses this barbaric sacrifice not only to show that the church had too much power, but that the Churchs abuse of power directly went against the principles they so strongly advocated. In this example, it seems that Voltaire is more opposed to the spread of power than to the actual principles of Christianity. In Voltaires eyes, the Church had become a form of government more than an institution to provide spiritual support to the people. This idea is supported by Candide's encounter with the wise man of Eldorado in chapter eighteen. Upon discussing religion with Candide, the old man claims that the people of Eldorado all have the same belief, so therefore it would be foolish to have an instituted or forced religion for everyone. I feel that the people of Eldorado did not fear religion, because they thanked God each morning. In this instance, Voltaire is just trying to say that religion is more beneficial if not pressed upon the people. Instead, let them find what they believe on their own.Voltaires view of the aristocrats was worse than his perception of the Church. He continually attacked many members of the bourgeois about their pride and conceit in their lineage. Voltaires first example of aristocratic attitudes of pride occurs very early on in the book. Candides origin is discussed, and it is stated that his mother and father did not marry because his father, could only claim seventy-one quarterlings, the rest of his family tree having suffered from the ravages of time. (19). This goes to show that Voltaire saw the aristocrats as people merely concerned with a anothers title or stature in the community. Candides mother was not able to consider marrying a man because of love, but instead, she was forced to base her decision...
