satire is. The American Heritage College Dictionary describes satire as a literary work that attacks human vice or folly through irony, derision, or wit. Using this definition, we will focus on the manner in which Candide and Bourgeois Gentihomme make use of satire and comedy.

The most well-known book by Voltaire is Candide, his amusing satire on philosophical optimism, which has also been made into a musical by Leonard Bernstein. On the other hand, it is not one of his most influential works although he was considered one of the most widely read of the Enlightenment spokesmen.

Voltaire valued clarity and wit and it is evident in all of his works. It is interesting to note that Voltaire was deeply pessimistic about the human nature. In Candide, he never dreamed of creating a perfect world but rather argued that the world could be better if ignorance and superstition were replaced...
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