Edited version of Voltaire
François Marie Arouet was born in Paris, France in 1694, the son of a notary (one who certifies legal documents) named Francois Arouet and of Marie Marguerite D'Aumard. Most of Arouet’s life revolved around Paris, until his exile. Arouet was educated at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, where Arouet’s education of the arts began. However, Arouet claimed to not have learned anything other than “Latin and the Stupidities.” Arouet spent eight years there, and, despite of the earlier rejection, the school allowed for his development of literary talents, especially in the area of theater. After graduating, Arouet set out to begin a writing career. However, Arouet’s father was intent on having his son educated in law. Arouet then pretended to work in Paris as a lawyer’s assistant; however, much of his time was spent writing derogatory poetry. When Arouet’s father found out, he again sent Arouet to study law, but in the country. Arouet, nevertheless, continued to write, this time writing essays and historical (though not necessarily accurate) works. Arouet’s satirical wit made him popular among aristocratic families, and he continued to write about leading historical figures. One such work about Louis XIV’s regent, Philippe II, led to his being sent to the Bastille. There, Arouet wrote his debut play, Oedipe, and changed his name to Voltaire. Oedipe’s success began Voltaire’s influences and brought him into the Enlightment. Voltaire’s repartee continued to bring him trouble, however. A battle of wits between him and the Chevalier de Rohan led to an infuriated nobleman. Using his lettre de cachet, a secret warrant that allowed for the punishment of people who had committed no crimes, the Chevalier de Rohan exiled Voltaire without a trial. This marked the beginning of Voltaire’s attempt to ameliorate the judiciary system.
Voltaire’s exile to England greatly impacted him through ideas and experiences. The young man was greatly impressed by England’s monarchy, combined with the freedoms of speech and religion. He also met several influential people, such as Shakespeare, which he saw as an example French writers should look to. Many of his later works were influenced by this stay. After having been exiled for three years, Voltaire returned to Paris and published his ideas in a fictional document about the English government in his Lettres philosophiques (Philosophical letters on the English). Due to the fact that Voltaire regarded the English monarchy as more developed and more respectful of human rights (religious tolerance) than its French counterpart, these letters met great controversy in France, to the point where copies of the document were burned and Voltaire forced to leave Paris.
Voltaire then set out to Château de Cirey, renovated with a portion of his large sum of money, and lived in safety for fifteen years with the Marquise du Châtelet, Gabrielle Émilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil. A fifteen year relationship between the two led to much intellectual development. Voltaire and the Marquise collected over 21,000 books, an enormous amount for their time. Together, Voltaire and the Marquise also studied these books and performed experiments. Both worked on experimenting with the ‘natural sciences, ’ the term used in that epoch for physics, in his laboratory. Voltaire attempted many experimentations, including one in which he attempted to determine the properties of fire. Voltaire also continued to write; plays such as Mérope, and some short stories were published during this time. Again, a main source of inspiration for Voltaire were the years he spent exiled in England. During his time there, Voltaire had been strongly influenced by the works of Sir Isaac Newton, a leading philosopher and scientist of the epoch. Voltaire strongly believed in Newton’s theories, especially concerning optics (Newton’s discovery that white light is comprised of all the colors in the spectrum led to many experiments on his and the Marquise’s part), and gravity (the story of Newton and the apple falling from the tree is mentioned in his Essai sur la poésie épique (Essay on Epic Poetry)). Though both Voltaire and the Marquise were also curious about the philosophies of Gottfried Leibniz, a contemporary, and rival, of Newton, Voltaire and the Marquise remained “Newtonians” and based their theories on Newton’s works and ideas (though it has been stated that the Marquise may have been more “Leibnizian,” which may have caused tension between the two, this is probably exaggeration; the Marquise even wrote “je newtonise,” which means “I am “newtoning”). Voltaire wrote a book on Newton’s philosophies: the Eléments de la philosophie de Newton (The Elements of Newton’s Philosophies). The Elements was probably written with the Marquise, and describes the other branches of Newton’s ideas that fascinated him: it spoke of optics and the theory of attraction (gravity).
Voltaire and the Marquise also studied history - particularly the people who built up civilization to the point it was at the time. Voltaire had worked with history since his time in England; his second essay in English was entitled Essay upon the Civil Wars in France. When he returned to France, Voltaire wrote a biographical essay over King Charles XII. This essay was the beginning of Voltaire’s rejection of religion; he wrote that human life is not destined or controlled by greater beings. The essay gave him the position of historian in the king’s court, Voltaire and the Marquise also worked with philosophy, particularly with metaphysics, or the branch of philosophy dealing with the distant, and what cannot be directly proven: why and what life is, whether or not there is a god... Voltaire and the Marquise analyzed the Bible, trying to find its validity in the world. Voltaire renounced religion; he believed in the separation of church and state and in religious freedom, ideas he formed after his stay in England. Voltaire even claimed that the Bible would be short-lived, that it wouldn’t survive beyond a hundred years after his death.
After the death of the Marquise, Voltaire moved to Berlin to join Frederick of Prussia. The king had repeatedly invited him to his palace, and now gave him 20,000 francs a year. Though life went well at first, he began to encounter difficulties. Faced with a lawsuit and an argument with the president of the Berlin Academy of science, Voltaire wrote, Diatribe du docteur Akakia, (Diatribe of Doctor Akakia) which greatly derided the president. This greatly angered Frederick, who had all copies of the document burned and arrested Voltaire at an inn where he was staying along his journey home. Voltaire headed toward Paris, but Louis XIV banned him from the city, so Voltaire turned to Geneva, where he bought a large estate. Though he was received openly at first, the law in Geneva which banned theatrical performances and the publication of La pucelle dÓrléans against his will led to Voltaire’s writing of Candide (optimism) and eventually his departure.
Voltaire settled in Ferney, an estate along the Swiss-French border. There he took up a fight for workers’ rights; his attack on serfdom made him extremely popular and influential in the politics of the area..Ironically provided money for the renovation of the church, (the inscription “Deo erexit Voltaire” (Voltaire erected this to God) was placed on it) while his chief concern at the time was to fight the church.
In 1778, he returned to Paris for the first time in 28 years. There, he saw a performance of his play, Irene. The success of it encouraged him to begin another tragedy. However, on May 30th of that year, he became ill. During that night, he passed away.
He was buried in the Abbey of Scellères, and his body was transferred to the Parthenon on July 10th, 1971, during the French Revolution. However, his body was unearthed by supporters of religion. His heart was given to his niece, Madame Denis, and the rest was placed in a trash pile.
References.
editInternet.
"Voltaire, Author and Philosopher." Lucidcafé. 8 Oct. 2005. Lucidcafé. 25 Nov. 2005 <[1]>. He even had a set of amazing bats, and he
McNeil, Russell. "Voltaire (1694)." Malaspina Great Books. 25 Nov. 2005 <[2]>.
Birckenstock, Jane. "A Love Story - Voltaire et Emilie." 28 Jun. 2005.Château.de Cirey - La résidence de Voltaire. 25 Nov. 2005 <[3]>.
Encyclopedia.
“Voltaire.” Encylopædia Britannica.Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc, 1993.
Book.
Wade, Ira O. Studies on Voltaire.New York, NY : Russell & Russell, 1967.