Voltaire's Use Of Political Power In Candide

The last major theme across both books is one of political power, authority, government, and the role of nobles in all of this. In scope, it is perhaps the largest theme across both books. It has to be noted that at this time, France was still an absolute monarchy, while England was a constitutional monarchy. From his clashes with nobility, it is easy to see that Voltaire has little regard for nobility, and decries their self-importance. In Candide, he writes, “The Baron was the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate, but even windows…” (1). He also mocks how the media is slanted to aggrandizing monarchies, speaking of how kings are praised for every little act of kindness, even if they are doing the right thing
Voltaire contends that this system of taxation reduces burden on the lower class, while leaving room for social mobility. The peasants could increase their production without fear of a sudden increase in their taxes, which led to a widespread increase in productivity and enriched England. This increased productivity was also influenced by the nobles in England who did not deem participating in trade beneath their station. Unlike France, where nobles mocked traders, and traders were embarrassed about their profession, and Germany, where every rich citizen considered himself a Prince, English nobles were content to be prosperous in trade. Voltaire praises this attitude because, “… a Merchant, who enriches his country, dispatches orders from his compting-house to Surat and Grand Cairo, and contributes to the felicity of the world” was more valuable than lords and princes (Letters 43). This shift in behavior and views of the noble in England was a significant Enlightenment development which propelled English trade and commerce to the