Controversy Of Homosexuality In Voltaire's Candide

Despite being written over two hundred years ago, Voltaire’s Candide addresses many issues that are to this day controversial and widely discussed. Concepts like Rationalism exist within religion and sociological controversies like war, science and human rights are still in existence today. Although within the topics mentioned by Voltaire there are slight differences in what they consist of now. War has changed, religion is more diverse, and with the existence of the internet Candide being sheltered from the world means more than it did in 1759. Voltaire also briefly alludes to topics of homosexuality that would have to be move thoroughly discussed if Candide were modified to the twenty-first century. With minor modifications, Candide could be easily adapted into the modern world.
Voltaire’s commentary on war is as relevant as it was in 1759, and for that reason deserves to stay in a modern adaptation. In chapter three when Candide is fighting
Voltaire makes very brief references to homosexuality in Candide: The Baron’s son was found by a reverend who found him “very pretty” (Voltaire 52) and in Dr Pangloss’ chain of people who contracted syphilis he mentions a jesuit who contracted the disease from a shipmate of Christopher Colombus (Voltaire 24). Voltaire himself was actually very familiar to what at the time was labeled as “sodomy” Many close acquaintances of his were known “sodomites” and some of his biographers believe that he himself was bisexual (Mitford 65). His own views on homosexuality were liberal for the time: he believed that homosexuals were in fact natural and not “sick” which was a dissident view. Keeping in mind Voltaire’s own views and sexuality, the church's views, and Voltaire's relationship with the church, it would be natural to acknowledge homosexuality more prominently and its struggle with religion in a modern