Introduction
The 18th Century was a challenging time for women in Voltaire’s novel. The author highlights the severe inequality in his story by restricting the number of female characters and limiting the development of Cunégonde, the Old Woman, and Paquette as active participants in society. Despite having remarkably different origins, the three women have similar lives and lack complexity. It should be noted the commonly practiced sexual exploitation served to underscore women’s underprivileged position in society. The author’s articulately dreadful presentation of women not only highlighted the prevalence of misogyny but called attention to their unequivocal persecution.
Women’s Roles in the 18th Century
The first two female characters to be presented are Cunégonde and Paquette, and the latter serves as the former’s mother’s chambermaid. The novel’s plot suggests their lack of significance. Unlike the other characters, the two women are given physical descriptions, which emphasize their categorization as sexual objects mean for the gratification of men. There is no attempt to describe their persona, which points to the fact that they were expected to be submissive and obedient. It is vital to point out that even though Cunégonde is the Baron’s daughter, she is no different from Paquette, a maid.
Her nobility is a façade that is soon torn as she is typified as a hapless damsel in distress when Candide is expelled from the castle. The Old Woman, unlike the other two, is ugly and unappealing. Voltaire presents her as a witch-like domestic worker whose primary role is the fulfillment of her master’s wishes. The absence of character development exemplifies the trivialization of women’s roles in the 18th Century.
Voltaire emphasizes women’s inability to control the courses of their lives. While the women originate from varying sections of society, they share a similar fate. All three characters experience poverty, subjugation, and sexual exploitation. For instance, the Old Woman is a pope’s daughter who once lived in a palace (Voltaire 37). However, after a series of wretched events, she finds herself trapped as a servant.
Cunégonde shares the Old Woman’s predicament when she is forced to labor in a scullery. In addition, she is presumed dead after “she was ripped open” by soldiers after “having been violated by many” (Voltaire 11). Paquette is coerced into a life of prostitution as she becomes a surgeon’s mistress and a judge’s concubine. The narrative parallels in the story highlight women’s vulnerability in a society where they are forced to depend on men to survive.
Despite their overwhelming misfortunes, the women in the novel find a haven in Candide’s garden. This strangely desirable end to the tale points to Voltaire’s optimism for a future in which women lead dignified lives. They survived their traumatic experiences and have emerged as strong, focused professionals. Cunégonde is now an excellent cook, Paquette is skilled at embroidery, and the Old Woman is responsible for the laundry. In essence, each of the ladies makes a valuable contribution to society.
Gender Equality Today
Contemporary society faces a variety of gender-related issues that resemble those encountered by women in the 18th Century. While there has been some improvement, fundamental issues regarding roles and opportunities remain unaltered. For instance, men have more economic engagement opportunities, higher access to education, fewer health and safety risks, and more political representation than the opposite sex.
The roles highlighted in the novel relate to today’s situation because the objectification of women remains a challenging problem. Sex has been commercialized, and a product’s popularity is inextricably linked to its association with a skimpily dressed woman. In addition, emphasis on a woman’s physical attributes rather than their personality or competence is a persistent concern in work environments where bias is prevalent. Finally, women are forced to work harder and survive unimaginably difficult conditions to gain access to opportunities that men relish. Both the contemporary and 18th Century societies share similarities in terms of the harshness and cruelty that women are exposed to in routine activities.
Much like the 18th-century society, women today remain trapped in their gender-specific roles. The prevalence of sexist stereotypes in work environments is astonishing. While some women have succeeded at ascending to great heights in various aspects of their lives, the vast majority remain confined to their houses as wives and mothers. There is a constant conflict between achieving professional success and creating a thriving home. The economic environment, in its current state, does not provide opportunities for both. Therefore, a woman must sacrifice one for the other and either choose to raise her children or develop a thriving career. In effect, women are denied the opportunity to realize their full potential in all aspects of their lives.
Conclusion
The novel’s satirical nature serves as a mirror for society’s flaws in so far as women’s rights are concerned. The minimally developed female personality traits, the inevitable juxtaposition of their lives, and the normalization of heinous crimes such as rape serve to highlight the objectification and subjugation of women. These harsh conditions are replicated in today’s society which is as unjust as in the past. The story’s conclusion outlines the author’s perspective on the misogynistic attitude that permeates society and the hopes he holds for women in the future.
Work Cited
Voltaire. Candide. Edition Delince Incorporated, 2016.