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Examples Of Individualism In Tartuffe

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“I think, therefore I am” is a philosophical statement made by Rene Descartes in reference to one’s ability to think for themselves. The quote teaches us that individualism and challenging traditional authority will allow us to understand the human condition better. The Enlightenment Period focuses on individualism and the need to challenge our blind faith in authority. I believe that the quote represents the principles of individuality and the need to challenge authority, both of which were key principles of The Enlightenment Period. In Moliere’s play, Tartuffe the idea of individuality and the need to challenge authority can best be explored through the character of Orgon. Orgon falls victim to the manipulations of Tartuffe and only at the …show more content…

Candide is a character who starts the story in a sheltered world and follows the character of Pangloss who tells him that the world is a great world. Candide is then kicked out and forced to see the chaos and agony of the everyday world which he never experienced. He experiences so much pain and suffering and after a period of time comes to completely change his beliefs about the world around him. He no longer sees the world as a good world but one where everyone's for themselves. Pangloss had so much optimism and positivity to share and yet Candide experiences differently. Candide, through experience, is forced to come to the conclusion that Pangloss was wrong. We can learn from Candide that we have to experience the world for ourselves and letting other people dictate what we believe could have consequences. Pangloss suffers through so much and yet still continues in a ravaged state to say how wonderful the world is. I believe that the lesson Voltaire was trying to tell the reader is that when exposed to different things it is healthy to change beliefs, this idea directly contradicts faith which tells us absolutes. Pangloss shows us what happens if we blindly follow authority, we never change our beliefs or develop who we are as people. Candide changes what he believes and develops his own individual ideas about the world through experience while still acknowledging that Pangloss was

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