The 18th century was a crucial turning point in European history due to the Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was revolutionary because of Voltaire, a writer who used his ideas to attack the established Catholic Church and to spread religious freedom, scientific thought, skepticism, and experiential philosophy. Voltaire was born in 1694, a year which was under the regiment. of Louis XIV. At that time, the aristocracy ruled France in an extreme manner and most commoners struggled with poverty. Coming from a bourgeois family, Voltaire did not like the political environment of France and the aristocratic system. An educated and intelligent student from the college of Louis-le-Grand, he became secretary to the French ambassador. Although his social status satisfied most people, Voltaire was more interested in elaborating his spiritual ideas in words, so he decided to become a writer instead of continuing to work for the French ambassador. His harsh and sarcastic writing style soon made him famous. However, this fame also caused him trouble: he was not popular with French nobles and was imprisoned. In prison, he began using the name "Voltaire" and produced his first play, Oedipus, in 1718. The play was a huge success and brought him more attention. The French aristocracy can no longer tolerate the existence of such an impact in France. This is why they put Voltaire in prison, then exiled him to England in 1726. Nevertheless, the trip to England enlightened Voltaire in another area: science. During this time, Voltaire was exposed to the scientific thoughts of the British: Newton, Bacon and Locke, etc. He found these ideas amazing and began promoting the science...... middle of paper ...... in Optimism, or the priests of the church, throughout the book. Candide had all kinds of misfortunes, but he was always happy and believed that these disasters were only trials from God, which made him look like a fool. After the publication of Candide, the French were astonished and sparked a huge debate between individualism and Christianity. In conclusion, from the Letters on England and the Candidate, Voltaire showed his intelligence by explaining the thoughts of science and using sarcasm to attack current politics. and religious traditions in France. Also, from his work, he shows the life he lived before and the ideas that promoted the Enlightenment and revolutions: freedom of religion, scientific thought, skepticism and experiential philosophy.Works CitedVoltaire, Letters on EnglandVoltaire, the Candide