Frederick Douglass and Voltaire Frederick

Frederick Douglass and Voltaire

Frederick Douglass' view of mankind in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is harsher because it is real.

For example, in one scene, Douglass describes how while the slaves are "nearly perishing with hunger, when food in abundance lay mouldering in the safe and smoke-house" (Douglass 96), the "pious mistress and her husband would kneel every morning, and pray that God would bless them in blanket and store!" (96). Here we see mankind at its worst with one race believing it is better than another. In another scene, Douglass presents us with how the slaves are driven when he tell us the slaves "worked in all weathers... The longest days were too short for him, and the shortest nights were too long for him... I was broken in body, soul, and spirit" (105). This scene shows how cruel mankind can truly be. Douglass' view, while it may be harsh and filled with cruelties, it is still one that is tinged with hope. These two scenes force us to recognize the power of hope because we see what slaves were forced to overcome

While Voltaire's story, "Candide," shows us an important reality of life, it is not nearly as harsh as Douglass' is. Candide discovers that true joy is the result of some of the simplest things. For example, the Turk tells Candide that his plan for cultivating his estate includes his children, which "keeps away three great evils: boredom, vice, and need" (Voltaire 100). Candide understands that if the world is to evolve to a higher level of enlightenment, it will be as the result of a group effort of all human beings. People have the responsibility to associate with one another in a positive fashion and work together to make the world a more positive place to live. This scene illustrates how the boredoms, vices, and needs of life are lessened when we do this. Another scene that represent Voltaire's view of mankind is when Candide realizes that "we must cultivate our garden" (Voltaire 101). As a result of his journey, Candide concludes that mankind stands a better chance of survival in the world without the aid of philosophy or religion. His opinion is that mankind should return to a more simplified way of thinking. Life is a garden and we cultivate our gardens when we make connections with other people. How we relate to others represents the seeds that we plant in our gardens of life. Growth is the result of connecting with others and not the result of our intelligence. In this scene, this notion is simple. Another scene that represents Voltaire's view on mankind can be seen