Voltaire or Francois-Marie Arouet was one of the greatest French writers ever. He was mostly known for his rebellious works against tyranny, bigotry, and cruelty.
People loved his intelligent but comedic writing that resonated with various nations and still remains relevant to this day. Most importantly his writing influenced European civilization. Voltaire was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris, France. Voltaire grew up with a middle class social status. Voltaire did not know his father but he believed that he was an officer named Rochebrune and his mother who remains a mystery was said to have died when Voltaire was just seven years old. Voltaire did not have any affection for his alleged father, so he attached himself to his godfather, the abbe de Chateauneuf who was a free thinker. His godfather introduced him to a famous courtesan or prostitute which gave him an outlook to his social class.
In later years he attended the Jesuit college of Louis-le-Grand in Paris where he developed a liking for literature, theater, and social life. The religious instruction of the school made him a skeptic and witness military disasters and religious persecution that he never forgot. He decided to study law and became interested with the daughter of an adventurer, soon after he decided to devote himself to literature.
One of Voltaire’s most famous works “Brutus” is a tragedy focusing on a legendary consul of Rome and his son who likes the daughter of the last king of Rome. This work is inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Julius”.Voltaire had a tough life growing up without both of his biological parents and in the middle class, but that did not stop him from getting a great education and becoming one of the greatest French writers of all time. Voltaire was a genius who rebelled against tyranny, bigotry, and cruelty. His writing influenced many people and European civilizations. They still remain relevant to this day.
