The Ingenu Essay -- Essays Papers

The IngenuLe Connaissance Nouveau de LIngenuFrancios-Marie Arouets, assuming the pen-name of Voltaire, LIngenu is asatirical story that begins in 1689 when a ship of position merchants are comingto France to trade. This is when the Ingenu is first introduced. The Frenchare most intrigued by his appearance. Because of a picture believed to be thebrother and sister-in-law of the Abbe de Kerkabon and Mademoiselle de Kerkabon,the Kerkabons felt that they saw a resemblance and take him in as their nephew. This is only the beginning. With no set beliefs, the Huron condescends to live withthese people of France and is taught to live as they do. Under appearinglyunfortunate circumstances, he becomes immure and able to educate himself. He learns of the French society on a hands-on basis by feeling their cruelty. This Child of Nature symbolizes John Lockes livid tablet. The Ingenu, alsoknown as the Child of Nature, Becomes enlightened through his experiences withFrench society by ha ving no prior worldly knowledge of his own, existence taught bythe French, and disregarding everything they guide taught him to learn forhimself the lessons of French society.The Child of Nature comes into the French society with no worldly knowledge ofhis own or beliefs. He is a spontaneous, curious young Huron and is viewed asquite naive. The French feel that they can easily mold him into their society. All he has are his youthful fascinate looks, HE was hatless, and hoseless, andwore little sandals his head was graced with long plaits of hair and a shortdoublet clung to a trim and supple figure. He had a look about him that was atonce martial and gentle (Voltaire, 190) and an awkward manner of beingcourteous to the Kerkabons all with such a simple, natural air that brother andsister two were charmed (Voltaire, 190). When asked countless questions, thetravelers answer would be very much to the point (Voltaire, 191). Instead ofin a roundabout way in which was inevitable if their roles are to be reversed. The Huron did not turn a hair (Voltaire, 191). But does speak his mind whenthe questions were coming too fast. He simply and clearly tells them,Gentlemen, where I come from, people take it in turns to speak (Voltaire,191). Upon questioning him, they find out that he has no particular religion. He ... ...Doubtless he was the most appall and upset of all, but he hadlearned to add discretion to all the happy gifts which nature had showered uponhim, and a ready sense of what is proper was beginning to find inhim(Voltaire, 249). He has learned of the horrors of the world. He shares inon the radical views of the time. After all of his adventures, big and small,he comes to the conclusion that an ill wind blows nonentity any good(Voltaire,255).The Child of Nature becomes enlightened through his experiences with Frenchsociety by having no prior knowledge, being taught by the French, anddisregarding everything they have taught him to learn for himself t he lessons ofFrench society. He starts representing Lockes blank tablet which opens itselfto beliefs of any kind. This tablet is filled with the thoughts of the cruelFrench society. The Child of Natures enlightenment comes when he takes it uponhimself to erase the thoughts and beliefs on this tablet and fill it up with hisown. Voltaires LIngenu is just an example of a man becoming enlightened duringthe Age of Enlightenment. It classifies itself as a standard for other storiesof enlightenment.