Continued Theme...

In this reading of Voltaire, the differences between men and women are still heavily looked at. Yet in this story it is from a woman’s point of view instead of a man’s in which the other readings were told from. “The Old Woman,” starts as a back ground character, only nursing Candide but shortly is the one telling a story of her own. With all the women that she speaks about, she never once says anything bad, no matter the circumstance. She portrays herself almost as perfect, stating; “I grew in beauty, in charm, in talent, surrounded by pleasures, dignities, and glowing visions of the future. Already I was inspiring the young men to love;” (Voltaire 535). As she goes on she tells of the women that dressed and undressed her, how they would “fall into ecstasies” (535). She seems a bit conceited, but in all the women she details, they are pretty ladies, without mentioning flaws. Completely contrary to how men would have described a woman during that time, which would be viewed as ignorant, uneducated, and useless. She tells about how men mistreated them, by raping them and such. So men are still portrayed as stronger and in charge, despite their actions. But this is partially to her upbeat, positive attitude of even the worst things.