Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary isn’t just a philosophical treatise—it’s a masterclass in sharp wit and irreverent takedowns of authority. The “Adultery” section is no exception. While it might appear to be about infidelity, Voltaire’s real target is the church, the state, and the absurd power plays that have shaped morality and laws.
The Church’s Grip on Divorce
Voltaire begins by pointing out a curious fact: in most cultures, divorce and remarriage are considered natural rights. But not among Catholics, where the church decreed otherwise. He notes with biting sarcasm, “God permits me to remarry, and the Bishop of Rome does not permit me.”
Historically, this wasn’t always the case. Divorce was a standard practice under Roman Catholic emperors and persisted in fragmented states of the Roman Empire. But then Gregory IX, a pope with a flair for power moves, declared marriage an “unshakable yoke” in the 13th century. Gregory’s motives were far from spiritual—he sought to weaken emperors and kings by controlling the social fabric. His decrees turned personal relationships into a tool for ecclesiastical control.
The outcome? A society where people had to invent reasons to escape unhappy marriages, transforming a deeply personal matter into a theater of absurdity.
Patriarchy in Action
Voltaire shifts his attention to the glaring double standard in adultery laws. Women, he notes, were humiliated, stripped of their property, and locked away for their supposed transgressions, while men faced no comparable consequences. He mocks the patriarchal absurdity, asking, “Were these laws made by cuckolds?”
While laws today are less overtly biased, the remnants of these double standards linger. Women still face harsher social judgment for their personal lives, a reality that Voltaire’s critique calls into sharp focus.
Shifting Morality: Adultery and the Bible
Voltaire doesn’t just critique the laws—he digs into their shaky foundations. The famous biblical story about stoning an adulterous woman, including the line, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone,” wasn’t part of the original text. It was added later, likely to emphasize repentance and forgiveness. But as Voltaire observes, these additions have been weaponized to enforce morality.
By highlighting the malleable nature of religious texts, Voltaire urges readers to question how and why moral laws are created—and whose interests they serve.
Bigger Themes: Power and Absurdity
At its core, Voltaire’s “Adultery” is less about the act itself and more about the systems that enforce moral codes. The church’s rules, far from being divine, were tools for control. Voltaire’s humor and wit challenge us to see through these power games and consider the absurdity of blindly adhering to inherited systems.
Final Thoughts
Voltaire’s critique still resonates today. In “Adultery,” he exposes how morality is often a pretext for control, wielded by those in power to serve their interests. His words remind us to question authority, reject hypocrisy, and never stop laughing at the absurdity of human institutions.
Be First to Comment