SOURCE: "Job," in Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary, Volume III, translated by William F. Fleming, 1903. Reprint by The Lamb Publishing Company, 1910, pp. 314-19.
[A principal figure of the French Enlightenment, Voltaire promoted the highest ideals of the Age of Reason, particularly
Bible, twelfth century. Job's seven sons and three daughters are behind Job, who kneels. Below: Job seated on a dungheap, with his wife standing opposite. the ideal of faith in man's ability to perfect himself He was also a formidable satirist who was both feared and denigrated by the victims of his biting wit. Voltaire's works encompass diverse genres including drama, poetry, history, essays, literary criticism, political and social treatises, autobiography, and contes—
short adventure tales. Also among his esteemed works are philosophical works including Letters philosophiques
(1734; Letters Concerning the English Nation)
and Dictionaire philosophique
(1764; Philosophical Dictionary).
The following is an excerpt from the Philosophical Dictionary,
in which Voltaire presents a humorous overview of The Book of Job,
commenting on the moral failure of Job's friends and arguing that the work is Arabic in origin.]
This is a free excerpt of 214 words. There are 1,330 words (approx.
4 pages at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our The Book of Job: Critical Essay by Voltaire Access Pass.
