Voltaire, ou de la satire au service des asservis

When we talk about satire and we think about the work of Voltaire, we spontaneously consider his philosophical tales, where he excels for refinement, verve and sharpness. His essays and discourses – and any other non-fictional writing – represent another interesting playground where he can decline satire in varied forms. In this paper we intend to analyse significant tales and excerpts from discourses and pamphlets selected under the perspective of his constant commitment to the cause of servitude and subjection perpetrated by the political powers, but above all by the religious authorities. Discourse strategies, rhetorical stratagems and stylistic formulas will be examined.