During the Enlightenment, people began to believe and rely on rational thought rather than religious dogma to explain the world. This newfound emphasis on rationality promoted a previously unknown breadth of free speech, a fact that was utilized by philosophers such as John Locke, Rousseau, and Sir Isaac Newton. Furthermore, the Age of Enlightenment produced famous writers who disagreed with the irrational politics and ancient traditions of their respective countries, and instead relied on wit and satire to expose the corruption and poor human condition that existed around them. These Enlightenment writers use irony in their satires to convey their interpretations regarding the human condition. In Tartuffe, Moliere uses situational, verbal, and dramatic irony to challenge religious hypocrisy. Tartuffe represents the hypocrite or religious impostor who is secretly a criminal and demonstrates immoral behavior, but he was so convincing that Orgon, Madame Pernelle, and other followers worshiped him. I see, dear brother, that you are profoundly wise; the intuition of the time. You are our only clear mind, our only sage, the oracle of the ages, is also Cato, and all mankind is foolish compared to you. (Molière 27)Orgon used verbal irony with his brother Cleanthes because Cleanthes was expressing negative opinions about Tartuffe, telling Orgon that people who are truly holy don't go around trumpeting him, but Orgon returned the favor by insulting Tartuffe's intelligence. Cleante. Molière uses these two characters to represent the old and new traditions, as Orgon embodies the ancient religious era because he bases everything on religion or...... middle of paper ......uncertainty occurs and the demoralizing influence of currency when the reverend Franciscan friar steals the jewels from Cudegund “Alas,” said Candide, “good Pangloss has often shown me that the fruits of the earth are the common heritage of all, to which every man has an equal right. According to these principles, the Franscian should have at least left us enough to finish our journey (Voltaire 391).” Situational irony was used to mean that a man of great faith in GOD would disobey one of his amendments (thou shalt not steal). Candide thought, since the reverend Franciscan friar was supposedly a man of God, that the reverend would at least leave them enough money to survive, which shows how money can corrupt even people of great faith. Eventually, Candide stopped using Pangloss's philosophical perspectives and began to cultivate his own garden, which means working and finding his own passion (Voltaire 438).