May
26, 1717
Dear
Diary,
You are my one connection to the
outside world. You are the one belonging I have, other than a pencil, and sharpener.
There will always be the hay, and dusty scraps that they give me for food
although the food is merely a way to live. They do not make me happy. The food
they give me here at the Bastille is plain and tasteless. It is just enough to
give me energy to write, think, and freely speak even when the only one to
speak to is I. I had been imprisoned ten days ago on May 16. There is a high
chance I may die here. I may even die today, which is why I must try to spread
my life experiences with the world from inside my cell. I plan to do that by
writing within your pages in hopes that someday it will be read by an outsider.
I was born on November 21 in the
year 1694 in Paris. The name my parents had given me was François- Marie
Arouet; I go by Voltaire. I grew up and went to Jesuit
College Louis-le-Grand in 1704 to study law. My teachings there had molded my
life. The ideas and development of government they had taught me had been
corrupt in my mind. They had filled my mind with evil. The government is completely fair. The Catholic Church knows best,
therefore we shall keep quiet since our suggestions won’t be as beneficial. We should
all trust and agree with the higher class.
It seems obvious that I completely agree
with our society. Since I agree I mind as well just keep silent. That is
why I had to speak out. My goal was not to change society, but change the way
people act about it. People just sit there ignorant whenever the wonderful and just king decides to raise
tariffs to make him richer. The people need to speak up when they disagree. How
will we ever advance if we never stand up for ourselves? The government cannot
deny us the freedom of speech. We must express ourselves.
I started to
travel to study the world, and spread my wisdom. I had left for Hague with the
French ambassador in 1713. There one of my studies there that I focused on was
aristocrats. Only aristocrats could rule the government. How wonderful that our way of life is put into such loving hands. All
they care about is helping the lower class. They will use everything in their
power to make sure the people of France become equalized; they will use taxes
in benefit of the lower class so that they make less money and the lower class
makes more money.
I put these ideas in my writings. Those writings had been completely clear and
serious. Yet the public still blames me for being satiric. What a ridiculous notion. Anyways I was
exiled and put then put in prison for my sarcasm. I was sentenced to eleven
months. I will be released in 1718. I have plans to travel some more to other
parts of the world like Holland, Belgium and Britain where I will try to learn
and study about all subjects.
October 17 1726
Dear Diary,
I
have again been arrested. I had spoken up against the Chevalier de Rohan. It is my right to speak; I should not be imprisoned for abusing
my natural right!!!!!!!
June
6, 1733
Dear Diary,
I have witnessed many of my books burn in the
past few years. Paris and Geneva had tried to ruin me. They had burned most of
my works such as Oedipus, Henriade, and many more. They cannot break me. I will
fight and I will continue to spread my words although I must flee to stay
alive. I have been exiled for the… I seem to have lost count. My mind is
wondering off. I believe it was my third exile. This is not the end. I will
return to my homeland one day and I will be welcomed back as a hero. They will
be encouraged by my works and they will use it to base their society off of one
day. I will be thanked one day, and famous enough to be in a history text book.
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