How did Voltaire’s education at the Jesuit college of Louis-le-Grand shape his interest in literature and theater?

Voltaire’s education at the Jesuit college of Louis-le-Grand in Paris was instrumental in fostering his lifelong passion for literature and theater. During his time there, he developed a deep appreciation for the classical tastes instilled by the Jesuit fathers, which provided the foundation for his own future literary career and his eventual acclaim as a successor to the great classical dramatist Jean Racine.1

However, the influence of the college was complex. While the curriculum cultivated his literary interests, the religious instruction he received had the unintended effect of sparking his skepticism and tendency toward mockery. This critical mindset, combined with his exposure to the classical tradition, helped shape the intellectual independence that would later define his work as a philosophe.1