Extract
[...] This cultural opening was also accompanied by a discovery of the political institutions by the two protagonists. It was in this way that Usbek and Rica were able to have a genuine reflection on politics. They encountered and compared different political regimes, such as monarchy, republic, or even tyranny. Thus, in letters 80 and 102 to 104, Usbek compares the different regimes in a rather detailed and in-depth manner in order to determine the best one, thus giving the reader the vision of a thoughtful and wise man. [...]
[...] Montesquieu's Persian Letters, published in 1721, embody and testify to this state of mind. Thus, the author shares with us the point of view of Usbek and Rica, two Persians, on Western society, and makes us discover their customs and habits through their correspondence. But then, did they manage to draw a positive outcome from their encounter with another civilization during their journey? It is true that this expedition undoubtedly allowed them to make new discoveries and enrich their knowledge, however, this positive evolution was sometimes limited, particularly in the case of Usbek. [...]
[...] Then, the journey was detrimental, as it led to violence and death. In fact, Usbek's absence led the women of the harem to gradually free themselves from the eunuchs' control. Thus, instead of wanting to understand their complaints, he orders the eunuchs to violently assault them in order to re-discipline them, concluding with Roxane's suicide in letter 161, the most faithful and virtuous of the harem women. All these brutalities will paint a new portrait of Usbek for the reader, violent and excessive . [...]
[...] Thus, Rica in letter 38 wonders if women have the right to their freedom, by confronting the points of view, the advantages and disadvantages. In addition, Europeans think that one should not make unhappy the people one loves, while Asians wonder why men would renounce the control that nature has given them over women. This in-depth analysis testifies to a critical spirit and a certain wisdom and willingness to question. Thus, Rica and Usbek have learned and evolved, yet this progression is not absolute. [...]
[...] The journey of Usbek and Rica was beneficial, as it allowed them to develop their knowledge and critical spirit about the Western world. However, the revolt of the harem led us to discover a character with a double face. Thus, Usbek was unable to question himself. Montesquieu, to write The Persian Letters, was inspired by « The Turkish Spy Méhémet, by Jean-Paul Marana, who reports and analyzes through his correspondence the political events of Europe from 1637 to 1682. The reader can then wonder if Méhémet was also able to benefit from his journey. [...]
