Persian Letters Analysis

Persian Letters analysis: the author is Montesquieu

Letter #63 First Person Source Analysis

This letter was written by a man named Rica to Usbek

Montesquieu, a Persian author, is critiquing French society by comparing it to Persian society in the 18^th century- but it's not all completely based on fact- it's partially satirical. Rica is a satirical person who is used to analyze French society.

This article was written by a man named Rica. He was writing about the character and the personality of women in France compared to women in Persia. The Persian letters were written in the early to mid-18th century. Apparently, Rica viewed Persia as an “Enslavement of the mind”.[1]  Enslavement of the mind suggests that the government/ society did not allow free expression and limited societal differences. Rica did not get to know women well in Persia. According to Rica, the Persians were very closed off due to the dictatorship, and he did not know women well. Apparently, in France, there was a more open view of women; women were more likely to show virtue, intelligence, character, beauty, kindness, and personality. [2] This showcases the cultural differences in the mid-18th century between France and the Middle East. It shows that the Middle East was more conservative culturally, and Europe/ France was more open and differentiated. It may also be because France was closer to a developed absolute monarchy, while Persia was a dictatorship. It shows the difference between women and the interaction between women in different parts of the world. If we compare French women today to French women back then, we will notice large differences; however, fewer than the large differences between Persian and French women back then. As well, we do not notice as large differences between Persian women in the 18th century and Persian women today (at least in Iran). However, Iranian women today sometimes advocate for more rights and are more politically and socially present compared to 18th-century women. This letter is used to compare Persian norms with French norms; it is used to showcase the differences between Persian and French society in the 18^th century.

Bibligrophy

Montesquieu. Persian Letters. Translated by C. J. Betts. London: Penguin Classics, 1973.

[1] Montesquieu, Persian Letters, trans. C. J. Betts (London: Penguin Classics, 1973).  Pg. 129

[2] Ibid pg. 130