Persian Letters

Rica sends a couple letters to Ibben, the first on the swift change of ministers and financial systems in France, and the second about the abdication of two Swedish queens, one to pursue knowledge, the other to allow her husband to accede the throne. He sees them as examples of devotion even though he “believe[s] that each of us should stand fast in the position assigned us by nature” (186).

Rica informs Usbek that the court has banished French Parliament to a province for refusing to pass royal edicts. He also tells Usbek he has met an intriguing woman curious about Persian customs. Rica translates a Persian story for her about Zeliha, who knew the mysteries of the holy books better than anyone. Other women ask if she thinks heaven is only for men; she replies that even though some men claim women have no soul, God will not limit his rewards of virtue for both sexes. Zeliha then tells an Arabic story about Ibrahim, an evil and jealous master, and Anais, one of his wives who dares to tell him he is cruel. She is killed and enters heaven, where she presides over a seraglio with many men at her disposal.