Zadig

An unnamed person describing himself as a witty scholar judges the “manuscript” of Zadig to be interesting: “I have found it curious, amusing, moral, philosophical, and likely to please even those who hate novels” (30). These qualities lead him to condemn it.

Someone identified only by the name Sadi beseeches a sultana to see in Zadig’s story something that is not immediately apparent. Sadi relates that Sultan Ouloug preferred Zadig’s story to the stories popular with the sultanas—One Thousand and One Nights—because the former had the meaning and reason the latter lacked. Sadi remarks that Sultana Sheraa’s ignorance of philosophy will make her more receptive to the subtleties of Zadig’s stories than the other sultanas. Finally, Sadi prays for her good fortune: “I implore the Heavenly Powers that your pleasures be unalloyed, your beauty lasting, and your good fortune without end” (34). 

Zadig is a young, rich, handsome Babylonian. Despite his youth and wealth, he is humble, temperate, and generous—even to ungrateful people—because he adheres to Zoroastrian ethics. He is also pleasantly witty and strictly rational, believing in scientific theories despite the government strongly opposing them. Zadig’s good fortune and engagement to Semira—a beautiful, wealthy, and well-born woman who is devoted to him—assures him he will be happy.