Persian Letters

Rica’s first letter, to Ibben in Smyrna, is the first glimpse of Paris, after a month’s stay. Impressed, Rica claims Paris is as large as Ispahan, a city “built in the air” (30), with people always rushing. The king (Louis XIV) possesses immense wealth—stemming from the vanity of his subjects. He rules their minds like a magician, although there exists one who is even more powerful than he: the Pope. Rica mentions a Constitution, decreed by the Pope, which among other things forbids women to study the Bible.

Usbek also sends a short letter to Ibben (who welcomed them in Smyrna). We learn that Ibben’s nephew Rhedi is traveling to Italy to educate himself. Usbek then writes to Roxane from the “poisonous place where modesty and virtue are unknown” (33), reminded of Roxane’s fierce struggle to keep her chastity. The women of the West “have lost all sense of decorum” (34). Several weeks later, Usbek mentions to Nessir that he is “low both in body and in spirits” (36), but begs him not to let anyone know, as Usbek’s wives and eunuchs might rebel against a weak master.

Rica writes to an unknown person (***) of theater and opera; it is obvious he has mistaken theater boxes for small dramatic scenes.