Letter 20 By Fran�oise De Deterville Monologue

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Letter 20 is an extracts from “Lettres d’une Peruvienne” written by Françoise de Graffigny. This novel set in the 18th century was a success, with more than 40 editions in 50 years and was translated into 5 languages. The main protagonist in these letters is Zilia, a Peruvian Princess, who was kidnapped by the Spanish conquerors and captured by French and brought to Paris. All along the novel, she will be writing letters to Aza, her fiancé, describing places and peoples she has met. Mr Chevalier de Deterville, who is her protector, will teach her how to speak French, help her adjust to a different way of life and discovery of a new culture. The writing style is informal, emotional, expressive and can be taken as she is writing a diary. The passage is about Zila being introduced to the world of education and French society. - Zilia’s upbringing has shaped her into someone who expects to found beauty and goodness in everything. She become quickly disappointed with French society as it does not live up to her expectation (lines 1-3). - Zilia offers her critique of French society – its love of luxury, social customs, the disparity of rich and poor, how it’s all looks great and beautiful but in really it’s all artificial. Even their politeness is not real, the more you look at their life and exterior aspect, the more you discovers …show more content…

Again this lead to her lack of knowledge, which can also be view as if she envies these men for their writing skills. She is goes even further in her comparison by adding that “they are to the soul what the Sun is the earth” (19-20), which is a very deep and must have quality to enable someone to leave properly and be healthy in body, mind and soul. Zila is persuaded that by knowing the French language, reading the “books” will give her all the “enlightenment” and help that she need in her

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