WOMEN OPPRESSION

1. male dominance

2. religion

3. Letter 45: the ENUCHS threatened and killed anyone who attempted to save the wives. The difference between how Usbek's family travels and how he has his wives travel should be noted as well. Is Usbek very extreme rules of his Seraglio normal even by contemporary Persian standards?

4. Letter 55: The Persian priest vow: OBEDIENCE, POVERTY AND CHASTITY. They don't keep their vows " however wealthy these dervishes maybe they will never renounce their title of poor" "all Christians want to attain paradise but theres hardly anyone who does not want to attain it at the least possible cost."

5. Letter 74: Europe Laws are harsh when it comes to SUICIDES. Usbek complains of depression and being forced to work for a society he doesn't want to be a part of. "why should anyone prevent me from ending my suffering"

6. Letter 113: Usbek talks about the priest and nuns who vow celibacy and chastity. They don't marry or reproduce which points to the trend of drops in population that he talks about. "The profession of CELIBACY has destroyed more men than the plague and blood-fest wars have ever done.

7. Letter 55: Four women at a party ranging from the ages of 80-20 yrs old with a 20 year age difference between each criticize each other. The woman bash each other for wearing makeup, their fashion and adornment that is seen to only be appropriate for the younger woman. These woman don't think highly of themselves, maybe due to the opinion of men? should be questioned and noted.

8. female inequality(SOCIETY)

9. Letter 63: Usbek wives are asked to BEHAVE and OBEY the chef enuch. He wants to be remembered as a husband and not a master to his wives, but he makes no clear distinction between the two.

10. Letter 68: Zelis, Usbek wife tells him of a story about a dear friend. The daughter of his friend was MUTILATED and sent back to her father, after being giving away for marriage, because she was accused of not being a virgin. "Fathers are indeed very unfortunate to be exposed to such insults" Zelis says if that became her daughters fate too she would kill herself.