Representations of Jerusalem in the Eyes of Western Travelers: The Travels of Chateaubriand and Lamartine to Jerusalem as Samples

Abstract

This study to unveil the image of Jerusalem in the writings of western travelers as part of their own perceptions of the Orient, particularly Lamartine and Chateau-Briand. We will analyze the two travels understanding of the East as try to figure out its mystery, the traditions and mentalities of its inhabitants as well as their various languages, narrative techniques, and religious conflicts. We hope that this allows as to emphasize that the traveller’s basic concern is to objectively depict an image different from the western stereotypical one of the East. We believe the transfer process cannot be a case of interpretation or representation as both are affected by bias, nor can it be a matter of projection, which attempts to find differences rather than similarities between Western and Eastern cultures.

Keywords

• : Image of Jerusalem,Travel east,Travel literature,Chateaubriand,Lamartine

References

1. Redouane, joelle : L’Orient arabe vu par les voyageurs anglais, Office des Publications Universitaires , Alger, 1988, p139.