@article{article_1671046, title={ORIENTALIST ELEMENTS IN VOLTAIRE’S ZAIRE}, journal={International Journal of Media Culture and Literature}, volume={11}, pages={107–123}, year={2025}, author={Elbayiyeva, Turkan}, keywords={Oryantalizm, Voltaire, Zaire, Egzotizm, İkili Bölünme}, abstract={The article explores the Orientalist themes in Voltaire’s celebrated French tragedy, The Tragedy of Zaire (or Zaïre) (1732), examining how the work reflects eighteenth-century Western perceptions of the East. Set in an exoticized version of the Orient, the play constructs and perpetuates cultural stereotypes, fabricating illusions that served to justify European claims of superiority. Central to the analysis is the characterization of Orosmane, the Muslim Sultan, whose depiction is steeped in Orientalist motifs such as despotism, sexual intrigue, and religious fanaticism. His fierce anger toward Zaire, a Christian woman, captures the thematic tensions that arise from the clash of distinct cultural and religious identities. This confrontation is emblematic of the broader narrative framework that rigidly divides the world into an advanced West and a backward East. Employing Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism (1978) as a critical lens, the article contends that Voltaire’s dramatization of Eastern societies not only exoticizes these cultures but also systematically misrepresents them as morally depraved and inferior. The article situates Zaïre within the framework of colonial discourse and analyzes how Western depictions of the East functioned to legitimize colonial power. The play’s dramatic tensions, marked by jealousy, violence, and religious conflict, reflect the prevailing European discourse that has historically contributed to widespread cultural misunderstandings and prejudices. Moreover, the analysis explores the play’s reception and enduring impact on Western perceptions of the Orient, challenging the ethical implications of such reductive representations. In summary, Zaïre not only embodies typical Orientalist portrayals of the East, it also offers a critique of European religious intolerance and highlights the universal nature of human suffering. By situating the play within the context of Enlightenment thought, the essay argues that Voltaire uses the East as a lens through which to critique European orthodoxy and the consequences of Eurocentric assumptions. Ultimately, Zaïre serves as a complex exploration of Eastern-Western tensions and the enduring legacy of colonialist ideologies.}, number={2}, publisher={İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi}