Lettres d’une péruvienne
par Madame de Graffigny
1747
Close Text Analysis
Exam Revision Guide
, FORM IN THE NOVEL
The novel is written in an epistolary form revealing
letters penned by Zilia to her lover Aza. Unlike Les liaisons
dangereuses, this narrative relates the settlement to a
foreign country through the eyes of one person only. Her
thoughts and relaying of events will be based upon Zilia’s
subjective experience.
It is therefore important to gather facts about Zilia and
question the accuracy and reliability of her narration.
Altogether there are 41 letters that map her diary-style
writing from the time that she lived within the Inca-Capa
culture in Peru, to having become accepted within the
French culture.
By the end of the novel, Zilia is a different woman in many ways; she is
transformed and moulded based upon the bourgeoisie’s high expectations and
social standards. With being forced to leave Aza behind in rejection, she will
therefore detach herself somewhat from her past in Peru.
USE OF LANGUAGE – HOW ARE WE INTRODUCED TO ZILIA?
Each letter is written in a style similar to that of a diary. Zilia’s language is highly
emotive towards her lover Aza. She does not refrain from saying what she thinks,
which instantly highlights her naivety and her unwavering confidence in his
feelings towards her.
At the start of the novel, her writing style is exceptionally dramatic.
Zilia’s use of personal pronouns throughout the novel when referring to Aza,
depict her feelings of attachment and dependency on him. She always refers to
herself/himself as:
« ta tendre Zilia « « mon cher Aza » « chère âme de ma vie »
« ô mon cher Aza! » « ô lumiere de ma vie ! »
She uses words of despair to describe her suffering such as :
« briser les chaînes de mon esclavage », « les malheurs que j’ignore sont-ils
les plus affreux ! » « cruelle alternative ! » « mortelle inquiétude ! »
Graffigny also exaggerates the use of exclamation marks in Zilia’s writing to
emphasise her highly emotive tone in reference to her unhappiness and also
contrastingly the extremity of her joyful love for Aza.
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