Montesquieu Persian Letters Summary

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In the Persian Letters, Baron de Montesquieu explores the various methods of controlling women in both the Persian harem and in French society. In Persia, women are confined to a seraglio and have many of their liberties striped. Throughout the letters, we see a justification for why these women have to be locked up and watched by eunuchs. Persian men have to preserve the women’s virtue because if they do not, their wives will become immoral just like the French women. “That our women belong to us too absolutely; that possession obtained so easily leaves no scope for hope or fear; that a little coquetry, like salt, stimulates the appetite, and prevents corruption” (Letter 38). The Parisian women are not free from control either because in …show more content…

This decision left only ten abortion clinics left in the entire state of Texas. One of the biggest states in the country severally hurt women’s reproductive rights through this legislation. There are people who frame this abortion issue in a way where they believe that they a fighting for what is just. They claim they are protecting a life by limiting a woman’s ability to get this procedure. This claim reminds me of the argument made to justify the role of Persian women in the harem. In both situations these entities state that they wish to protect the virtue and morality of the person. Women should be allowed to make those decisions for themselves because otherwise would diminish their rights. The Texas government is attempting to control these women by taking away their options. I believe that Montesquieu would agree that this law is not necessary and should not be allowed. He was one who understood that there is an innate equality given to men and women that changed as society developed. He believed that women are stronger than others believe and that they have the ability to make their own choices. Montesquieu probably would have advocated for more rights regarding abortions, rather than shutting them down, they should make clinics more

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