Jean-François de Saint-Lambert and His Moral conte “Ziméo” (1769) in the Context of Abolitionist and Imperial Activities

authored by

Anja Louise Bandau

Abstract

This chapter offers a reading of J.-F. de Saint-Lambert’s moral tale “Ziméo,” that is one of the rare Enlightenment texts representing slave revolution. Focusing on categories and conventions of representation, the chapter addresses two main points. First, it explores how slavery and slave revolution could be represented in the abolitionist and Enlightenment discourse. Second, linking esthetic debate with historical colonial context, it brings up questions of representation of colonial others and of colonial violence as well as questions of imperial agency. Bandau explores these questions by analyzing discursive positions and rhetorical strategies. She studies the different interplays between literature, philosophy, and politics in Saint-Lambert’s narrative and analyzes it in the context of his work for colonial reform projects. Lastly, she analyzes “Ziméo”’s circulation and reception in abolitionist and physiocratic milieus.

Organisation(s)

Romance Studies Section

Type

Contribution to book/anthology

Pages

205- 226

No. of pages

22

Publication date

2017

Publication status

Published

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous), History

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54280-5 (Access: Closed)