Five-minute digest
Zadig; or, The Book of Fate
Summary
Zadig, first published in 1747 as Memnon and enlarged under its present title in 1748, is one of Voltaire's philosophical tales, a short satirical romance set in ancient Babylon. This text reproduces an early English translation printed in London for John Brindley in 1749, keeping its old spelling and capital letters. Zadig is a young Babylonian of good birth, wise, modest and generous, who believes he has every reason to be happy. Yet throughout the story his virtues bring him trouble as often as reward. His betrothed, Semira, abandons him after he is wounded defending her; his wife Azora proves faithless when he tests her with a feigned death. Retiring to study nature, he deduces from tracks the appearance of the queen's lost dog and the king's runaway horse, and is fined for knowing too much. An envious neighbour nearly has him executed over a fragment of verse. His wisdom at last brings him to the notice of King Moabdar, who makes him chief judge and then prime minister, and Zadig governs with justice, settling disputes with shrewd tests. But Queen Astarte falls in love with him, the king grows jealous, and Zadig must flee to Egypt. There he kills a man who is beating a woman, Missouf, and is sold as a slave to the Arab merchant Setoc, whom he wins over and whom he persuades to abolish the custom of burning widows. Zadig meets fishermen, brigands and a supper of merchants where men of many nations quarrel over religion until Zadig shows that they worship the same Supreme Being. He finds Astarte again, wins a tournament for the throne only to be cheated by the vain Itobad, and in despair meets a hermit who performs strange and apparently cruel acts, drowning a young man and burning a house. The hermit reveals himself as the angel Jesrad and teaches that Providence brings good out of evil. Zadig answers the riddles of the sages, wins Astarte and becomes king. The tale mocks superstition, envy and injustice while asking whether human life is governed by chance or by Providence.
Top Lessons
Reason against superstition
Zadig uses careful observation and reason against prejudice and folly.
Just government
As judge and minister Zadig shows how wisdom can serve justice.
Providence
The hermit's lesson asks whether evil can serve a good purpose.
Verified Quotes
“'tis much more Prudence to acquit two Persons, tho' actually guilty, than to pass Sentence of Condemnation in one that is virtuous and innocent”
“a Parcel of Insects, or Reptiles, devouring one another on a small Atom of Clay.”