Zadig

In Memphis, the villagers accuse Zadig of absconding with the beaten woman, Missouf, and killing her lover. Zadig explains himself and because the Egyptians are just and humane, they believe him and treat his wound. Then they question him and his servant, confirming Zadig’s story. Under the law, the villagers sentence Zadig to slavery for spilling blood.

An Arabian merchant named Setoc buys Zadig and his manservant. The manservant fetches a higher price because of his strength. Now chained together, Zadig laments to his former servant how other people’s actions have determined his fate: Moabdar ordered him killed over his jealousy and now he is enslaved because a man beat his lover. Zadig rationalizes his enslavement to himself on the grounds of equality: “[W]hy should not I be [a slave] as much as another, since I am as much a man as another?” (110). However, all this time his true preoccupation is Astarte’s fate.

Setoc leads his slaves to his tribe’s home near the desert of Horeb. Setoc ranks Zadig’s manservant higher than Zadig because he knows more about loading camels. However, Setoc’s opinion of Zadig changes after a camel dies. The load is distributed across the slaves, prompting Setoc to laugh until Zadig explains the reason with the law of equilibrium. Zadig continues to impress Setoc with the scope of his knowledge and soon gains the reputation of a sage, surpassing his former manservant (111).

Once home, Setoc struggles to recoup 500 ounces of silver he lent a Jew because both of the witnesses to the transaction died. Zadig questions Setoc about the location of the transaction and the Jew’s personality before offering to plead the case before the judge. Zadig offers to have the stone upon which the silver was counted brought as a “witness” and the judge agrees. By the end of the day, the judge asks where the stone is; the Jew blurts that the stone is too large and too distant to be brought in one day. Having tricked the Jew into revealing his lie by playing to his desire to appear smart, Zadig secures repayment for his master Setoc. Thereafter, Zadig is esteemed in Arabia (114). 

Setoc befriends Zadig, who becomes to his master what he was to Moabdar. Zadig is relieved Setoc is honest and sensible, and that he does not have a wife. Setoc’s traditional Arabic worship of the sun, moon, and stars displeases Zadig, who challenges his master’s beliefs. Setoc explains that the distant celestial bodies are responsible for everything beneficial; Zadig counters that the Red Sea, on which Setoc ships his merchandise to the Indies, provides him much more benefit. He continues that if Setoc worships what is remote, he should also worship the Gangarides’ land on the other side of the world. Setoc responds he cannot help but worship the stars for their brilliance.

In the dinner tent, Zadig lights hundreds of candles. When Setoc arrives, Zadig prostrates himself in front of the candles and prays to them, ignoring Setoc. He responds to Setoc’s question about what he is doing by explaining that he is doing what Setoc does: “I am worshipping these candles, and I am taking no notice of their master and mine” (117). Setoc sees the lesson and abandons the celestial bodies for God.

Zadig learns of an ancient custom called the Pyre of Widowhood, according to which widows gain respect for themselves and their tribe by self-immolating on their husband’s funeral pyre. Zadig is horrified to learn that a widow from Setoc’s tribe, Almona, is going to sacrifice herself soon. He appeals to Setoc, arguing that the custom is counterproductive because it deprives the tribe of both current and future mothers. Setoc replies that no one dares challenge an ancient law, asking, “Is there anything more respectable than an ancient abuse?” (119). Zadig asserts that reason is older than tradition and begs Setoc to appeal to the tribal leaders while he talks to Almona.

Zadig ingratiates himself with Almona and discovers that she is not planning to self-immolate out of devotion to her husband—who was jealous and brutal—but because of the social pressure to preserve her reputation. Zadig talks to her at length, making her see the value in living and kindling in her some romantic feelings for him. He asks what she would do if she did not kill herself; she responds she would ask him to propose. Despite Almona’s beauty, Zadig is uninterested in her because he still loves Astarte.

Zadig tells the tribal leaders of his visit and asks them to enact a law requiring widows to talk privately with a young man for an hour before their sacrifice (121). They enact it and no widow sacrifices herself again, establishing Zadig as a hero of Arabia.

Setoc brings Zadig to the Great Fair of Balsora, a gathering of merchants from around the world. Zadig delights in seeing so many people from different countries because it gives him a sense of global community. On the second day, Setoc and Zadig eat with a varied group of merchants: an Egyptian, an Indian, a man from Cathay (ancient China), a Greek, and a Celt. The Egyptian despises the country of Balsora because, unlike in Egypt, no one will loan him 1,000 ounces of gold with the collateral of his beautifully mummified aunt.

All the men except Zadig and Setoc then get into an argument about their respective countries’ traditions and religions. The Indian warns the Egyptian against eating fowl because it could contain his aunt’s soul, to which the Egyptian replies that his people both worship and eat bulls. In turn, each man argues that his country’s god is the right god and that their traditions date farther back than everyone else’s. The man from Cathay is the exception. Instead of worshiping an animal god, Cathayans worship higher things: “Li, the light of nature, or reason; and Tien, the sky [... or] God” (404). The Cathayan does not make a claim about Cathay’s age, reasoning it is better to be happy than old.

After more men speak, the argument threatens to become physical. Zadig mediates, assuring each man of the value of his beliefs (except the Cathayan, whom Zadig thinks was the most reasonable). Zadig then states that, in fact, everyone is in agreement. The men protest. Zadig asks each man whether he worships his icon or its creator. For example, he asks the Celt whether he worships the mistletoe and oak he carries with him or their creator. Each man responds he worships the creator, realizing they agree. They embrace Zadig. Upon returning to Setoc’s tribe, Zadig learns he has been condemned in absentia to burn slowly at the stake.

In Zadig’s absence, the Priests of the Stars sought revenge for depriving them of the jewelry they took from widows before they burned. The priests accuse Zadig of heresy against the Celestial Host. Zadig’s alleged blasphemies make the judges very angry, so angry that “they were ready to rend their clothes, and they would undoubtedly have done so if Zadig had been able to pay for them” (132-33). Setoc tries in vain to have Zadig’s sentence commuted.

Almona, the young widow Zadig convinced to live, resolves to save Zadig with her wiles. She dresses seductively and requests an audience with each of the four Priests of the Stars in turn. To each she expresses misgivings about reneging on her sacrifice, declaring how little the mortal body she saved is worth. She bares her arms and bosom to each priest to provide evidence of her supposed ugliness and lack of worth. They are all seduced by her beauty: “That bosom, those large black eyes, softly shining with tender fire, cheeks glowing like beautiful carnations and fresh cream, a nose quite unlike the tower upon Mount Lebanon, lips like twin rows of coral framing the most lovely pearls” (135).

The priests agree to pardon Zadig in exchange for an assignation with Almona. She tells each to meet her in her chamber when the star Sheat rises. Just before the appointed hour, Almona summons the judges to her chamber and shows them the sheet each priest signed pardoning Zadig, telling them the price of each signature. When the priests arrive, they are shamed and Zadig is freed. He throws himself at Almona’s feet in thanks. Setoc is so impressed with Almona’s cunning that he marries her.

Zadig decides to leave for Syria. He and Setoc exchange a heartfelt goodbye, promising that whoever makes their fortune first will share it with the other. Once alone on the road, Zadig thinks of Astarte and of how fate seems to be taunting him at each turn. He laments how often he has had to escape death after being persecuted for doing the right thing.