“The Indiscreet Jewels” by Denis Diderot is a novel that portrays Louis XV as a sultan who owns a magic ring that makes women's genital or jewel talk. It's a novel of ideas in which “jewels” function as the vehicle of philosophy to enlighten society.
Louis XV was king of France between 1715 and 1774, and it was well-known for having various mistresses and was frequently influenced by them. It's said that he had ninety illegitimate children, product of all his sexual encounters with his mistresses. Louis XV's poor leadership and lack of reforms contributed to the crisis that led to the French Revolution in 1789.
“The Indiscreet Jewels” was written as a satire to the king and his womanizer powers. Diderot is most remembered as being the editor and one of the main contributors of “The Encyclopedia”. What started as a merely translation of “The Chambers Cyclopedia”, ended up being an open door to the “world of knowledge”; where not only technology articles, but also ethic,philosophic as well as aesthetic topics can be found. This type of writing was seen as an attack to the Catholic Church, whose norms still ruled the society on that time, because writings like this would open the eyes of the society and create many questions and doubts. This would negatively affect not only the Catholic Church but also the Crown since an ignorant society is much easier to rule.
As Diderot tries to reveal the secrets about the “knowledge world” in “The Encyclopedia”, in “The Indiscreet Jewels”, he tries to do the same; to expose to the general public the more deepest secrets of a woman's feelings and thoughts about desire and sexuality; topics that were taboo in Diderot's years. I think that more than being a satire about the King of France, the real purpose of this novel is to make out of a topic like sexuality something more open to discussion for the people. But a “Vagina Monologue” couldn't be created in that time, so Diderot had to find ways to present his novels to the public without being exposed to sanctions and even jail time for his open mind. Here is were “The Indiscreet Jewels” and “Vagina Monologues” share their first similitude. Although at first instance, both could be seen as mere satires, they have a hidden purpose which is to make of a topic-the women's genitalia-a more open topic of discussion. Both “The Indiscreet Jewels” and “Vagina Monologues” are written differently to target differently public too; “Vagina Monologues” is a play written in 1996; “The indiscreet Jewels” is a novel written in 1748. “Vagina Monologues” seems to be more directed to the female public, whereas “The Indiscreet Jewel” to the general public. “Vagina Monologues” uses the monologues to inform women about their own sexuality, and through knowledge, empower them and remove them from the world of hypocrisy and taboo were “talking about sexuality, intercourse, masturbation, orgasm” have been hidden in.
In “Vagina Monologues” ”every monologue somehow relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the variety of names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vagina_Monologues). “Vagina Monologues” was a boom when the first play open in New York, because even though we are in the 21 Century, talking about women's intimate parts appears to be counterproductive and improper for some. Since the first play back in 1996, “Vagina Monologues” have developed to V-Day, “a global movement to stop violence against women and girls (...) through a series of events that generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery” (http://newsite.vday.org/about/more-about). On the other hand, “The indiscreet Jewels” remains as one of the most scandalous, attractive and provocative works of Diderot.
Although “Penis Monologues” is an enjoyable reading, I think his purpose differs from that one of “Vagina Monologues”. It's presented, once again, as satire, but contrary to “Vagina Monologues”, it doesn't develop further than that. I don't see any valid information, knowledge that can lead men to better know their bodies or give them more confidence to openly discuss man sexuality with others. It's just a series of jokes about intercourse, or, in the words of Peace “When privates meet”, circumcision and masturbation. Maybe it is presented this way because sexual taboo is not that much about men genitalia but rather women's. After all, men seem to understand something better when is introduced to them as a joke. :)
Internet Sources used:
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567404/louis_xv.html
http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/diderotbio.html
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_bijoux_indiscrets)
Blog Activity: Vagina Monologues
Perspective and Sub-Text
Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels and Ensler’s Vagina Monologues
The purpose of this activity is to compare two texts that address the same theme, and yet which were written several centuries apart and by authors of different gender. As you read these excerpts, I would like you to do the following:
(1) Compare and Contrast the two texts. Here are some questions to get you started, but you are by no means limited to these issues: Do they serve the same purpose (meaning, are they written as entertainment, Satire to correct social ills, informative news, etc.)? Do they invite the same type of reader? Do the authors share the same opinion about the subject matter? Stylistically, how do the two compare (look at the vocabulary, metaphors, grammar, voice, etc)? How does the gender of the author affect the style and content of the text? Do you feel each of these texts would be acceptable and useful in other centuries and cultures? Note the qualities that make them either “universal” or “limited.”
The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot (18th Century French Enlightenment male philosopher; written as a NOVEL)
Cucufa said, “I wish women to tell me of their amorous adventures past and present, and no more.” “But it is impossible,” said the genie, “to expect women to confess their adventures. That has never been and never shall be.” Then the genie said, “You see this ring? Put it on your finger, my son. Every woman toward whom you turn the stone will recount her intrigues in a loud, clear, and intelligible voice. But do not imagine that they speak through their mouths.” “From whence,” cried Mongogul, “shall they speak then?” “From the most honest part of them, and the best instructed in the things you desire to know, From their jewels.” “From their jewels!” repeated the sultan, bursting into laughter. “This is something new. Talking jewels! How preposterous!”…
First Test of the Ring: An emir consulted his mistress, Alcina, about the newspaper scandal of her reputed affairs with his mere squire. Alcina swore to him that the slander was the gossip of wretches who would have kept silent had they any reason to speak; furthermore, nothing had been done, and he was free to believe what he wanted. The sultan turned his ring toward her. A loud burst of laughter seized Alcina, and was suddenly syncopated by the workings of the ring. Immediately a murmuring noise was heard from beneath her petticoats: “Well, now I have a title. I am truly glad of it. There is nothing like having a station. Of course, if she had listened to my first advice, she could have found me something better than an emir. But still, an emir is better than nothing.” Silence fell and the jewel continued: “a husband must be an important guest, judging from the precautions taken to receive him. So many preparations! Two more weeks of this regimen would have been the end of me…in my opinion, the emir did not require such a fuss, although I understand my mistress’s prudence. She was preparing for the worst, and I was readied for the emir and his squire alike.” The sultan then turned his ring, the emir already having disappeared at the first words of his wife’s jewel, and Alcina, unabashed, feigned a fainting spell, then sat down to play cards as if her jewel had said nothing, or had said the nicest thing in the world.
Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels and Ensler’s Vagina Monologues
The purpose of this activity is to compare two texts that address the same theme, and yet which were written several centuries apart and by authors of different gender. As you read these excerpts, I would like you to do the following:
(1) Compare and Contrast the two texts. Here are some questions to get you started, but you are by no means limited to these issues: Do they serve the same purpose (meaning, are they written as entertainment, Satire to correct social ills, informative news, etc.)? Do they invite the same type of reader? Do the authors share the same opinion about the subject matter? Stylistically, how do the two compare (look at the vocabulary, metaphors, grammar, voice, etc)? How does the gender of the author affect the style and content of the text? Do you feel each of these texts would be acceptable and useful in other centuries and cultures? Note the qualities that make them either “universal” or “limited.”
The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot (18th Century French Enlightenment male philosopher; written as a NOVEL)
Cucufa said, “I wish women to tell me of their amorous adventures past and present, and no more.” “But it is impossible,” said the genie, “to expect women to confess their adventures. That has never been and never shall be.” Then the genie said, “You see this ring? Put it on your finger, my son. Every woman toward whom you turn the stone will recount her intrigues in a loud, clear, and intelligible voice. But do not imagine that they speak through their mouths.” “From whence,” cried Mongogul, “shall they speak then?” “From the most honest part of them, and the best instructed in the things you desire to know, From their jewels.” “From their jewels!” repeated the sultan, bursting into laughter. “This is something new. Talking jewels! How preposterous!”…
First Test of the Ring: An emir consulted his mistress, Alcina, about the newspaper scandal of her reputed affairs with his mere squire. Alcina swore to him that the slander was the gossip of wretches who would have kept silent had they any reason to speak; furthermore, nothing had been done, and he was free to believe what he wanted. The sultan turned his ring toward her. A loud burst of laughter seized Alcina, and was suddenly syncopated by the workings of the ring. Immediately a murmuring noise was heard from beneath her petticoats: “Well, now I have a title. I am truly glad of it. There is nothing like having a station. Of course, if she had listened to my first advice, she could have found me something better than an emir. But still, an emir is better than nothing.” Silence fell and the jewel continued: “a husband must be an important guest, judging from the precautions taken to receive him. So many preparations! Two more weeks of this regimen would have been the end of me…in my opinion, the emir did not require such a fuss, although I understand my mistress’s prudence. She was preparing for the worst, and I was readied for the emir and his squire alike.” The sultan then turned his ring, the emir already having disappeared at the first words of his wife’s jewel, and Alcina, unabashed, feigned a fainting spell, then sat down to play cards as if her jewel had said nothing, or had said the nicest thing in the world.
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