“The absence of responsibility and justice does not mean we are ruled by fate.” - Voiltaire in rhe Book Corner

Our last meeting was about Voiltaire and his masterpiece "Zadiq"

Marina opened our meeting by asking everyone to remember Nicola Nahas — a man who was always present at our Book Corner and who generously donated many valuable books to it.

Then our speaker, Nathalie Ghauche, a French teacher with over seven years of experience, began by explaining the historical context of the 18th century in which the book was written. She introduced François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, who came from a privileged background but passionately believed in justice and equality — values shaped by his personal experiences with injustice, including his exile to England because of his writings. Upon his return, Voltaire sought to protect himself from persecution while continuing to speak out against injustice. To do this, he created what we now call the "philosophical tale", a literary form that allowed him to criticize authority without naming it directly.

Nathalie then gave us a brief overview of the book Zadig, without giving away spoilers. She described Zadig as a young, beautiful, and righteous man — his name even comes from the Arabic word "الصديق", meaning "the truthful" or "the just" — living in ancient Babylon. Highly intelligent, Zadig longs for one thing: happiness. Nathalie shared that Voltaire sees himself in Zadig’s character. But Zadig is repeatedly met with injustice and is even exiled from his homeland. At one point, Nathalie asked us:

“Can someone like Zadig, who always tells the truth, survive in a world full of lies?”

The room was divided — some believed yes, though it would be incredibly difficult, while others argued that conforming might be wiser.

When Nathalie mentioned that Voltaire originally titled the book Destiny before changing it to Zadig, it sparked a powerful debate:

Are we ruled by destiny, or is it just human wickedness?

Answers varied, and the discussion culminated in Father Miled’s reflection:

“The absence of responsibility and justice does not mean we are ruled by fate.”

To wrap up, we played a fun and creative game where we invented a personal story inspired by Zadig — and it truly brought the room to life.

One of the best moments? Hearing two participants say:

“You made me want to read the book! I hated it in school, and now I can’t wait to read it.”

Marina, the Coordinator of the Book Corner says: "That made my Sunday. Our Book Corner continues to grow, and I’m genuinely excited about all the new ideas and projects we’re working on!"