Ourika

The French aristocracy was widely persecuted during the Reign of Terror. How does the Terror affect the lives of Ourika’s friends? Compare and contrast their experiences with Ourika’s during this period.

Internalized racism reproduces a society’s racist views within an individual. How does Ourika exhibit internalized racism toward black people in France? How are these views formed by her circumstances and the people around her?

One common defense of imperialism is the idea of the benevolent colonizer—that is, that colonialization uplifted its subject by providing Western institutions such as schools, hospitals, and religion. Scholars, such as Albert Memmi and Aimé Césaire, contend that this idea is a myth used to justify the subjugation of colonized peoples. How do tensions around imperialism play out in Ourika? Which side does the author seem to take?

Does Ourika condemn or reinforce the institution of slavery? Can the novella be considered an early abolitionist novel, or does it naturalize the treatment of black people during this era? 

The idea of “tabula rasa,” or “blank slate,” holds that nature, rather than nurture, decides a person’s character. This concept was popular during the Enlightenment and was foundational to the American and French Revolutions. How does Ourika’s development, education, and character exhibit this concept?  

Mme de B. raises Ourika to reach standards that she cannot live up to due to the institutional racism of her era. Examine Mme de B.’s character and motivations. Is she morally culpable for Ourika’s fate, as the marquise suggests? Or is she truly the benevolent benefactress that Ourika sees? 

Examine the options that Ourika has when she realizes her society will restrict her potential based on her race. What are the pros and cons of these options? Does she really overcome society’s restriction by joining the Ursuline convent?

Examine the doctor’s role in the story. Though he is not present for much of the novella, he is the one who compels Ourika to tell her story, and the book is his recollection of their meeting. Is the doctor a sympathetic narrator? How does he help the reader form a connection with Ourika?