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VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Literature’s activist voice: Unraveling Montagu’s advocacy through The Turkish Embassy Letters
Authors
Dharmendra Khamari, Laki Barik
Abstract
Literature serves as a potent tool in
addressing societal, political, and cultural issues, enabling writers to raise
awareness and champion change. This paper delves into the activist essence
embedded in the literary works of an eighteenth-century European woman writer,
Lady Wortley Montagu. Through the widely celebrated genre of letters, Montagu
asserted her presence in a male-dominated society, challenging gender norms. In
an era where women faced limited educational opportunities and were relegated to
secondary status, Montagu used literature to advocate for equality. Montagu not
only navigated the western literary canon but also challenged prevailing
colonial narratives about non-European countries. Her scrutiny of the
imaginative travel accounts from Europe, Asia, and Africa aimed at demystifying
and countering the biased representations perpetuated by Western writers. The
paper explores the contrasts drawn between East and West, highlighting
Montagu’s elevation of the subaltern in her travel narratives. A significant
moment in Montagu's literary journey is her letter to Alexander Pope, marking
her substantial claim in the English literary sphere. Expressing admiration for
Arab poetry and culture, Montagu disrupted conventional perspectives. This
paper asserts that literature provided Montagu with a platform to engage in
vital activism, giving her a distinct space in the literary landscape of
England.
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Pages:16-18
How to cite this article:
Dharmendra Khamari, Laki Barik "Literature’s activist voice: Unraveling Montagu’s advocacy through <i>The Turkish Embassy Letters</i>". International Journal of English Research, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 16-18
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