The irony of the title ‘The Turkish Embassy Letters’
After reading the initial chapters of the book, the reader thinks that the author's letters are purely about the diplomatic mission in Turkey. Paradoxically, the letters are largely about Turkey's culture and the East's people. For instance, the author focuses more on women's lives and how culture oppresses them. She also mentions how the higher classes suppress the people of the lower classes. Therefore, very little is said about the Turkish embassy. Similarly, the author does not discuss her husband's work as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
The paradox of the social standing
All citizens of a country are important because they contribute to the country's economic development. For instance, the government collects taxes from all people regardless of their classes. Ironically, lower classes in Turkey are depicted as voiceless, nameless, and useless. The author recalls when people of the lower class were mercilessly killed. When there was an uprising, the Prince ordered the lower class people to be killed because they were useless. Ironically, the higher class societies fail to remember that people of the lower classes are their employees, and they play a significant role in the economy.
The irony of religious doctrines
Religion is not supposed to discriminate against people based on gender, but the harsh reality of Islam is astounding. The author can interact with the women from the East, where Islamic religion dominates. She is shocked to learn that religious doctrines are used to oppress the female gender. For instance, women must observe a particular dress code as required by men. Submissiveness without question is another ironic aspect. The reader asks, was the Quran written to only favor the male gender? According to the Quran, all people are equal before Allah, but men have tailored it to favor them and disadvantage women.
The satire of the wife of the dignitary
The author is the wife of Edward Wortley Montagu, a lead diplomat in the Ottoman Empire. People expect the author to associate herself with the people of her class and standards. Ironically, Lady Wortley Montagu does the opposite when she falls in love with the Turkish women's bathing culture. The reader finds it peculiar for a diplomat's wife to take off her clothes and bathe with the local women. The author gets out of her social circle and freely interacts with the local women who are less educated than her.
