Lumières de la raison et Lumière de la foi chez Marie Leprince de Beaumont

Leprince de Beaumont’s tales are set in dialogues – a genre the Philosophes used to circulate new ideas. This choice is paradoxical for books which aim to form perfect Christian wives. There is a tension between the will to educate the judgement – young women should discern right from wrong – and to limit it to all a mother needs to know. Leprince de Beaumont draws inspiration from scientific and philosophical methods and ways to shape the mind, and makes them serve a Christian perspective.