Temas costumbristas orientales en “Joyeles bizantinos” de Antonio de Zayas

The Customary is one of the most favorite subjects of orientalism, which mainly consists of the description of smoking Shisha, drinking coffee and the Tespik. The poet specifies the Orient through picturesque and Oriental features with marvelous colors and certain images: the “white turban” and the figure of the smoker, and the poet is attracted by the figure of the fantastic Ulema. Zayas traditional Orientalism is characterized by a spiritual touch like when he mentions Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. He also focuses on some Oriental elements such as the Shisha, the Coffee, the tapestry, the turban and the scimitar. The poet mentions the “Tespik”, the praise of Allah, thus characterizing Turkey, the East morally and spiritually with the maximum mystical exaltation possible. Then, he takes us to the Bazaar, immersing us in its atmosphere filled with the delights of Allah's paradise where the presence of women is essential to achieve the maximum delights.The author describes landscapes that he had never seen and speaks of feelings that he had never experienced as typical of exotic cultures. He also addresses the theme of the generosity and kindness of the Turkish-Oriental people, which is manifested in many details, for instance, the Turkish hospitality, since they always have a “traveler or guest room” in their houses to offer to the visiting stranger after they share a meal with him.