The Downs Of The French Revolution

The initial impulse of the French revolution was destructive. For those who lived through all, or even part, of these vast upheavals, the shock was overwhelming. Maximilien Robespierre was a proud disciple of the enlightenment and declared that no political writer had foreseen this revolution. Robespierre (1758-1794) was one of the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety, the effective governing body of France during the most radical phase of the revolution. The leaders of this revolution attempted, perhaps more than any other revolutionary leaders before or since, to totally transform human society in every way. (Supreme Being) Although Robespierre began with patriotic intent he still was the face of the Reign of Terror and was viewed as being a radical person.

Listing his name and profession would also help because Dr. Manette is a reputable doctor in France and has a high reputation there. Dr. Manette was sacrificing his name to try to save Darnay and get him released by persuading the people that Darnay is not in the wrong. Since Lucie had helped her father so much and helped him grow throughout his life, Dr. Manette thought he would try to repay her by getting her husband released from prison to ensure Lucie’s happiness.

Just about any country that one can name has some history of civil unrest, class issues, rioting in the streets, and outright warfare. These patterns of behavior are common denominators for most civilization in the world. The names, faces, and places may change, but the motivations are generally the same, because of the need for change and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve it. In contrast to the United States, which was in the process of freeing itself from British colonial rule, France was working to free itself from royal absolutism. This period is historically known as the French Revolution. Many scholars do not agree on the chronology of the French Revolution; some scholars suggest that the Revolution took place between 1789 to 1799 while others feel that it did not end until Napoleon lost power in 1815. To better understand the history of the French Revolution it is necessary to discuss the causes, major events, significant figures, and the outcomes associated with these political developments. Without this uprising, that changed the face of the entire country and influenced local political life in many countries in Europe, in all likelihood the France we know today would never have existed.

Although neither Madame Defarge nor Lucie Manette are well-developed as characters in themselves, both symbolize opposing forces. Lucie is lovely, golden-haired, and good, a symbol of light. By her very presence she draws the people together and brings them to their full potential. She enables Dr. Manette to return to health and peace, and inspires Sydney Carton to find redemption for his degenerate living in the ultimate sacrifice of his life. Madame DeFarge, however, is the symbol of evil and the inevitable forces of the French Revolution. Driven by the ravages of the aristocrats to an inconsumable hatreds she patiently knits the names of the tormentors soon to be

French Revolution: Final Essay The French Revolution accomplished many things. The clergy and nobility began to struggle to keep their power in the resolutions losing some authority over the people. The peasants and san culottes got more rights in the first revolution but they did not get any political power.

Later the Patriots look up to Dr. Manette as a type of role model because he took the pain for those eighteen years to set an example for those who thought that the revolution would come easy. He of course did not know this nor did he have a choice to be imprisoned. But nonetheless his captivity in the Bastille served as a prime example of what the peasants of France must go through in order to achieve their goals. This sacrifice does not become known until later in the book when his time spent gives him a leadership quality over the Revolutionists.

The story of revolution and resistance in 18th-century France is a complicated one, and no two historians tell the story the same way. However, it is clear that for the revolutionaries, Marie Antoinette’s significance was mainly, powerfully symbolic. "She and the people around her seemed to represent everything that was wrong with the monarchy and the Second Estate: They appeared to be tone-deaf, out of touch, disloyal (along with her allegedly treasonous behavior, writers and pamphleteers frequently accused the queen of adultery) and self-interested"( Moore 17 ). What Marie Antoinette was actually like was beside the point; the image of the queen was far more influential than the woman herself.

She witnesses firsthand all of the hardships the French commoners are enduring and it fuels her rage and anger toward the nobility. Madame Defarge channels all of this anger into exacting her revenge, but we cannot help pitying her for her wretched childhood. We comprehend the reasons behind the madness, but that does not justify her actions.

The violence in France will not stop until equality is reached. The revolutionaries picture a time when all the people of France live equal. This reasoning is the core factor of why they are fighting against the system. When we learned the motive for Madame Defarge’s reasoning for hating the Marquis and anyone associated with him, she replies that everyone against the revolution should “...tell the Wind and Fire where to stop; not me!” (326). We learn here that she has not intent to stop until she gets even with the Evrémonde family. Madame Defarge’s idea of equality is the death of Charles Darnay and everyone associated with him. When Madame Defarge and Defarge were discussing the end of the revolution Defarge asked the question, “but one must stop somewhere. After all, the question is still where?” (324). Defarge questions Madame Defarge’s intent to stop somewhere but Madame Defarge replies with “At extermination” (324). This strengthens the fact that Madame Defarge believes the revolution will be complete with the death

Secondly, the aristocracy’s inequitable power is demonstrated by the imprisonment of Dr. Manette. Marquis St. Evremonde sentenced Dr. Manette to prison because Manette reported him for the rape of a young girl. Although Marquis St. Evremonde was guilty of rape, Manette was the one imprisoned. The very wealthy and powerful man, Marquis St.

France went through many changes during the times from the 19th century leading into the early 20th century. Most notable amongst the start of the changes which laid the groundwork towards social, political, and economic change in France would be the French revolution which ended in 1814. The French revolution destroyed the social discriminative class system in France and declared equality for all. The revolution came up with the equality and career open to talents, i.e., appointment and promotion was to base on talents and ability. This led to rise of middle class who had acquired education to positions of responsibilities. This inevitably led to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte to power without which he would have died a common man. It destroyed the congregative class system and opened opportunity to talent peasants like Napoleon ("EFFECTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ON FRANCE", 2016). All the army generals were swept away during the reign of terror giving chance to Napoleon to rise to power in France. The fret revolution led to the declaration of rights of man and citizens. The constitutional assembly / parliament came out with the document of human rights. It granted political liberty, like freedom of speech, press, association, worship and ownership of property. Although they were abused

In returning to Paris, the place of his pain, Dr. Manette again risks his mental health and places himself in a vulnerable position as he is susceptible to emotional harm if he cannot save Charles. He expresses to Mr. Lorry, “It all tended to a good end, my friend; it was not mere waste and ruin… I will be helpful now in restoring the dearest part of herself to her” (210). A ray of hope in a sea of doubt, Dr. Manette abandons any weakness inside him and becomes a source of strength for many. Charles’ imprisonment has such an effect on Lucie that a reversal of roles takes place, and Dr. Manette accepts the responsibility of parenthood happily. He uses his influence as a former Bastille prisoner to restore Charles to Lucie, something he could

Dr. Alexandre Manette is the next character to go through a moral conversion. Dr. Manette is the father of Lucie Manette, a young, sweet, innocent looking-girl. Dr. Manette had been imprisoned for eighteen years because of

Among the leaders of the revolution is Madame Defarge. Madame Defarge is filled with hatred due to the personal tragedy caused by the aristocrats. Her sister is raped, her brother is killed, and her father also ends up dying. Because of her hatred, Madame Defarge refuses to help Lucie and her family when Darnay is on trial. Madame defarge also leads the revolutionaries to go and punish Foulon, a wealthy man who tells the starving people to eat grass." 'See', cried Madame, pointing with her knife. 'See the old villain bound with ropes. That was well done to tie a bunch of grass upon his back. Ha ha! That was well done. Let him eat it now. Madame put her knife under her arms and clapped as at a play"(230, Dickinson). Madame Defarge is being very cruel in the death of Foulon and laughs at his corpse. The cruelty shows how the revolution has changed her character to a more bloodthirsty and sinister level. The aristocracy’s violence and abuse in power has lead Madame Defarge to oppress her victims. Throughout Paris, Madame Defarge and the revolutionaries continue spreading bloodshed. It is because of the aristocracy’s oppression that havoc doesn’t stop. “Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind”(Dickinson, 381). The goodness the lower class originally had, is now corrupted by the

In there, Dr. Manette's enmity for the the Evremondes continues to grow where he denounces the Evremonde brothers and the rest the Evremonde bloodline until they die out. As the revolution continues to grow, Dr. Manette's is finally given an opportunity to end the Evremonde bloodline. The blood thirsty mob of the rebellion storms La Force, where Charles Evremonde is currently held. The mob detests anyone that had any remote connection to the French Aristocracy and would gladly murder him. Had Dr. Manette not used his influence as a Bastille survivor, Charles would’ve been gored on the street. Despite his hatred for the Evremonde family, Dr. Manette forgoes his past to save the husband of one very dear to him. Finally, Dr. Manette is able move on from the years of hatred in the Bastille, and he personally vouches for the Evremonde at his trial. Ultimately, Dr. Manette ceases to hold the Evremonde bloodline responsible for the heinous actions committed, and had instead works tirelessly to save his son-in-law. Through Dr. Manette, Dickens portrays a character that not only complete contradicts his initial caricature of a vengeful prisoner, but also grows into someone willing to forgive someone who had wronged him.