The Power Of Corruption And Absolutism In Movie Analysis On France

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.

I’ll lie when I must, and I have contempt for no one. I wasn’t the one who invented lying. It grew out of a society divided into classes, and each one of us has inherited it form birth. We shall not abolish lying by refusing to tell lies, but by using every mean at hand to abolish classes. (as cited in Bok ,1999, p 165-166).

Furthermore, the queen of the France, Marie Antoinette, overspends the money on herself. This is a quote from a letter that she wrote to her mom, “On Tuesday I had a fete which I shall never forget all my life (Doc.B)”. In this quote, she is telling her mother about the party that she had, and this shows how ignorance she is. She doesn’t pay attention to the issues that the citizens are going through, and because of the overspent, France goes through a difficult time. Marie Antoinette helped the French Revolution to grow larger and more dangerous.

In the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century, France was undergoing major changes. Before the French Revolution, France was experiencing political, social and economic problems. During this time period France was unstable, and wasn’t able to keep up with the new arising Enlightenment ideas. In addition, there were high taxes, unequal power distribution and social inequality. The French Revolution not only impacted the citizens of France, but people from other countries as well.

King Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were two people that should not have been ruling a country. King Louis was always gone on hunting trips and Marie Antionette spent every dime of French money. Once the Monarchy ran out money, they started to tax the Third, and poorest, estate. The third estate took up 97% of the population. 97% of the population was starving and the royal family kept spending large amounts of money until the people revolted. The people of France tried to reason with King Louis, but he refused to change his ways and kept taxing the third estate. When the people revolted, they stormed the Bastille and took all of the weapons they could. The people then went to the King’s palace and demanded he fix the way he was ruling before they killed him. The King didn’t listen and was executed along with his wife. Of the three kids that Marie Antionette had, the two boys died of Tuberculosis in jail and the daughter was sent to live the remainder of her life in exile in Austria. It may seem as though the people of France had successfully overgrown their monarchy and could begin a life of freedom, however this is not the case. The French had rushed into combat too fast and did not have a plan for what to do after they had killed their rulers. The right of Terror begins where Maximilian Robespierre beheads 40,000 people in the span of ten months for speaking against the revolution. In the end, Robespierre ends up getting

During The French Revolution, many citizens (mostly the 3rd estate) were not treated the way they should have been. The French Revolution was the cause of the rebellions and difficult economic situations that many citizens had to endure. During the reign of King Louis XIV and Queen Marie Antoinette, many citizens (especially the 3rd estate) were livid about how poor they were being treated.

When the time hit France during the French Revolution there were many rough times for people during the 25 years they were fighting. During the French Revolution the people were living in harsh conditions. People were going poor they couldn’t afford things, the middle class was getting robbed of paying taxes, and the working class couldn’t start the French Revolution.

The French Revolution is said to have a number of causes. It was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was partially carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the empire. The main causes of the French Revolution was the political, economic, and social problems happening in the society during this time. One of the causes of the French Revolution of the political tension going on during the time.

The third estate, the class with the largest population in France during this era, was treated extremely poorly. The third estate was heavily taxed and barely had any land amongst themselves. They were forced to live together in a small amount of space. On top of that they were starving. They were hungry and so poor that they could barely afford the most basic of food, bread. The lords and nobles had no respect/compassion for the third estate. They completely disregarded the fact that those in the third estate were humans and treated them with no sympathy. Property tax was so heavy that no one could afford to pay (Document 1). This poor treatment and lack of compassion and basic decency from the first and second estate towards the third gave the initial momentum to the wheels of the revolution, long before it actually begun (Document

The French Revolution was a monumental historical event. Somehow, however, the causes of this conflict are often forgotten among all of the chaotic events. However, the causes of this revolution are exactly what will be discussed in this essay. The three most paramount issues which caused the French Revolution were the inequality in estates, the ignorance of King Louis XVI, and the political system.

These causes can be boiled down to economic, political, and social reasons. During the late 1780’s the Third Estate people were being unfairly taxed. France was under a system in which the middle class and peasants were taxed heavily, whereas the nobles and upper class were not. (Doc 1) Thus, to a great population of France, economic issues were very apparent. Along with this, there was a prominent political issue. The ineffective King Louis XVI was in power during this time, and was frequently asked to solve the issues of France. He regularly failed to accommodate to their lists of commands. (Doc 2) There was also a struggle between the nobility and monarchy over reform of the tax system, where they weren’t able to agree and make decisions. During this time in France there were also major social issues. There was discontent between the first, second, and most prominently, the third estate. The third estate people, consisting of middle class and peasants, were being unfairly taxed and mistreated. (Doc 10) This led to anger in the people of the third

After reading this book I understand a lot more about the French Revolution. Most of the problems that occurred dealt with the idea of change. Some people like things the way they are, some are afraid of change, and others would like to see something new. Louis XVI wanted things the way they were and be treated as a king is supposed to be treated, and

With the downfall of the absolute monarchy, and the beheading of King Louis XVI, France began to fall apart because of the lack of leadership and not having chain of command. What killed the monarchy was the inability to create representative institutions in which the state could execute its program of reform.(p 33) The people of France received what they asked for, and achieved one of their goals, but it lead to bureaucratic efficiency, the idea of letting terror take over. The cycle of violence was seen as never ending for the citizens of France. The London Times article also talks of mobs appearing in the city, and during this revolution gang life was starting to take control of the city. These gangs would order around, and if you did not

Her need to see her enemies destroyed is so strong that it overrides any other emotion that Madame Defarge may have left, and it leaves her “absolutely without pity” (367). She cannot see the monster she has become because she is so focused on immolating every last aristocrat or enemy of the republic. France may have suffered from poverty,

France remains in control of his country and himself. This was especially prevalent for the 17th century audience, living in a country that had experienced great political unrest and struggle. This is relevant to us today, as 21st century Americans, because we are electing a president and, as in every election, there is fear and concern for the future of our country. France also establishes his concern for his country when he says Cordelia “is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France. ”(I.i)