Question

write a short essay of 2 pages.

• Please refer to Eric Hobsbawn’s book ‘The Age of Revolutions’ in your work, using references to page numbers. Eric Hobsbawn writes that the French Revolution was the triumph not of liberty and equality in general, but of middle class or ‘bourgeois’ liberal society.” Why is the French Revolution considered as a ‘bourgeois’ revolution, which promised a ‘bourgeois liberal’ society?

Answer 1

French Revolution broke out not due to a single cause alone. It was the outcome of social, economic and political factors combined together. The people of France hardly enjoyed any rights. They were the puppets in the hands of monarchs and aristocrats. The concept of justice and freedom were flouted openly and blatantly. The public were denied the right of speech. The rule of Louis XVI was corrupt, disorganized and autocratic.

On the other hand the commoners were groaning under the heavy burden of state taxation. The aristocrats, the members of the royal household, the noble and the clergy who enjoyed special privilege were free from every kind of tax. The officials of the state extracted tax according to their own whims. The peasants had to pay even salt tax. The bourgeois would torture people ruthlessly. Such irresponsible activities of the king caused a great anger in the people.

Queen Antoinette, who was awfully pretty and luxury loving, dominated the monarch so much that she could make him agree to do whatever she fancied. All the activities would be controlled by a group of aristocrats and even thee queen would listen the words of the aristocrats. For their luxury a large amount of public money would be spent. The young sons of the aristocrats were were given all the high and important posts. They had full of freedom and therefore they would run injustice without control.

In the people there were two categories -- the first part was known as bourgeois and the other part was the commoners. The former had made immense progress although they were more or less similar to the commoners. This class consisted of traders, merchants, artists, literateurs, physicians, lawyers, wealthy of France etc. Intellectual pursuits were monopolized by them. They lent money to the nobles and governments whenever they needed it. The major burden of the state was on their shoulders.

Bourgeoisie were seriously affected by the bankruptcy of the coffers of the French government. Being educated the philosophers of the age influenced them terribly. They were highly dissatisfied with the state rule and the social order of the day. The disturbed economic position of the France was one of the chief factors of the ensuing revolution. The bourgeoisie also supported the common people against the injustice and whimsical rule of the king. They were out of the control of the people. The commoners were very loyal to them as they would help them in various ways. Therefore with the influence of the bourgeoisie the revolution was ensured.