What elements of the French Revolution enthralled Romantics? What means are justified in order to create a "better" society?
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." Thomas Jefferson
"One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes a revolution in order to establish a dictatorship." George Orwell
"When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the "freedom of the press" goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism." Vladimir Lenin
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." John F. Kennedy
"A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets." Napoleon Bonaparte
"Any people anywhere being inclined and having the power have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and force a new one that suits them better." Abraham Lincoln
Responses due Wednesday 12/6
14 comments:
Only a Romantic would be ignorant enough to be enthralled by the French Revolution. Therefore it would be more reasonable to look at what elements of the revolution the Romantics were to ignorant tp take in consideration. Only a romantic would praise the nationalistic aspects of the French Revolution, and be totally ignorant of the anarchy and chaos that French Revolution actually represented. Only a romantic could find the emotion from the endless persecution and bloodshed. Only a romantic would believe that the means of the French revolution were justified to create a better society. Romantics were too busy with there emotions and imagination to find the chaos and anarchy right in front of them.
Romantics found that the French people overthrowing absolutist rule was nationalistic, because the
country was following enlightened ideas of liberty by John Locke. Yet unlike the American revolution that ended up as a democracy, France ended up under tyrannical rule. Romantics preached of the French revolution extending rights of property and freedom to its people. Yet during the reign of terror, the French people were subject to censorship, executions, and injustice.
Only a Romantic would overlook the tyrannical rule, like that of Robespierre. Robespierre is not celebrated today in France when the French celebrate the Revolution, yet Robespierre is what the French revolution actually stood for. The French Revolution was that of people who would not take reason into consideration (like romantics) and killed anybody who spoke of reason. Thousands of people killed under the guillotine for speaking there mind in a country where people supposedly could. Yet like all tyrannical rule, those who spoke there mind were executed and censored. Yet Romantics still say that the means were justified.
Before the revolution, those who were not of noble status were subject to unfair representation in the government. The majority of the French population was not represented based on numbers, but on social class. The French had the right to demand e equal representation in a constitutional monarchy. Yet even after the constitutional monarchy was established, the French took an unnecessary step of abolishing the monarchy. This led to anarchy and chaos, that led to tyrants who endlessly persecuted in the name of the France. It hardly seems that the means were justified to create a better society.
The French Revolution was an event that changed Europe socially and politically. The revolution in its early stages captured the minds of many European intellectuals. Particularly, it attracted the Romantics. This was because the French Revolution was about the same thing Romanticism was about: the individual. This revolution began in a society that was into throwing away the rights of the individual, particularly the peasants, in the name of progress. However, many soon woke up and realized that not enough progress was happening to justify this so they wanted their rights. The revolution promised this to the Romantics: that every individual would have a say and a voice in government. This as opposed to being the nameless, faceless people on the streets with little control over their country’s future. Keep in mind as well that the Romantics weren’t about reason and rational thinking. Any shrewd-minded observer could have realized that this revolution was going to do little in terms of reforming social order. The nobles would still be the ones calling the shots in the parliaments. However, to the Romantics it must have felt right. They were all about going with their emotions and the struggle of the peasants against the Second Estate felt like the right thing to do. A third reason why Romantics may have been so enthralled was their status on authority. The Romantics were generally against any sort of authority and championed the common man. In this way, any sort of revolution would have been right up their alley.
I would say that any means can be used if justified. For example, I think the French people were justified in overthrowing their government. They just went too far when they introduced the guillotine and began to massacre suspected enemies. I think that obviously violence should not be used unless absolutely necessary. In some cases violence is necessary if this is the only way to fix a serious injustice. It all depends on the scenario. If one class is enslaving the other, then I believe it is right for the enslaved class to rise up using violence if necessary. However if it is only a slight injustice, violence shouldn’t be used. For example, I think this country has some problems these days, but I wouldn’t prescribe overthrowing the government. It’s difficult to say what is justified unless you are in that situation.
The events of the French Revolution greatly impacted the "romantic revoltion". Romantics were basically those who thrive upon the imagination of man and how they influenced their community. Romantics were also very much known for supporting the individual and the freedom and rights of those individuals. It would therefore be obvious that the Romantics took a liking to the French Revolution. The entire revoltion was based on man's free will and equality, which is probably what interested Romatics the most. Documents such as the Declaration of Man and of the Citizen would have been idealitic fr a Romantic because every piece of the document written by the National Assembly emphasised freedom and equality among the masses.
As to what would make a "better" society, well, it is all in the eye of the beholder. For those who are upper class and perhaps very content by the lifestyle they are now in possession of, they would probaby be not too keen to change it. But of course for those who were at the bottom rungs of the social latter, it would be more likely that they would want change and fast. Usually those people become radicals, those who want change and they want it now--usually a social reform, or liberals, those who want change but are willing to work through the system until political as well as social equality is reached. More often than not, people are disatisfied with their government and are looking for a "better" society. Perhaps changing leaders, changing the government, etc. Whatever the case, not every member of society will be fully content with their society and society must just do its best to keep everyone at least at a happy-medium.
Meghan Lima
Romantics and Romantic thought were captivated by the French Revolution and the new ideas and freedoms associated with it. From the beginning of the Romantic movement, the ideas of Romantic thinkers greatly conflicted with those of the previous Enlightenment period. The philosophers believed in reason over emotion, whereas the new thoughts of the Romantic Era encouraged freedom and imagination. The acts of the French Revoultion were so careless and unrestrained that the Romantics were enthralled by their openess, a freedom that they had been 'fighting' for. The French people were opening up and demanding their rights, expressing their views, wanting their freedom regardless of how they needed to obtain it. The Thrid Estates spontaneity in their merciless acts, as well as their fearlessness in murder and torture represented to the Romantics a whole new reality unseen before. Now, the Romantics visions of imagination, heart, freedom and impulse was actually living through the revolutionaries, no longer just ideas and words.
Freedom cannot be won without bloodshed and war. No powerful leader will gracefully give up his or her position in order to accomodate the people's rights and wants. In most historical conflicts, war is the only answer to obtaining what one country or body of people feels they deserve. Because most rulers would never step down from their throne in order to meet the masses demand's, revolt and fighting are almost always necessary. Following the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers, rulers have a right to their people when they accept authority. Their duty as leader of the country includes keeping the people safe and doing everything in their power to accomodate their subjects. It is when they fail to uphold these responsibilities, that the people then have the right to overthrow them. In the case of the French Revolution, Louis XVI failed to keep his country out of debt and poverty, despite the fact that much of his country's debt was assumed when he took over. The calling for reform and change was thereby justified by the French. However, the way they went about their reform, including the barbicious atrocities such as beheading, and burning people alive, were not merited. Fighting would be needed, as Louis XVI wouldn't just give up his crown, but the chaos and panic that erupted during the Reign of Terror was uncalled for and ill-planned. Allowing people to sink as low as inhumanely torturing and beheading nobility, aristocracy, peasants and the monarchy was out of control. Revolt and reform do not come peacefully, but the correct means of obtaining them should be similar to the American colonists. Grievances should be recorded and addressed to the King, who should be given enough time to make a decsion either way. Depending upon the King's decision, war might need to be declared, but those who have decided that revolt was necessary should plan out and organize an effevtive battle plan, instead of inciting disorder throught the nation. As Robespierre thought, killing the supreme head of state is most likely necessary for the cause, although this can be done in an honorable fashion, unlike the cruel beheading of Louis XVI. The French Revolution was going to involve fighting and bloodshed from the beginning, but the uncontrolled hysteria that swept through France was unjustified for their cause.
The Romantics like much like the French would only be mad enough to glorify the killings of thousands of people. Only romantics would make martyrs of those of those who die for a cause. In my opinion the book the Catcher in the Rye puts it best, “Those who are immature want to die for a cause, while those who are mature wish to live humbly and for one.” (Salinger) The romantics are though crazy were geniuses. They disguised the horrors in front them and turned it into something people would want to read. The Romantics took the anarchy and chaos in front of them and turned it into nationalism, and pride for ones country. They took the turmoil, the death and the suffering and called it glory, passion, and fervor. A rose by any other name is still a rose, and the deaths of thousands no matter for what cause, still results in thousands of deaths.
During the French Revolution romantics found ways to turn the most sinister things into great poetry and literature. For example they were enchanted by the overthrowing of King Louis XVI, for at last his government was gone. This was supposed to lead to happiness, peace, and freedom for all. It however led to a more tyrannical rule than before. During the Reign of Terror newspapers and books were censored, harsh new laws imposed. If you spoke out poorly against the government you would be jailed if not executed.
The romantics also glorified the bloodshed and deaths of thousands of people. They were martyrs for the cause, those who should be immortalized for standing up for what they believed. If maturity was based solely on the quote above, France would be the worlds pre-school. The romantics encouraged and wrote about individuality, and speaking out against those who have wronged you, yet if someone actually did this it was almost a death wish.
I believe it was the thought of being free, the thought of change, and the ideas of individuality that captivated so many people, not the actual act of being free. No doubt the romantics had a profound effect on society, for they kept a revolution alive. I believe the effect on the people during the French Revolution was so great because it was the ideas, ones thoughts, that could never be censored, and it was these thoughts that kept people going. It was the hope that they would live to see a better tomorrow, the belief that amid all the chaos, the death, and the conflict that some good might come from it all. It was the imaginations of the romantics that provided a mask over such horrible events. However now that all that has passed we can look at the romantics actions and see what masterful works they have created.
What are the means by which one should create a better society? This question has been posed before many people, yet rarely a good answer is found. If it were up to me I would say only if the country is in utter turmoil, the lives of many were being lost, the effect of the revolution would change things for the better, and that not many lives would be lost due to the change. If something is wrong with a governing body, chances are they need to change, for they are doing something to aggravate the people. It is always important to keep in mind that the people have great power and should be treated with care. Also if the change is to keep the peace, than it should be pursued by any means necessary. The change of a government should not be done at a whimsy, for this might aggravate the people which could cause problems. Also change should only be attempted if there is a more than good chance it will succeed. If not great loss of life will without a doubt ensue. Basically change should be justified only if there is a threat to the people, there is absolute need for it, and the overhaul will be successful. Other than those options other alternatives to change must be looked at.
Romanticism is an 18th century movement that contradicted the ideas of the enlightenment. It rejected the idea of discovering truth, and focused on the imagination and emotion. Romanticism also stressed individuality and heroism. Individuality at this time was expressing your self uniquely, by voicing your unique opinions, or showing your unique style. Heroism is the idea that one person will step forward out of the rest and transform society. These two ideas of individuality are greatly represented in the French revolution. Because of this, romantics were enthralled with the revolution; it was an embodiment of their ideals.
Romanticism preached the idea of individuality, which was reflected in the French revolution as a want for republic. Individualism stresses individual wants and desires. This includes wants and desires about politics. These political desires can be represented in a republican government by voting. The French revolution was a push towards a republican system, away from the old absolute monarchy. And so, the French revolution was an embodiment of romantic ideas.
The idea of heroism, stressed by romanticism, is most prevalent in the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. A hero is someone who steps forward and revolutionizes society. Napoleon stepped forward and revolutionized French society. He strengthened the country, and bound it together.
Ideas such as religious revival and nationalism were also present during the French revolution. During Napoleon’s reign, he made peace with the Catholic Church. He said, “It is my firm intention that the Christian, Catholic, and Roman religion shall be preserved in its entirety…” Also, a great wave of nationalism washed over the country. When France began to win battles under Napoleon, they felt pride for their country.
Overall, the romantics were enthralled with the French revolution because it embodied their ideas. It embodied individuality, heroism, religious revival, and nationalism.
Romanticism wouldn’t have become as popular as it has if it weren’t for the French Revolution. Before the Revolution, most authors wrote for the aristocracy, and the ordinary middle class people were missing what was happening the era of the new subjects. In the new time period, the common people received a new genre filled with mystery, drama, love, and lust. Female authors were also introduced during this time, setting a new mood for male and female authors alike. Women all of the sudden felt heard and men began to realize how such a male dominated society was reflected in women’s life. Women were encouraged to hold an educated conversation with her husband. This would make them seem more equal, and therefore lead to more romantic and love-filled lives. Instead of searching for governing nature and human beings, Romantics searched for communication with the two subjects.
Not only was the Romantic Period dealt with sex, but it also dealt with children. Children’s lives became popular because authors put these children into real-life situations, like migrating because of the war taking place. The first poet to be recognized with writing about children is William Blake. He wrote about children dying, who interested the general public because most families were struggling with loses like this around this time. Many pieces of literature were based around the young factory works because since there were no child labor laws, children were sent to work in the hazardous factories and would often become injured or die from accidents at the factories. They seemed to be more effective when the stories were told by a child’s perspective because it shows the presence of another reality that maybe not all of them had to face.
The consistent change of government and state left people feeling helpless. Romanticism let them feel a sense of individuality, while at the same time causing for a feeling of improvement. Since the war, people had felt the stress of not having what some would say a “great life”. Citizens learned to escape their hard time by becoming engrossed about a happy, successful, and romantic story. Since the emotional drop after the execution of King Louis IVX, the country also felt a lack of entertainment. This was when new plays called dramas became more popular, and people would be entertained and informed with dramas featuring true life and the proper educate in society. The most famous author for these dramas was Beaumachais, whose writings were filled with comedy, truth, and social satire. He also wrote about the French regime and what was to come of the French Revolutions.
There were many elements of the Revolution that enthralled the romantics. The above were just a few examples, but they definitely made an impact on the era.
The movement of Romanticism was marked by an entirely new set of ideas that differed greatly from the previous ones expressed in the classical period. The Romantics of the late 18th century and early 19th century took a turn away from the strict ideas of the Enlightened era and looked toward individualism and the idea of using imagination and free thought in their work. This was also represented greatly in their political views when it came to the development of the thought of nationalism. This, they thought, was a system that could unify people under traditional values and bring together a sense of self-determination among a single country. This kind of thought would eventually help to lead in the drawing of definite boundaries across central Europe.
Based upon these characteristics given to Romantics of this time period, it is obvious as to why the French Revolution would have greatly appealed to Romantic thinkers. Embodied within the Revolution was the idea of the common people joining together in self-determination against their oppressors in their own government. In this way they could express their true needs and feelings and overthrow the system that kept them repressed. This scenario directly parallels the clash between the old classical art and the Romantic Art in that the classical art kept to strict expression and traditional artistic ways whereas Romantic Art was focused on imagination and dreams and expressing the true desires of the painter.
Here, the French Revolution is everything that the Romantics would wish for; at least before the Empire that Napoleon created from the confusion that took place after the Revolution was effected. At this point, the Romantics probably disagreed with the policies of expansion and total power that Napoleon was practicing and looked to nationalism as a way to stop his advancements (in Germany the direct translation for nationalism became a symbol for resisting the will of the French empire).
When any group of people wish to change their system of government in order to better their society the responsibility of effecting this change falls upon them to do it properly and successfully. In a system which is entirely tyrannous and represses its people to a point where they suffer a great extent, the people have a right to revolt in any which way they can change that system, even with violence or rebellion. This goes directly with what John F. Kennedy said about revolutions when he stated, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” However, when the condition of the people is not so dire and is simply not satisfactory to the majority of the population, greater care must be taken in changing the current system. Here, the majority may want a certain way of governance that suits them, but another group may like the status quo that is not harmful to the first group. Here, the idea of affecting a revolution, especially a violent one, is less justifiable. As Jefferson put it, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine."
The Romantic era took place shortly after the end of the French Revolution. The French Revolution had inspired artists, poets, writers, and musicians of the time period to explore new ideas and initiate change. Much of these new ideas and change that resulted during the Romantic era was greatly affected by the French Revolution.
The role that science had played during the Enlightenment Era was brought into the French Revolution and later enthralled Romantics. What started off as being mystical and incredulous soon evolved into a more clear and general understanding of the world, how science worked, and how people viewed themselves. The Romantic artists from 1850 to 1920 experimented with new musical techniques that kept up with the ever-changing culture around them. Composers experimented with everything in their music, ranging from harmonies to tonal relationships, and most importantly, the usage of color. The addition of new instruments to a music group contributed to this new “color”, along with composers trying to create newer and more different sounds out of the instruments already in use.
European nationalism impacted Romantics significantly. The struggle to free oneself from foreign control captivated artists of the Romantic Era. Like the French Revolutionists, artists of the Romantic Era believed in freedom and equal representation. The many revolutions and attempts at revolutions contributed to the Romantics’ idea of change and (artistic) freedom. The music of this time was representative of the post French Revolution in that every aspect of art was expressive. Paintings were interpreted as ones depicting the joy of freedom, and music became more expressive in appealing to one’s senses. The music gave the audience feelings of liberty and independence. These fervent emotions were the goal of Romantics, to depict nationalism of the French Revolution and revolutions occurring across Europe as well. Major themes from the French Revolution and the idea of nationalism were portrayed in the increasingly popular opera. Composers wrote operas that told a story of either an escape from political oppression, the fates of national or religious groups, and events that were taking place, such as wars, battles, and revolts. This new idea of themes dealing with nationalism made way for a new musical element, fantasy.
One of the goals of the French Revolution was equality for all individuals, and therefore enabling one to express themselves freely. Romantics valued this freedom and it was apparent in their works. In terms of expression, artists of the Romantic Era evoked emotions that dealt with fear, horror, and anxiety. Along with that, they emphasized intuition, imagination, feeling, as well as creativity. The idea of liberation, freedom, individual equality, and change during the French Revolution connects to the thoughts and views of painters, musicians, poets, writers, philosophers, and social thinkers of the Romantic Era.
To create a “better” society, one must look to the people. The people have the final say in any ruling because they are the mass majority, therefore making up the country. You can have a president, a monarchy, or a dictatorship; neither is “bad” for a society if the people are willing to accept their leader. I do believe that a society should have a leader because without a leader, a country is lost and shrouded by the chaos and hysteria of the citizens. This has been proven throughout history in the many revolts, riots, and revolutions. In each revolution where there is no ruler, a country is vulnerable to others, and most importantly itself. How is a country vulnerable to itself? Well if there is no one in power, there are mini-wars between citizens competing for this power. In this on-going battle that could last for quite some time, all thought and attention is taken away from the country’s economy, foreign affairs, and internal issues. All three are factors that can lead a country to its own demise.
Romanticism wouldn’t have become as popular as it has if it weren’t for the French Revolution. Before the Revolution, most authors wrote for the aristocracy, and the ordinary middle class people were missing what was happening the era of the new subjects. In the new time period, the common people received a new genre filled with mystery, drama, love, and lust. Female authors were also introduced during this time, setting a new mood for male and female authors alike. Women all of the sudden felt heard and men began to realize how such a male dominated society was reflected in women’s life. Women were encouraged to hold an educated conversation with her husband. This would make them seem more equal, and therefore lead to more romantic and love-filled lives. Instead of searching for governing nature and human beings, Romantics searched for communication with the two subjects.
Not only was the Romantic Period dealt with sex, but it also dealt with children. Children’s lives became popular because authors put these children into real-life situations, like migrating because of the war taking place. The first poet to be recognized with writing about children is William Blake. He wrote about children dying, who interested the general public because most families were struggling with loses like this around this time. Many pieces of literature were based around the young factory works because since there were no child labor laws, children were sent to work in the hazardous factories and would often become injured or die from accidents at the factories. They seemed to be more effective when the stories were told by a child’s perspective because it shows the presence of another reality that maybe not all of them had to face.
The consistent change of government and state left people feeling helpless. Romanticism let them feel a sense of individuality, while at the same time causing for a feeling of improvement. Since the war, people had felt the stress of not having what some would say a “great life”. Citizens learned to escape their hard time by becoming engrossed about a happy, successful, and romantic story. Since the emotional drop after the execution of King Louis IVX, the country also felt a lack of entertainment. This was when new plays called dramas became more popular, and people would be entertained and informed with dramas featuring true life and the proper educate in society. The most famous author for these dramas was Beaumachais, whose writings were filled with comedy, truth, and social satire. He also wrote about the French regime and what was to come of the French Revolutions.
There were many elements of the Revolution that enthralled the romantics. The above were just a few examples, but they definitely made an impact on the era.
The French Revolution was very enthralling to the Romantics. Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated partially in response to the aristocratic ways of the Enlightenment. Thoughts during the Enlightenment showed the importance of reason, while the thought during the Revolution shifted to emotion and feeling. There were many similarities between the beliefs of the Romantics and goals of the French Revolution. The biggest similarity between the two involves the importance of the individual.
During the French Revolution, a republic replaced the monarchy that previously existed. This of course extended the power of the individual. The Third Estate, for example, now had a larger voice in the government than ever before. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen declared that all men had equal rights. This also gave much more power to the French lower class. The increase in power to the lower class greatly enthralled Romanticists. The ability for anyone to express their voice, politically and socially, was exactly what the Romanticists were hoping for. This new wave of individuality was expressed through the work of the Romanticists.
If the stability or conditions of a nation are very poor, and under the worst of circumstances, then I feel that a Revolution might be the best option to help improve these situations and create a better society. However, I do not agree with using appalling acts to ensure the success of the Revolution. This is exactly what occurred with the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror was used as a way to protect the success of the French Revolution. Everyone who posed a threat to the Revolution was brutally executed under the Reign of Terror. I do not believe that the lives of innocent citizens should be sacrificed in order to form a better society.
Romanticism and the French Revolution are evidently closely related when the comparison is made during the First Phase of the revolution in the late 1700’s, but after the rise of Napoleon’s Empire, the relevance of the two fell apart. While the French Revolution could be dated to nearly a specific time period starting form around 1789, romanticism is known solely as an era that brought about new forms of expression. The Romanticism era which followed the Enlightenment era was characterized as a time frame where people felt that mostly a person’s individuality reflected and governed one’s life and actions.
Rather than answer the question directly at first, it seems as though the question of “What elements of the French Revolution enthralled Romantics?” should be posed differently. Instead, the question seems more suitable to be flipped and asked as “What elements of Romanticism enthralled radicals of the French Revolution?” Since the ideas of Romanticism had developed before that of the French Revolution, it would seem more correct to answer it in such a manner where Romanticism is the cause and the French Revolution is the effect rather than the other way around.
With the Enlightenment era preceding that of Romanticism and with contrary beliefs, the period has also been considered part of the “Counter-Enlightenment” time in history. While Romantics went against all the beliefs of the classical Enlightenment, radicals of the French Revolution have been similarly categorized as rebels against the better established belief or quota, which had been the power of the monarchy. As a period that “emphasized intuition, imagination, and feeling” (Wikipedia), the French Revolution reflected these same basic principles since the movement had nothing else for backup beyond the power of the masses.
To grasp the full concept of the French Revolution as a whole seems too intricate of a task, but when focusing specifically on the rise of Napoleon, the relationship between the French Revolution and Romanticism could be clearly seen. In traditional France, people lived the life based on their noble or un-noble birth and status in the hierarchy of society. It was Napoleon that had countered this though when a lower noble rose to fame and glory through his achievements in battle whom only himself could control. It was his dream and need for success that enflamed him to become a great leader and hero for which he had been renown. The idea of being able to control one’s fate was a Romantic idea based on the strength of an individual person that was dependent on nothing else as the Enlightenment had stressed.
With the rise of Napoleon, nationalism was another element of Romanticism that became an issue as a well known Romantic point. Through nationalism, people bonded together from different stations in life and felt pride for their own country. The people were conscious of their love for their own country and acted upon it, which in a way, relates back to Rousseau. Rousseau seems to be “the father of Romanticism” in a way, because the French Revolution was a direct result of Romanticism, and the idea of a revolution was only possible because people were willing to submit themselves, or give up part of themselves to the government in order for it to function. By functioning like Rousseau had intended, the people not only acknowledge the government, but take pride in being a part of it which is known as nationalism.
As a result of being in part made of Rousseau’s philosophy, the only justifications for being able to create a “better” society would be for the cause and results. If the cause is there, then a necessary is inevitable as John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln had so eloquently said. Just because there’s a reason for a revolution, it still does not mean the revolution is right when there is no real plan for the new society. If there is a plan for the long term result of the revolution, than a revolution is justified despite the deaths and pains that must be dealt with for it to get that far. Simply put, for a revolution to be justified, there must be a reason and a plan that the people must support so they are always reaching to achieve that goal. At the same time, a revolution does not necessarily mean the new government or society will be “better”, but as long as the will and reason is there to have a revolution, then it is justified. History is simply a patchwork of trial and error which is why history repeats itself; the problem is that the utopian ideal of the “best” society has yet to be found, so it is continuously strived for.
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Andrew Morris
The romanticism movement in Europe was an encouragement and formation of art and literature that expressed free thinking, emotion, imagination and freedom. Many romantics were inspired by the French Revolution because of how it represented all of these ideas. They used many events and actions of the people as symbols in the art and literature. They were inspired by the will of the oppressed French third estate to rebel against their tyrannical and unjust system of government. The third estate wanted to be able to express themselves freely. They wanted to have freedom of religion speech and press. These desires motivated romantics to right novels and short stories about the underdog fighting a tyrannical foe and coming out victorious. From this time period the traditional good versus evil genre was born. This is still used today in films like Lord of the Rings. The art of this time period shows rebirth, just like the French shed their old government and were reborn pure and unhindered by the old government that censored and oppressed them. This new government was governed by the will and thoughts of the people. The romanticists also took ideas from the French revolution like dieing for ones country became known as nationalism. People all over were inspired by this new idea of unwavering pride for ones country especially over the church and family. Also people who died for what they believed in became martyrs. Instead of being ignored they were glorified. Much of the symbolism and ideas created during the Romantic Era are still used to this day in films, books and to describe actions like in events in the Middle East.
If one is truly oppressed by a society and sees that there is absolutely no way to fix the problem within the society then someone is justified in changing it. However, the people changing society should have solid reasons about changing the society like in the American Declaration of Independence. A plan for a better society should be made prior to the change. This is where the French Revolution failed. They had no plan once people got into power. Things were very chaotic so the only way to calm things down was through fear and absolute control. This is why the rain of terror happened and why a plan to what will happen after the upheaval should be formulated before hand. Also the changes in society should be realistic and for the better of the people as a whole not just for a certain class of people like the nobles.
As the flames of revolution spread across the countryside of France in the year 1789, so to did the fire of passion spill from the hearts of Romantics, who looked on in awe as one of the most influential periods in history played out before them. Captivated by the essence of emotion and humanity, these artists and craftsmen quickly became enthralled with the French Revolution and its ideals that mirrored those of romanticism.
The Romantic Movement, based on the power of the human spirit and natural law, the predominance of the individual against structure and reason, was a driving force against the controlling nature of current artistic pattern. Monarchies dominated the political spectrum of Europe, with absolutist governments and powerful landed classes lending heavy influence to every aspect of cultural stimulation; plays, writings and artwork were all completed as tributes to royal families and biblical occurrences. Romanticism, capturing emotion and glorifying the soul of the individual, broke away from traditional themes and was used art as a tool to express the true feeling embodied by the subject matter. In the age of powerful, passionate action in the streets of Paris, Romantics were naturally fascinated by the revolution and its embodiment of virtually every aspect of their style. The iron wills of the suppressed were fountains of inspiration, with scenes of outraged peasants ransacking the Bastille and unified masses rioting in the streets in all of France. The passion of the rebellion and the feeling of unrest were the fuel to which Romantics could draw their work, with the essence of horror, violence and justice upheld throughout the nation.
What better an event to capture the irrationality and spontaneity of human behavior of romanticism than the French revolution, a work of relatively instant, stubborn decision? The radical elements of passionate leaders of the far-left members of the Jacobins who took charge of the movement underscored the fundamentals of the romantic ‘revolution’, and both reforms progressed hand in hand as old aristocratic bases of power were brought down by the tenacity of humanity. A romantic would be hard pressed not to find wonder in the overthrow of King Louis XVI, as the very feeling of the spirit he sought to capture fully revealed itself in the nature of the rioting Frenchmen.
Members of the revolution were fixated on the idea of establishing justice in society, righting the wrongs of the inept previous government and serving all fellow men by usurping the ruling class by any means necessary. In the name of their noble cause, no act was too farfetched to draw ridicule in the debasement of the government to establish a glorious future. Romantics, in their acceptance and accentuation of true human feeling, believed that by removing the unnatural structure that was present in society, establishing a natural world in which humans are meant to live, a revolution of such passion would be bound to succeed and create an ideal lifestyle created by the people, for the people. The energy and psychological drives of the revolution caused many of the Romantic Movement to also support the insurrection as if they were on and the same. Robespierre and his reign of terror, the execution of the still beloved king were easily supported by radical peasants and romantics in that they were perceived to be the necessary sacrifices French society had to endure to achieve perfection and harmony.
Today, we still see various attempted revolutions and reforms in which the means of carrying out physical and political havoc are justified by the ends of each movement. From frenzied PETA activists who sabotage cosmetic testing plants or mass farm institutions to ruthless, invisible and seemingly conservative proponents of the establishment of a single, global capitalist state, sending thousands to die for petty victories in the middle east, radical and unjust actions are still taken daily as we as a people attempt to find a perfect balance in our world. It stands testament to our true caliber as humans that in our most glorious struggles against “tyrannical” oppression, as we fight the strict and alien rule of one with the solidarity and inner strength of our combined efforts, we have merely ushered in an even greater despot and given it further power as we revel in the righteousness of our own actions, never stopping to think if our irrational and enthused action was truly the soundest of decisions.
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