The People of the Revolution
Danton’s Death is a play written by Georg Buchner that takes place in Paris during the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror, the era in which the Jacobins lead France, was by far the bloodiest part of the revolution. The main character of the play, Georges Danton, represented the Girondists who were the previous moderate leaders of France. The play shows the clear shift that French culture takes to backing the radical Jacobins and their violent regime. This cultural shift makes the Girondists irrelevant and make them collateral damage to the revolution. The French populace continues to support the bloody revolution because they believe that the Jacobins rule will allow for more equality and a less corrupt government.
In the time previous to the revolution, power was held by the wealthy elite. These classes included …show more content…
Robespierre led the Jacobins, and was seen as a figure of high moral integrity. Several times in the play citizens expressed a high view of Robespierre, “Silence for the Messiah who is sent to elect and to judge. He will give the wicked to the edge of the sword. His eyes are the eyes of election, his hands the hands of judgement.” (Buchner pg. 11). The woman who said this shared a common view of Robespierre with the majority of citizens. No matter how many people Robespierre had killed, citizens viewed him as virtuous and righteous. Later in the play, a mob was debating the ideas of Danton and Robespierre. At first, the ideas of Danton appeared to be connecting with the crowd, however, the crowd eventually “remembers” how virtuous Robespierre is and turns their backs on Danton (Buchner pg. 59). The public’s admiration of Robespierre shows why the citizens believed in the Revolution. Since they saw him as virtuous and caring for everyone, the citizens supported him and the Jacobins through all of the
Danton’s Death is a play written by Georg Buchner that takes place in Paris during the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror, the era in which the Jacobins lead France, was by far the bloodiest part of the revolution. The main character of the play, Georges Danton, represented the Girondists who were the previous moderate leaders of France. The play shows the clear shift that French culture takes to backing the radical Jacobins and their violent regime. This cultural shift makes the Girondists irrelevant and make them collateral damage to the revolution. The French populace continues to support the bloody revolution because they believe that the Jacobins rule will allow for more equality and a less corrupt government.
In the time previous to the revolution, power was held by the wealthy elite. These classes included …show more content…
Robespierre led the Jacobins, and was seen as a figure of high moral integrity. Several times in the play citizens expressed a high view of Robespierre, “Silence for the Messiah who is sent to elect and to judge. He will give the wicked to the edge of the sword. His eyes are the eyes of election, his hands the hands of judgement.” (Buchner pg. 11). The woman who said this shared a common view of Robespierre with the majority of citizens. No matter how many people Robespierre had killed, citizens viewed him as virtuous and righteous. Later in the play, a mob was debating the ideas of Danton and Robespierre. At first, the ideas of Danton appeared to be connecting with the crowd, however, the crowd eventually “remembers” how virtuous Robespierre is and turns their backs on Danton (Buchner pg. 59). The public’s admiration of Robespierre shows why the citizens believed in the Revolution. Since they saw him as virtuous and caring for everyone, the citizens supported him and the Jacobins through all of the