Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “The Origin of Civil Society” is similar to Eugéne Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People because they both emphasize a united people as well as stress the importance of the government replying to the people. However, while Rousseau discusses the relationship between ruler and subjects as an agreement, Delacroix depicts it as a power struggle.
Although the two works are similar, Rousseau believes that the ruler and subjects enter an agreement in order to decide who is in charge, while Delacroix illustrates that whoever is strongest holds the most power. The revolution which inspired Liberty Leading the People, as well as the painting itself, indicate that physical force can be used to gain power. The result of this July Revolution was a change in government; therefore force was used to change the way of governing. …show more content…
Rousseau writes, “…an arbitrary government can be legitimate only on condition that each successive generation of subjects is free either to accept or reject it” (Rousseau 245). The government only works if the people want it to. Delacroix's painting could be described as “the most dramatic visual argument for democracy and independence of Delacroix's time” (Jacobus 200). It indicates that if the government does not give the people what they require, the people will get what they want, even by physical force if necessary. This evidence establishes that the government is only valid if the people want it to be.
While Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People and Rousseau’s “The Origin of Civil Society” appear to be very different, the two actually have very similar messages. This does not mean that they do not have any differences; they depict the relationship between ruler and subjects differently. But, for the most part, the two works are similar. For example, they both preach unity and a government representative of the
Although the two works are similar, Rousseau believes that the ruler and subjects enter an agreement in order to decide who is in charge, while Delacroix illustrates that whoever is strongest holds the most power. The revolution which inspired Liberty Leading the People, as well as the painting itself, indicate that physical force can be used to gain power. The result of this July Revolution was a change in government; therefore force was used to change the way of governing. …show more content…
Rousseau writes, “…an arbitrary government can be legitimate only on condition that each successive generation of subjects is free either to accept or reject it” (Rousseau 245). The government only works if the people want it to. Delacroix's painting could be described as “the most dramatic visual argument for democracy and independence of Delacroix's time” (Jacobus 200). It indicates that if the government does not give the people what they require, the people will get what they want, even by physical force if necessary. This evidence establishes that the government is only valid if the people want it to be.
While Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People and Rousseau’s “The Origin of Civil Society” appear to be very different, the two actually have very similar messages. This does not mean that they do not have any differences; they depict the relationship between ruler and subjects differently. But, for the most part, the two works are similar. For example, they both preach unity and a government representative of the