Bolstered by the growing dissent of autocracy and conservatism and the rise of liberalism, nationalism, and socialism, the 1848 Revolutions caused numerous uprisings and ideal shifts in Europe. Throughout France, as well as Italy, Germany, the Austrian Empire, riots and progressive governmental changes -- universal suffrage, freedom of the press, and cultural recognition -- succeeded momentarily but were soon crushed by conservative opponents, leaving behind little difference and cynicism. The collapse of ideals and dreams is a common thread not in just the Revolutions of 1848 but also in Gustave Flaubert’s novel A Sentimental Education, published in 1869. Within his novel, Flaubert comments on the failure of ambition without reality of the
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Upon discussing with Deslauriers the incident where the two friends visited a brothel, which ended up with Frederic’s embarrassment in running away and Deslauriers’s following after him, the two decide that it was their “best time.” Furthered by the utterance of “Do you remember?” to each other, Frederic and his friend show the reader that the realization of lost dreams has affected the past decades of their lives, and the only good memories they have to hang onto are in the past. This could reflect the conclusion of the 1848 Revolutions; using the example of Flaubert’s home country, France, after a provisional government, toil, and bloodshed of the June Days, achieved nothing in the February Revolution and simply reverted back to a strong central government owned by Napoleon III and his …show more content…
He embodies the human faults of the movement within Frederic, and seemingly comments that the workers and leaders failed to realize their problems too little too late. Just as Frederic and Deslauriers see only a bleak past in their past years and their glory days from their youth, Europe saw hers prior to the 1840s, with only failures making up what was perceived to be glorified change and being on the right path to liberty and equality for
Upon discussing with Deslauriers the incident where the two friends visited a brothel, which ended up with Frederic’s embarrassment in running away and Deslauriers’s following after him, the two decide that it was their “best time.” Furthered by the utterance of “Do you remember?” to each other, Frederic and his friend show the reader that the realization of lost dreams has affected the past decades of their lives, and the only good memories they have to hang onto are in the past. This could reflect the conclusion of the 1848 Revolutions; using the example of Flaubert’s home country, France, after a provisional government, toil, and bloodshed of the June Days, achieved nothing in the February Revolution and simply reverted back to a strong central government owned by Napoleon III and his …show more content…
He embodies the human faults of the movement within Frederic, and seemingly comments that the workers and leaders failed to realize their problems too little too late. Just as Frederic and Deslauriers see only a bleak past in their past years and their glory days from their youth, Europe saw hers prior to the 1840s, with only failures making up what was perceived to be glorified change and being on the right path to liberty and equality for