French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period of significant social and political upheaval in
France that lasted from 1789 to 1799. It was characterized by the overthrow of
the monarchy, the rise of radical political factions, and profound social and
economic transformations.

The revolution was sparked by a combination of factors, including widespread

poverty, inequality, and political corruption. The financial crisis faced by the
French monarchy, exacerbated by years of lavish spending and involvement in
costly wars, also contributed to the unrest.

The revolution began in 1789 with the convening of the Estates-General, a

representative body that aimed to address the country’s grievances. Dissatisfied
with their limited influence, representatives of the Third Estate (commoners)
declared themselves the National Assembly, vowing to create a new constitution.

In 1789, a pivotal event known as the Storming of the Bastille occurred, where
revolutionaries seized a prison symbolizing royal authority. This event further
fueled the revolutionary spirit, leading to the eventual abolition of feudalism and
the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

However, the revolution soon took a more radical turn. In 1792, the monarchy
was abolished, and King Louis XVI was executed. The ensuing years witnessed the
Reign of Terror, a period marked by mass executions and political repression
orchestrated by the Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre.

The revolution also saw the rise of influential figures such as Jean-Paul Marat,
Georges Danton, and Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1799, Bonaparte staged a coup
d’état and assumed power, effectively ending the revolution and establishing the
Napoleonic era.

The French Revolution had a profound impact not only on France but also on
Europe and the world. It introduced key concepts such as popular sovereignty,
equality before the law, and individual rights. It inspired subsequent revolutions
and contributed to the spread of democratic ideals and nationalist movements
across Europe.

French revolution and London Poem

The French Revolution and William Blake’s poem “London” can be related
through their exploration of social and political unrest during their respective time
periods. While the poem “London” does not explicitly reference the French
Revolution, it captures the prevailing atmosphere of discontent and suffering in
society, much like the underlying causes and effects of the revolution.

The first four lines of Blake’s poem “London” are as follows:

“I wander thro’ each charter’d street,

Near where the charter’d Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.”

These lines depict the poet’s wandering through the streets of London, observing
the people he encounters. The use of the word “charter’d” implies that the
streets and the Thames River have been regulated and controlled by the
authorities, symbolizing the oppressive nature of the society Blake is portraying.
This sense of oppression and control can be related to the French Revolution,
which was triggered by similar issues of social inequality, political corruption, and
the abuse of power by the ruling class. The French Revolution aimed to overthrow
the aristocracy and establish a more egalitarian society.

In “London,” Blake portrays the faces he meets as marked by “weakness” and

“woe.” These descriptions suggest the suffering and despair experienced by the
common people in a society plagued by poverty, injustice, and repression. These
themes of suffering and social injustice align with the grievances that fueled the
French Revolution.

Both the French Revolution and Blake’s poem “London” explore the human
condition and the impact of social and political systems on the lives of ordinary
people. They shed light on the discontent, despair, and inequality that were
prevalent during their respective time periods, making them thematically related.