Assignment 5: Influence of French Revolution on English Literature

Topic of the Blog:

This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 105 - History of English Literature From (1350 to 1900)  Sem - 1, 2023.

Personal Information: 

Name: Yashrajsinh Sodha

Batch: M.A. sem-1 (2023-25)

Enrollment Number: 5108230043

Email: yashrajsinhsodha0000@gmail.com

Roll Number: 34

Assignment Details: 

Topic:- Influence of French Revolution on English Literature 

Paper & subject code:- 105 -History of English Literature(1350 to 1900) & 22396

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar 

Date of Submission:- 27th November, 2023

French Revolution:

Origins of the Revolution:

French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789—hence the conventional term “Revolution of 1789,” denoting the end of the ancien régime in France and serving also to distinguish that event from the later French revolutions of 1830 and 1848.

The French Revolution had general causes common to all the revolutions of the West at the end of the 18th century and particular causes that explain why it was by far the most violent and the most universally significant of these revolutions. The first of the general causes was the social structure of the West. The feudal regime had been weakened step-by-step and had already disappeared in parts of Europe. The increasingly numerous and prosperous elite of wealthy commoners—merchants, manufacturers, and professionals, often called the bourgeoisie—aspired to political power in those countries where it did not already possess it. 

The peasants, many of whom owned land, had attained an improved standard of living and education and wanted to get rid of the last vestiges of feudalism so as to acquire the full rights of landowners and to be free to increase their holdings. Furthermore, from about 1730, higher standards of living had reduced the mortality rate among adults considerably. This, together with other factors, had led to an increase in the population of Europe unprecedented for several centuries: it doubled between 1715 and 1800. For France, which with 26 million inhabitants in 1789 was the most populated country of Europe, the problem was most acute.

Aristocratic revolt (1787–89):

The Revolution took shape in France when the controller general of finances, Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, arranged the summoning of an assembly of “notables” (prelates, great noblemen, and a few representatives of the bourgeoisie) in February 1787 to propose reforms designed to eliminate the budget deficit by increasing the taxation of the privileged classes. The assembly refused to take responsibility for the reforms and suggested the calling of the Estates-General, which represented the clergy, the aristocracy, and the Third Estate (the commoners) and which had not met since 1614. The efforts made by Calonne’s successors to enforce fiscal reforms in spite of resistance by the privileged classes led to the so-called revolt of the “aristocratic bodies,” notably that of the parlements (the most important courts of justice), whose powers were curtailed by the edict of May 1788.

During the spring and summer of 1788, there was unrest among the populace in Paris, Grenoble, Dijon, Toulouse, Pau, and Rennes. The king, Louis XVI, had to yield. He reappointed reform-minded Jacques Necker as the finance minister and promised to convene the Estates-General on May 5, 1789. He also, in practice, granted freedom of the press, and France was flooded with pamphlets addressing the reconstruction of the state. The elections to the Estates-General, held between January and April 1789, coincided with further disturbances, as the harvest of 1788 had been a bad one. There were practically no exclusions from the voting; and the electors drew up cahiers de doléances, which listed their grievances and hopes. They elected 600 deputies for the Third Estate, 300 for the nobility, and 300 for the clergy.

Events of 1789:

The Estates-General met at Versailles on May 5, 1789. They were immediately divided over a fundamental issue: should they vote by head, giving the advantage to the Third Estate, or by estate, in which case the two privileged orders of the realm might outvote the third? On June 17 the bitter struggle over this legal issue finally drove the deputies of the Third Estate to declare themselves the National Assembly; they threatened to proceed, if necessary, without the other two orders. They were supported by many of the parish priests, who outnumbered the aristocratic upper clergy among the church’s deputies. When royal officials locked the deputies out of their regular meeting hall on June 20, they occupied the king’s indoor tennis court (Jeu de Paume) and swore an oath not to disperse until they had given France a new constitution. The king grudgingly gave in and urged the nobles and the remaining clergy to join the assembly, which took the official title of National Constituent Assembly on July 9; at the same time, however, he began gathering troops to dissolve it. 

In the provinces, the Great Fear of July led the peasants to rise against their lords. The nobles and the bourgeois now took fright. The National Constituent Assembly could see only one way to check the peasants; on the night of August 4, 1789, it decreed the abolition of the feudal regime and of the tithe. Then on August 26 it introduced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, proclaiming liberty, equality, the inviolability of property, and the right to resist oppression.

The decrees of August 4 and the Declaration were such innovations that the king refused to sanction them. The Parisians rose again and on October 5 marched to Versailles. The next day they brought the royal family back to Paris. The National Constituent Assembly followed the court, and in Paris it continued to work on the new constitution. (Britannica)

The Impact of the French Revolution on English Literature: 

The impact of the French Revolution on English literature was massive. The French Revolution began in 1789 and continued for nearly a decade. This period of political and social upheaval in France not only influenced the way English writers viewed revolution and social change but also had a significant impact on literary style, themes, and the portrayal of society and individuals. One of the most notable impacts of the French Revolution on English literature was its role in inspiring a wave of political and social writing.

Writers such as William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Thomas Paine engaged with the ideas and ideals of the revolution. These writers were not only inspired by the revolutionary spirit but also often deeply critical of the oppressive regimes that had led to the revolution in the first place. For example, Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man" defended the principles of the revolution and called for similar reforms in England, influencing many political thinkers and writers of the time.

The French Revolution also had a significant impact on literary style. The Romantic movement, which emerged during and after the revolution, rejected the rationalism and order of the Enlightenment and embraced a more emotional and individualistic approach to literature. This shift in style can be seen in the poetry of Wordsworth and Coleridge, who celebrated nature, imagination, and individual experience. The Romantic poets often sought to capture the sublime and the awe-inspiring, reflecting the revolutionary spirit of the age.

Furthermore, the French Revolution influenced the themes explored in English literature. Many writers grappled with the consequences of radical change and the tension between order and chaos.Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," for example, can be seen as a reflection of the fear and uncertainty surrounding scientific and social progress in the wake of the revolution.

The novel explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of playing with the forces of nature.The revolution also had a profound impact on the portrayal of society and individuals in literature. Charles Dickens, for instance, depicted the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution and the plight of the working class in his novels such as "Oliver Twist" and "A Tale of Two Cities." The latter, set in both London and Paris during the tumultuous years of the revolution, captures the brutality and upheaval of the time.

The French Revolution also prompted a reevaluation of the role of women in society and their representation in literature. Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" argued for women's rights and education, challenging traditional gender roles. This feminist perspective had a lasting impact on the portrayal of women in literature, leading to more complex and empowered female characters in the works of Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, and others.

Conclusion:

The influence of the French Revolution on English literature is undeniable, marking a transformative period that resonates across literary works. The upheavals in France sparked not only political and social changes but also ignited a fervor for liberty, equality, and fraternity that reverberated in the creative expressions of English writers. From the Romantic poets' celebration of individualism and nature to the Gothic novels' exploration of societal anxieties, the French Revolution left an indelible imprint on the literary landscape. This period of turbulence served as a catalyst for introspection, innovation, and the emergence of new literary forms, shaping the course of English literature in profound and lasting ways.

References:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "French Revolution". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution. Accessed 26 November 2023.

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