Written by: Aarav Timilsina - 28028, Grade IX
Posted on: 18 July, 2024
Most historical figures have earned their names engraved in stone and immortalized in songs by conquering lands, performing said miracles or leading a kingdom to glory but there’s someone who has been praised and mocked solely for their doe-eyed and out of touch nature. Marie Antoinette or Dauphine of France was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. Many people are already familiar with this name as it’s also the name of the hit series based off of her. It’s not her kind nature, commanding attitude or cruelty that earned her a show, it’s something way more despicable than that.
Marie Antoinette of France was born as the fifteenth child to Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis I in Vienna. She was married off to Louis-Auguste, the Dauphin of France and future King Louis XVI, at the age of 14 to strengthen ties between Austria and France. Marie was said to be “not fit for a queen” and too bird-headed for the royal court. After her marriage in 1770, she was forced into her formal court life in the Palace of Versailles in France. She was heavily criticized for her lavish parties and extravagant spending habits which the French found amusing and unusual. Marie Antoinette became Queen of France in 1774 when Louis XVI ascended to the throne after the death of his grandfather, Louis XV. Even though she had little political power , she was a major trend-setter in France. She introduced adorning hair with feathers, beads and pins and towering the hair above the head. She also introduced exaggerated dining habits to the French. Despite all the criticism she was still a tolerable leader, who was well respected due to her spouse.
The real problem began when rumors began spreading around about the extravagant parties. Marie was throwing in the royal court. The same time France was experiencing a major poverty crisis. People were outraged to hear that the rich were dining like gods while the peasants fed on the remains. When informed that her subjects were not getting enough bread to eat, she simply replied with “Why don’t they eat cake?”. This caused an outrage in the country which marked the first flickers of rebellion. “The queen is detestable, she mocks the poor who have no bread by questioning why we can’t eat cake” chanted the people. Marie was given the name “Maiden Déficit” as a derogatory nickname. When the revolution began, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI attempted to flee Paris in 1791 but were captured and returned. Marie Antoinette was accused of treason, among other charges, and was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793, that day marked the fall of the Oblivious Maiden.
Similar cases are also present in our society. The millionaire, privileged celebrities are completely oblivious to the struggles of the common folk. The ones high up on the ladder are so out of touch, that most celebrities have no knowledge of the retail price of groceries in the marketplace. Their ignorance is the main reason why celebrity boycotting petitions are so discussed these days. Privilege should be used to influence and help solve problems not engage in extravagant, ridiculous pageantry.
