Revolutionary Speech
By Joelle F.
For the Expedition "Let Them Eat Cake," I wrote a speech showing how the 3rd estate must have felt at the time of the French Revolution. I started with rough drafts, researched a lot, and then finally finished the speech! I am very proud of the project and how it came along, and it hopefully demonstrates the lower-class perspective.
Revolutionary Speech
“I speak now for all the voices of the third estate!!!
All of the hard work and little pay we get as citizens is unfair in every way! We need the money to support our families and lives, but every last franc we earn slips away into the wealthy man’s pocket! How must we live a life without a single frac when we have families and loved ones we must take care of for all our lives? We are constantly carrying the burden of taxation, and it is causing us to topple over! The people above us observe but don't care. For we are just peasants, crumbs to throw away in their sight. They feed off of our lands, our jobs, and our hard work.
The clergy and nobility never meet our needs! We beg for food to save us from starvation, but not even a piece of bread is held in the palm of a single commoner. As our stomachs growl with pain and hunger, the rich’s stomachs are full to the brim! While the first and second estates live a life of wealth, we the people of the third estate still struggle to survive. The wealthy are careless and oblivious that many of us are dying on the side of the road! We have to earn our share, while they are handed it on a golden platter. We should not be dictated by monarchs!!
None of us know why, but our votes always seem outnumbered!! We can only guess that the first and second estates are behind it all. It seems as if our votes never count and are thrown away! It seems they do not care about opinions. They are oblivious to our thoughts and needs! Hearts burn and ache but they don’t bat an eye!
In conclusion, we all must join this revolt to gain the equality we deserve! Life here is unjust as everyone here knows! JOIN US TO RISE AGAINST THE MONARCHY! Stand with us to fight for justice! Donnez-moi la liberté ou donnez-moi la mort!!!*”
*Liberty, equality, brotherhood, or death!