“…an ancestor had been with Marie Antoinette, had his head cut off…” (pg. 33)
The French Revolution, which is alluded to in this quote, occurred during the late 18th century. It was a period of political and social upheaval which reached its height in 1789. The purpose of this revolution was to overthrow the French monarchy and reform the government. It was during this frenzied time period that beheading became popular as a form of execution. The execution of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette marked the beginning of a new era for France. Woolf references the French Revolution to develop the character of Sally Seton. Sally is portrayed as being an eccentric, opinionated woman. This claim of being related to a former French aristocrat merely adds to her wild, somewhat exaggerated persona.
"French Revolution (1787-99)." Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/219315/French-Revolution
Photo Credit: Louis XVI Execution. Digital image. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/LouisXVIExecutionBig.jpg
nice connections here
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