The French Revolution
I know this posting is a little late... However, here it is:
When reading these authors Williams, Burke, Wollstencraft, and Paine, I noticed that they all were talking about the things going on at the time. There were many issues and opinions of people during the time of the French Revolution. The authors in our readings wrote of many of the same events transpiring, death and execution of King Lewis as well as Marie Antoinette, and the rights of man. The views of Burke and Paine conflicted. Paine wrote a rebuttal to Burke’s opinion on the French Revolution. Paine believed that when man died then his family had no claim to what he left behind. “When a man ceases to be, his power and his wants cease with him.”(65) While Burke believed, “They have a right to the acquisitions of their parents; to the nourishment and improvement of their offspring; to instruction in life, and consolation in death.” (50) As Paine stated, “I am contending for the living, and against their being willed away, and controlled and contracted for, by the manuscript assumed authority of the dead; and Mr. Burke is contending authority of the dead over the rights and freedom of the living.” (65). I believe that Burke is just saying that when people die what they accomplished when they were living just should not be forgotten or be done in vein. In these two writings it appeared to me that Burke was going against what was normal during this time, he was not playing it safe with his views. Where as in Paine's writings he is trying not to upset anyone because during this time people are being executed because of their beliefs, therefore he is more conservative than Burke. “I am not contending for nor against any form of Government, nor for nor against any party, here or elsewhere. That which a whole Nation chooses to do, it has a right to do.” (65)
I know this posting is a little late... However, here it is:
When reading these authors Williams, Burke, Wollstencraft, and Paine, I noticed that they all were talking about the things going on at the time. There were many issues and opinions of people during the time of the French Revolution. The authors in our readings wrote of many of the same events transpiring, death and execution of King Lewis as well as Marie Antoinette, and the rights of man. The views of Burke and Paine conflicted. Paine wrote a rebuttal to Burke’s opinion on the French Revolution. Paine believed that when man died then his family had no claim to what he left behind. “When a man ceases to be, his power and his wants cease with him.”(65) While Burke believed, “They have a right to the acquisitions of their parents; to the nourishment and improvement of their offspring; to instruction in life, and consolation in death.” (50) As Paine stated, “I am contending for the living, and against their being willed away, and controlled and contracted for, by the manuscript assumed authority of the dead; and Mr. Burke is contending authority of the dead over the rights and freedom of the living.” (65). I believe that Burke is just saying that when people die what they accomplished when they were living just should not be forgotten or be done in vein. In these two writings it appeared to me that Burke was going against what was normal during this time, he was not playing it safe with his views. Where as in Paine's writings he is trying not to upset anyone because during this time people are being executed because of their beliefs, therefore he is more conservative than Burke. “I am not contending for nor against any form of Government, nor for nor against any party, here or elsewhere. That which a whole Nation chooses to do, it has a right to do.” (65)
posted by frostygurl1 at 5:43 PM
1 Comments:
Hello, Amber. Just wanted to add that yes, Burke was much more conservative, meaning that he was in favor of keeping the rich rich, and who cares about the poor. When he uses the metaphor of inheritance, he is using it to support his idea that the aristocracy and monarchy have a right to their titles and money without any concern for work or character. Paine wanted this system gone altogether, allowing the peasant class to rise if their work ethic demanded it.
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