Kate'+s+Revolutionary+Diary

Name: Anaïs Age: 15 Gender: Female Occupation: Servant of a wealthy class Social Class: Third Class Financial situation: Not wealthy, but has enough to feed herself Appearance: generally thin, long brunette with brown eyes, dresses very plainly and comfortable to move around Location: Montreuil Habitual locations: In the house where she serves Daily routine: -makes breakfast and does house chores -goes out to town to buy groceries -during free time, does some embroidery, takes a walk out in the garden, sketches, daydreams, etc.. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: usually quiet and calm but strong-minded and determined in heart. Taught to listen and obey to people so doesn’t like to gain attention but stands for her beliefs and defends for herself when in unfair accusations. Very inquisitive and curious about everything. Past/individual-family history: Parents abandoned her when she was born because of financial problems. So a generous woman, who was a head servant, picked her up and she started working for who she works for right now since then. Felt bitter against her family at first because of the abandoning but doesn’t have any feelings for them anymore. Family: Unknown Social relations with your own and other classes: Doesn’t have anyone specific to call friend. Has company with the other servants in the house. Feels comradeship towards them because they are in a same state as her. Religion: Catholic Education: can recognize and write her name Languages you speak: French Main privileges and/or hardships: -doesn’t have to starve because even if she is running out of money, she can eat foods left over from the house -feels envy toward the high classed people when she can’t even earn small things she wants -gets treated unfairly and receives criticism sometimes because she is an orphan Portrait:



__Journal #1__ Dear Diary,

Today was a very shocking day for me. I never thought deeply or took the problems going around in France seriously until today.

It started out no different than other days. I woke up and dressed as quickly as I can so I wouldn’t be late for serving breakfast to Madam. She wasn’t a really mean, evil woman in high authority like most people imagine high classed people as, but she did very dislike breaking time promises. After serving her breakfast and helping her get dressed into a fancy dress that can never even be compared to my so-called-dress. Then I had free time until I had to go to the groceries before lunch.

Even though I have free time, I honestly have nothing to do. What can a small peasant do other than doing the work she is told to do. But this thought led me into a chain of other thoughts.

People in this society are divided into three big groups: the first class, the middle class, and the third class. Madam can be called in between the first class and the middle class; I predict, by all the fancy garments on her and the enormous house that I am staying in. The third classed people are people like me. Poor, weak, and has absolutely no power. But I should consider myself a very lucky one to be third classed. I always thank the head servant for rescuing me from freezing to death in the death cold winter breeze abandoned. Since I work here as a servant, and Madam isn’t too cruel, I don’t have to starve. I always feel my heart ripping into pieces when I see all those poor children and family out in the streets starving to death just like how I could’ve ended up. But what can I do to help them, except giving the small amounts of bread just enough that the other servants won’t notice I took some away once in awhile.

While I was going on in my land of daydreaming, suddenly another servant yelled at me to go to the market before Eleonore Petit, a cloth sewer that Madam orders dresses a few times, arrives. This was always my problem, I can pay attention to nothing once I step into my own little land. So I quickly gathered myself and dashed out to go to the market, reciting the groceries I had to buy.

While I was rushing through the crowd with the huge pile of groceries that were too much for my fragile, boney arms, I bumped into someone and fell down. When I lifted my head I realized it was Eleonore; we decided to be something like friends after meeting several times when she came to make dresses for Madam. Eleonore was a very nice woman and she made wonderful dresses. When she saw the great load of groceries of mine, she gratefully offered me to help handling the groceries.

As we were walking toward the house, that was much more like a castle, talking about little petty things, we saw a big crowd gathered. With my uncontrollable curiosity from nature, I squeezed into the crowd to see what was going on. I really should learn how to control myself though, because the moment I was able to get a peak through the enormous crowd, I saw a scene that I really wish I haven’t seen.

People were persecuting Governor and Lieutenant governor, Eleonore told me later, publicly. Eleonore who had followed me just in case, tried to cover my eyes as fast as she could. But she was too late, I already saw two head chopping off and rolling down to the ground.

I couldn’t believe what I saw. At first I wasn’t able to interpret the scene, it just seemed like two round balls were falling. But as my head started to spin again, my face became paler and paler that I probably looked like a real ghost. I started trembling and burst into tears by the terrifying scene I just saw. Eleonore just embraced me warmly not knowing what to say. It was too much for a 15 years old who never necessarily saw anything too violent or gruesome in her life.

I realized how serious things were right now. It never really came to me until today. People were willing to do anything to gain freedom and rights; and even with a pretty naive head of mine, I knew something was about to happen.

Dear Diary,

Quite a lot of time passed since my last journal. There was nothing particularly different going on in my life. The same old daily routines and chores. But one thing that changed is that I became greatly interested in the problems in society; especially about the poor people of the third class. I tried to help them as much as possible; although I mostly couldn’t do anything. I donated more parts of the groceries I bought when I went to the market places. One time, I got in a quite big trouble because the groceries missing were too noticeable. But I couldn’t stop. So I tried to donate parts of what I had, but I didn’t have anything. I felt severely how useless I was. I couldn’t stand watching the fates of others that could’ve also been mine.

While I spent my days like this, a special guest came for a visit. When I opened the door, there was a lady, who seemed a little more older than me, that I suspected as a nun by her apparels. I wondered why a nun would come here. Just by her looks, I could tell that she wasn’t someone in another world then mine. She smiled gently and offered me a greeting but I couldn’t respond back with a kindness she gave me. The lady then asked my name so I whispered quietly and told her that my name was Anaïs. After looking at her a little more with caution, I asked her who she was. Shockingly, she told me she was Adeline Moreau, the daughter of the Moreau family, where I serve. I was right about her being in a different world than mine. She wasn’t anyone that the third classed people could touch.

After the family’s reunion, I served them the tea and food, that was made with extra more care than usual. I felt a little envy growing inside me when I saw the happy faces of the family. While eating, Madam Adeline started to open up a conversation about the severe situations of the third estate. I was shocked that she cared about us. I was able to feel that she really cared about those starving, homeless people with no affectations at all. So my jaundiced point of view toward her started to change a lot. I was also able to hear about what was going on these days and the French Revolution, I didn’t have any other way to know what happened outside. Sir Moreau also mentioned that the execution of Louis XVI and his wife. Even though I knew that people didn’t have pleasant feelings toward them, I didn’t know it will lead to an execution. Then the Moreau family talked about also taking care of themselves well also; since people didn’t have good feelings towards the first estates. That meant that the Moreau family could also be in danger.

Although I was very afraid and scared of the execution, I couldn’t suppress my curiosity to see the execution myself. Plus, I also wanted to help the third estate and this was a wonderful opportunity to do so. So when Madam Adeline was leaving, I asked her if I could join her. I was worried that she might reject, but thankfully she immediately gave me permission.

After walking for a while, we arrived where the execution will be held in. So many people were cheering with joy; this confused me greatly. Why were they this glad to kill people? Well, I guess this showed how big their hatred toward Louis XVI was. But I still felt pity on Louis XVI, not that I didn’t think he was an evil man; but still. A lot of people were hurt by the wars and massacres. Madam Adeline and I did our best to help and cure the wounded people. After that, Madam Adeline thanked me for helping her. However, I thanked her more for giving me an opportunity to help other people. Adeline Moreau, I dare say, gave me a huge impression even after she left.

Dear Diary,

I was able meet a new friend today. Her name is Louise Léglise. She is a weaver/ tailor so she came to make a set of dresses that Madam Moreau ordered. She was a bit older than me but it didn’t really matter; we had so many similar interests. Louise told me I reminded her of when she was young. While she was working, I stayed next to her talking and helping her once in a while. The time when I met Madam Adeline was the only time when I was able to hear about the news of France. Since then, I wasn’t able to get updated in what was going on. So I begged Louise to tell me about recent news, especially about the hero of France.

Louise started off by telling me about the rise of Napoleon. She first told me about Napoleon’s school days. She told me that he was always teased by his outer looks and funny accent; but he was still very intelligent and smart. The stories of Napoleon Louise told me were very amusing and entertaining. I especially listened carefully in the part where she told me how Napoleon saved the National Convention’s delegates from thousands of hostile royalists rebels.

Louise continued to tell me about Napoleon. Napoleon even lead the army against Austria and Sardinia and crossed the Alps and led France to numerous great victories in Italy. Napoleon made so many changes in France. He made a national banking system so the tax collecting would be kept fair. I didn’t understand at first why he would make such a thing. Because of taxes, so many people were suffering. But Louise explained to me that by this way, everyone paid a fair amount of taxes and the government didn’t have to increase the fees. The last thing Louise told me about was how Napoleon made the Napoleonic Code, a system of laws that made sure the laws were fair and just.

After that, Louise had finished making the dresses so it was time for her to leave. Louise was such a great person to talk with and I looked forward to meet her again someday.

When Louise left, I cleaned up some mess that she left and it was time for me to sleep. I wasn’t able to fall asleep right away even after lying down on my bed. I thought about the revolution and how it affected people and me. I don’t think the revolution had a too much of an impact on me; because it still kind of felt like something just happening “outside”. I was able to do nothing and all I did was stay in the house hearing what’s going on once in a while if I was lucky. Oh, how I wish I wasn’t just a weak, useless peasant. I wanted to help the people too and wanted to participate.