[theenlightenedballerina]

Bibliography

Alic, Margaret. Hypatia’s Heritage: A History of Women in Science from Antiquity through the Nineteenth Century. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986.

Bleiberg, Edward. “The Age of the Baroque and Enlightenment 1600-1800: Dance.” The Age of the Baroque and Enlightenment 1600-1800: Dance, 2005. https://omnilogos.com/age-of-baroque-and-enlightenment-1600-1800-dance/.    

Claude Lorrain, French, 1604/1605 - 1682, Landscape with Merchants, c. 1629, oil on canvas, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1952.5.44    

Defoe, Daniel. “Modern History Sourcebook: Daniel Defoe: (On) The Education Of Women, 1719.” Internet history sourcebooks. Accessed March 14, 2022. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1719defoe-women.asp.  

Dominiczak, Marek H. “Rationalism, Science, and Freedom of Speech: Voltaire.” Clinical Chemistry 62, no. 5 (2016): 789–90. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2015.253088.  

Eschner, Kat. “Five Things to Know about French Enlightenment Genius Émilie Du Châtelet.” Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, December 15, 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/five-things-know-about-french-enlightenment-genius-emilie-du-chatelet-180967561/.  

Jacques-Louis David, The Tennis Court Oath (1791), Musée National du Château, Versailles .

Lewis, Jone Johnson. “Where Did Mary Wollstonecraft Get Her Ideas?” ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, June 2, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/mary-wollstonecraft-early-years-3530791  

MARTIN, JEAN-BAPTISTE. “A Stag Hunt at Versaille,” 1659. Throne Room, Hillsborough Castle.  

Parton, James. Life of Voltaire, Vol. I.  Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, 1881.  

Spiegel, Taru. “Women in the French Revolution: From the Salons to the Streets.” Women in the French Revolution: From the Salons to the Streets | 4 Corners of the World: International Collections and Studies at the Library of Congress, July 14, 2020. https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2020/07/women-in-the-french-revolution-from-the-salons-to-the-streets/. Soboul, Albert. The French Revolution, 1787-1799 : from the Storming of the Bastille to Napoleon. London :NLB, 1974. 

Vernadsky, G. “From Letter of Baron De Breteuil.” Internet history sourcebooks. Accessed. March 11, 2022. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/18catherine.asp.     “Decree on Serfs.” Internet history sourcebooks. Accessed March 11, 2022. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/18catherine.asp.                        

“Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789.” Avalon Project - Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789. Accessed March 14, 2022. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp. 

[theenlightenedballerina]

Revolutionaries and its Organized Chaos

The King has been forced back to Paris like I’ve predicted. In that time, he has completely underestimate his people. The have taken the reigns in politics, society, and even talks of war with Prussia are now being thrown around amongst the crowds. As the thought of war being a unifying power, to be an answer to this mess we are in. The Bastille has fallen in a civilian siege. There is chaos in the streets of not only Paris, but the entire country-side. It seems that the entire country is in flames and the constant change in power only enables them to grow taller. I’m not sure if this country will be able to burn any longer. The people are tired. 

There are rumors that the King plans to flee the country. I’d pity him if he did. I’m afraid of what the people he promised to feed would do to him if they found out their leader fled them and left them to die amongst themselves. 

The National Assembly finally released the Declaration during this state of madness. Deeming it the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Not very fitting to the population as a whole if you ask me. Are women not starving in the streets as well? Neither are the poor, or those in servitude? This isn’t a conflict to start at the current time due to the distraught the country is drowning in. This very well may be my last post for a while as new revolutionaries are rising to the ranks. They are radicalizing the people. Calling for the heads of rulers to roll across the public forums. Such violence would only lead to more with no means of coming to an end.

There is no room for art anymore. No more room for ideas. Only action to take to the streets of France. While it is a very deserved voyage, the people have no idea what is instore for them. To trust the new leaders so easily will be a death sentence, I hope no more terror reigns upon the streets of Paris, let alone France as a whole, but I can only prepare myself for the worst to come.

[marie-antoinette21-deactivated2]

[philosophybits]

The man, who in a fit of melancholy, kills himself today, would have wished to live had he waited a week.

Voltaire, Dictionnaire philosophique (via philosophybits)

[thoughtkick]

I’ve wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life.

Voltaire, Candide (via thoughtkick)

[theenlightenedballerina]

Tensions and Outrage

The National Assembly has not fled the Palace to Paris, yet there are rumors that the King will soon be forced to. His presence there has been deemed unnecessary by the outrage of the surrounding villages, whose women place to bombard the Palace and demanded for his removal. Under that pressure, I theorize the King will have to move his power into Paris. I am preparing myself for that chaotic day. The National Assembly has taken up a position against the King and now promoting themselves amongst the starving people of France. Taking an oath to protest the Monarchy within the tennis court of the Versaille. We never got to see that part of the Palace while we were there, but I doubt there is any chance we would see that Palace ever again. 

In the meantime, I’ve been taking the time to read up on the enlightenment that is being taught to our fellow man. So many writings from Voltaire and  Montesquieu that have all been saying the same things. Little to any information regarding a women’s place within the new philosophy besides being subserviently to man. I’m tired of being looked at as an object of art and wish to be much more than those who serve men. Within the vast arrange of works that are seemingly the same, I’ve found one, by a Daniel Defoe, written nearly 70 years ago. In his writings, he has expressed his disdain for the treatment women have been given within society. Deeming us as the same as men, if not, better. It’s incredible to think that nothing has changed since he had published this in 1719, but I hope that with the revolution, we will be seeing the change soon. I have my own philosophy for this period of time: A woman’s place is in the revolution.

The National Assembly has yet to put out a declaration regarding the situation with the King. He still holds monarchy under the new revolutionized government, but I don’t know how much longer that will last. Hopefully, with the new government, our people will be fed and no longer out wailing on the street. They are in so much pain. I hope for a better future for France.

[ancientsstudies]

Lucretia by Rembrandt.

[cythereanic]

Palais Garnier (1875) - Paris

[rumraisinmarzipan]

pearls>>

[theenlightenedballerina]

Key Thinking

Leaving the Versaille and then seeing the surrounding villages which are poorly kept and slowly starving, is a complete eye opener for how the King is ruling the country. Rumors of the Queen’s hidden storage of grain has created more and more issues for the crown. I’m traveling back to Paris tonight, but as we left Versaille, the tensions within the palace were becoming overwhelming. I overheard talks of the National Assembly’s proposition to the people and against the King through a document they planned to release soon. From what I’ve heard, the document has outraged the King so much that he has dismissed the Assembly as a whole. Apparently, they are seeking a different means of completing the agreement.  Through the chaos that ensued, I took time to look for more information on  Émilie Du Châtelet, trying my best to locate as much information as I could to take on the journey home. According to my sources, she is a translator for the great scientist Isaac Newton and is in correspondence with both Voltaire and the current King of Prussia. Can you believe? A woman in philosophy being recognized scientifically and politically. I can’t help to admit that I’ve always found a fascination in science and never thought that I’d be able to have a moment and question the current philosophy of our society. I’ve also taken the liberty of reading into Catherine the Great and what she is doing for her people to better her society. I can’t even put into words how more progress they have made within a small amount of time compared to us have been. I am grateful for the education I have received which allows me to be able to read their correspondence on my own and now, make my own opinions on it. 

I also allow myself to look into the writings of the philosophers of our times more. I anxiously await the National Assembly’s new declaration, but fear for the future of this country. 

[perfectquote]

Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.

Voltaire (via perfectquote)

[vanoise]

Emilie du Châtelet was a French natural philosopher and mathematician from the early 1730s 

She translatedf Newton's Principia into French, natural philosophy which combines Newtonian physics with Leibnizian metaphysics, and advocacy of Newtonian physics

Voltaire's biggest love.

Portrait by Quintin de la Tour

[theenlightenedballerina]

Dinner with a Side of Philosophy

According to the reaction, our performance was worth while. We were invited to stay at the Palace for the time being, a range of area’s we were allowed to explore, accompanied by an invitation to dinner at the Royal Table at 10pm. We were ecstatic to hear the news. Funny enough, the simple request was read to us in an elaborate fashion: multiple well dressed men greeted us as we sat in wait, then they deployed a gleaming gold trimmed scroll in order to inform us of the King’s requests.

During our spare moments, we traveled inside the seemingly never ending hallways of the Palace. We were introduced to the war room, signifying each of France’s beautifully depicted accomplishments. Not too far, was the the room of mirrors, which was gorgeously crafted to applaud France’s achievements socially and artistically. I watched on as most of the girls in our class stared in awe of the vast painted ceilings aligned with crystal chandeliers. The mirrors lined the walls in-between the numerous large windows looking over the gardens, and throughout the hall were statues of marble and gold, illustrating the beauty of France.

As dinner began, and we talked amongst ourselves, I couldn’t help, but overhear from the court of high-ranking ladies, who sat in close proximity to the king, speaking of the new texts that began to litter the inner-city. They spoke in hushed tones, covering topics from the philosopher Voltaire, to the current Tzarina of Russia. I wrote down what I could make out in the current moment.

“Well that’s absurd! I believe that any woman should be allowed the same rights of man, and even education.” Lady 1 announced. She seemed to be in charge of the gossip group.

Lady 2 looked over at her with a devious grin, “Well isn’t Voltaire in discussions with Miss Châtelet? And he thinks we can’t handle any intellectual conversation?”

Lady 3, who looked the most anxious of the bunch, probably scared of the King overhearing, whispered back in protest, “Well, if you want to learn so much, why don’t you go to Russia, hmm?” She crossed her arms over her chest in a huff, “Hopefully, you aren’t a serf, or you’ll still be treated like dirt.” Lady 1 bit back again, “Well couldn’t we all use a little education. Including you?” Before the three of them could erupt into an argument, another lady from the court hushed them, not wanting any of the lot to be noticed by any listening ears. However, their secret was safe with me. 

I sat in silence for the rest of my appearance at dinner. I couldn’t help to think back on what those women had spoken about. If one of the co-signers of the Enlightenment teachings was even in private, going against it, why should we as a society still follow it so closely? The Tzarina of Russia seemed to be flourishing within the current period, opening schools to promote the education of women. Why must it be so different here?

[thefallenauthor-deactivated2023]

"My soul is the mirror of the universe, and my body is its frame."

-Voltaire; Micromegas

[theenlightenedballerina]

A dance fit for a King.

After graduating Académie Royale de Danse, I could have only hoped for this day to come. Rumor is that the King would soon replace all of the amateur aristocrats within the Palace Versaille’s court. It is an honor for me and my graduating class to dance in the presence of someone so knowledgeable in the art. The King predecessor, King Louis XIV, had practiced ballet since he was a child and had created the very school we have learned the art. 

I have traveled across most of Europe, but the palace was one of the most absolutely beautiful buildings I have ever seen. The gardens encircled the entire estate and there were numerous rooms decorated in gold gilded trim and paints that encompassed the ceilings. It was a sure testament to the King’s success. We were ushered quickly through the venue, but we were assured that we’d be able to explore later if our performance was seen as fit. Maybe we’d even be invited to dine with court. Throughout the performance in the Royal Opera House portion of the palace, the King seemed content with his entertainment. He would be seen smiling lightly through scattered glances as our group performed, but no one could tell for sure due to his seat which towered stories above us. However, I cannot help, but to note how tense he was. A new sense of enlightenment began to rise within the cities, however, there was no room for women within negotiations. With a slowly starving population and the amount of uprisings as of late I would be on edge too. The revolutionary, Lafayette, who had helped tremendously with the American Revolution, returned to France recently too. I would be as equally anxious as the King if I were him. During the crescendo of the piece, he seemed to have jumped at the forte. His reaction was almost enough to get one of the girls to stumble and lose her composure, but he did not seem to have noticed this mishap.