The idealised revolutionary: contemporary French politics and the symbolic importance of Maximilien Robespierre
Date
1999
Authors
Kernaghan, Stuart John Simpson
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Abstract
This thesis is an examination of the connection between images of Maximilien Robespierre and French politics that has existed for over two centuries. It will argue that Revolutionary historiography has been influenced by political trends and events in France since the Revolution of 1789. Furthermore, it will argue that during this period, contemporary French politics shaped historical representations of Robespierre. An examination of representative literature from the entire period demonstrates that the majority of Revolutionary historians have exploited Robespierre's inherent symbolic importance to construct images that would fulfil specific political or philosophical objectives. Consequently, Robespierre became a highly idealised individual whose figurative, or tropological, importance appeared to overshadow his literal importance in many instances. Finally, this thesis will suggest that as a result of these images of Robespierre, other revolutionary figures, notably his colleague Saint-Just, have been obscured.