What do you think makes Marie Antoinette such an intriguing person of history? I am doing a project based on her and perceptions of her and I am looking for what you think about the stories about her, what you thought of the movie if you saw it....anything you think is interesting, crazy, sad, exciting...whatever. I need lots of different opinions about Marie Antoinette so that I can find the best angle for this project.
In case you are interested, I am an interior design student doing a project inspired by Marie Antoinette and Versailles.
Thanks!
2007-02-15 14:05:07 · 8 answers · asked by pineappleclock2002 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
In my opinion, Marie Antoinette is one of the most misunderstood figures in history. She was, and still is, a victim of propaganda generated by the Revolutionaries. They claimed that she was involved in multiple affairs with both sexes, spent outrageous amounts of money, influenced her husband in government matters, and uttered the infamous "Let them eat cake" (though she never did). Most of her trial before her execution centered on claims that she had sexually molested her son. Most modern sources, such as Antonia Fraser's excellent Marie Antoinette: The Journey (which the film was based on), refute these claims and portray her as a caring person, even if she was misguided at times. She was married off by her mother, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, at the age of 14 to an awkward and indifferent husband. Their marriage wasn't even consumated for 7.5 years! She was renowned for her elegance throughout Europe. In her late 20s, she rejected many of the customs of Versailles and retreated to the Petit Trianon (and even built the Hameau to play farmer). Though not blameless, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were easy scapegoats for the monetary and political problems in France. The French Revolution didn't happen because of them, but as a result of many years of reckless spending by the monarchy.
For me, she is intriguing because of these contradictions. What more do you want in a story- decadence, sadness, and an execution? I thought the movie was fabulous and a good representation of the Fraser biography. Much of the publicity for the movie dubbed Marie Antoinette as the rock star of her time- an apt description indeed.
2007-02-16 09:06:29 · answer #1 · answered by frenchkitty 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think she was a naive young girl who was thrust into a royal court with absolutely no training on how to handle it. Her parent's court in Austria was far different than the French court.
Lacking any real love or affection from anyone around her, she turned to idle pursuits and and she choose to surround herself with beauty wherever possible.
2007-02-15 22:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy Lou 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think she was tooo young to be a queen, in the movie she seemed immature and didnt know what she was getting herself into. (not that this was all her fault) she lived like a rockstar and she had all these scandals with her name on them, back then that wasn't very appropriate for a women. she was a rebel. i think this is why people are fascinated by her.
2007-02-16 00:10:27 · answer #3 · answered by le_disko 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can you give more information on how she has to tie into your project? I'm reserving my space till then.
2007-02-15 22:15:45 · answer #4 · answered by Dethruhate 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Basically she was a young, niave, sheltered princess (and I mean that literately).
2007-02-16 00:13:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's French
2007-02-15 22:16:57 · answer #6 · answered by BryanB 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let HER eat cake!
2007-02-15 23:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
spendthrift only
2007-02-16 03:34:35 · answer #8 · answered by dearpupai_7 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋