Instructions:
Marie Antoinette’s fondness for clothing and material things gave her the reputation for being an insensitive
queen, as so many of the French people were poor and starving. One key event captured the feelings of the
French toward their queen. “The Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” as it became known, was a famous
misunderstanding which confirmed her reputation in the eyes of many French citizens. At the library or using
the Internet, research this event and discover what happened. Then, pretend that you are a member of the
Third Estate. Write a letter to the editor of a French paper describing your opinion of Marie Antoinette based
on what you have discovered from learning about this scandal.
Assignment:
Dear French editor,
This is an outrage! Have your heard what our crazy Queen has been doing? She is living up her life while we die in vain! Wasting all the money we could be getting, on some piece of jewelry. She is more concerned with her goods and looks than the well being of the French people. We should be spending money for necessity rather than want.
Just this week I lost another one of my family members. They died of starvation because we good not afford any food. This injustice must stop!
She doesn't deserve the position of the queen. The queen should care about the country and take care of us people rather than letting us fend for ourselves. It's the monarchy like The Queen that leave us in this position.
If you haven't heard the story, I heard from many people that The Queen was behind all the letters and the thievery involving Cardinal de Rohan. She and the Cardinal were corresponding to secretly gain money for the necklace. It was not even meant for Marie in the first place. She gave the Cardinal false hopes by " romantically" being with him. This is not acceptable, he is a leader of the church and she is married. Just because she can't get pregnant doesn't mean she can sleep with everybody she wants to. If she thinks that she can cheat on her husband and purchase lavish goods under the nose of the French people, then she has got another thing coming
The fact that she would do it in secret just to make sure that we couldn't find out is horrid. She already lives lavishly with big feasts and fancy clothing. Why does she need more? The necklace wasn't even made for her. It was ordered by Louis XV for his mistress. Why does she think that she can own it and sell it off for more money?
We deserve every dollar she gets from her selling the diamonds from the necklace. She has been taking the many diamonds off the necklace to trade with other places. It is so rude that she would take someone's hard work and give it all away. I hope she realizes how many people she is letting down, the whole country. The people of France deserve better than that scum from Austria.
Sincerely,
Anonymous Third Estate Member
Extra:
If interested in learning the real story visit these links:
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