In Charlotte Smith’s Desmond, there a number of pro-revolutionary moments, points that are touched on frequently throughout the letters. One of the most prominent examples, thus far in a reading, is Letter XVI from Desmond to Mr. Bethel. In this letter, the reader is introduced to a Breton, who suffers greatly at the hands of the English and the aristocracy. After being captured by the English, he is taken to the prison located in Winchester. Prior to residing in one, the Breton had heard relatively good things about the English prison system. However, that was soon remedied by the horrendous conditions forced upon the prisoners. There he and the other prisoners were forced to deal with the overcrowding, a lack of sufficient provisions, and rampantly virulent diseases. “...out of the nine-and-twenty of us poor devils, who were taken in our little privateer, fourteen died within three weeks…” (145). The conditions did not improve post-mortem. The dead were tied into makeshift coffins and buried in shallow holes, often in groups. Unfortunately for the Breton, life does not wholly improve after getting out of prison. He gets home and takes charge of his family’s estate, as his father and brother have passed in his absence. He quickly discovers that he has almost no rights to anything on his land, and any rights he does have can be snatched away from him at the whim of the Baron de Kermanfroi, the Lord Paramount. The Baron has sole rights and privileges to the animals and land that the river, which runs by the Breton’s farm, nourishes or touches in any way. Should the Breton overstep his rights he can be punished as seen fit by the Baron. This is used as a prime example of the unfair treatment those of remotely lower class received by from the aristocracy in pre-revolutionary France. It can be concluded that the Revolution, in Desmond and possibly Charlotte Smith’s eyes, is the solution to disposing with the old ways and creating a new and better society.
I agree that the passage regarding the Breton is of significant importance in Smith's attempt to sway English readers to acknowledge the necessity of the Revolution in France. Smith highlights the unjust power the French aristocracy has over the common-man but using a humorous (somewhat) example to allow English readers an opportunity sympathize with the French plight and criticize their perceived ridiculous foreign customs.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. The more mistreatment shown in Desmond and Williams emphasize that not only the poor were treated abhorrently, but even the lower classes of aristocrats were given very minimal rights. The few rights they did have could be taken away on a mere whim.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with this post. This story shows that Smith believes that the only future worth living in is a future without the old ways of aristocracy. What I find interesting is the use of this retelling as a rhetorical device. I wonder what made Smith choose this particular story instead of another?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the Breton's narrative from his days under the Baron is employed by Smith to demonstrate how the French Revolution was an absolute necessity for those of the lower classes. I also believe that Smith's treatment of the British jail, contract work, and Britain's many wars exhibit another societal system Smith does not approve of. She uses the Breton's story to reveal her own opinions about the failures of both aristocracy and materialistic capitalism. Desmond ends the letter citing how cruel it is that those in power can wage war whenever they choose. Smith must not think any one person should have this power.
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