Marie Antoinette

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche"

      “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche," or "Let them eat cake" was what turned the French people against Queen Marie. Proving whether or not she actually uttered these words is just as difficult in proving King Louis XVI's true sexual identity. It is all just speculation and great gossip. According to Lady Antonia Fraser, French royalty historian, in the article "Did Marie Antoinette really say 'Let them eat cake'?," states, "The quote would have been highly uncharacteristic of Marie-Antoinette, an intelligent woman who donated generously to charitable causes and, despite her own undeniably lavish lifestyle, displayed sensitivity towards the poor population of France." The people of France couldn't even afford to eat bread, let alone have access to the luxury food, such as abundance of poultry, fruits and vegetables, and certainly obtaining the dramatically decorated cakes and pastries were out of the question. Perhaps that is why people despised her so much after hearing and perpetuating the "rumor" of her uncompassionate tongue toward the poor French Parisians. The film does a splendid job at mocking the Queen for saying such a nasty quote that is unbecoming of "the people's Queen."







 

This page has paths:

Contents of this path:

This page references: