September massacres from the perspective of a woman (Isaac Pontarelli)

The prisons run wet with the blood of their for inhabitants, after the hardly judicial trials. This is the fifth day in a row that I have stayed inside, avoiding the murderous mobs the roam the streets in search of a preconceived notion of justice and the feeling that they are removeing the taint that will rot away Paris from the inside out. Soon I will have to venture out into the streets, and brave the market, if it still stands,  for both me and my family are on the brink of starvation if I do not. My husband has not been home in almost a full week now, I know not were he is, only it is proboble that he is part of one of the numerous mobs that ravage our city. These mobs have taken it apron themselves to eliminate the prisoners that fill our facilities, for they believe that if freed they would ally themselves with the opposition and pose as a formidable force. Let preface my explanation with saying that I do not in any way identify or share any of the ideals of these repulsive prisoners, but I do feel the memories of revolution coming back, and wondering we're the human rights we fraught so hard for went? The mobs raid prisons, and as self proclaimed justices of the peace perform a ritualistic trial. I say ritualistic, because the testimony of the individual has almost no effect on their outcome. After the trial, the judge will send the miserable soul off to be executed, and someone the next defendant to the stand. Hopefully this blood madness will end, and much like the werewolf after a full moon, France will wake up and see the carnage it has caused. 

Royal Family-Louis XVI (Janae Walker)

What have I truly done wrong to lead this country to massacre. The Jacobins and sans-culottes have truly gone mad. They are going to the prisons killing the nobles and priests that are held there. I haven't a say in any of it. They have taken away my precious power. It used to be all up to me and now I mean nothing. I have to get out of here. It's no longer safe. I escaped but that only made matters worse. Im stuck. My people are dying on my land and I can't do a thing. If I even dared try I would be sent right to the guillotine. Bodies are being mutilated and everyone is scared that they will be next. I don't know what to do or how to handle such a radical group. I have to hope that it will all get better.  

Urban Woman (Tessa Darcy)

A peculiar feeling lurked through the gloomy air that morning, it was September 2nd 1792 in the city of Paris. The day initiated just as any other, I speedily set up my cart and withered behind the blazing sun awaiting for the nobles patrolling the streets to purchase cloth from my cart. As my stomach bellowed and plead to be suffused, finally a customer approached my cart. He scanned through various different cloths, and would hold up some to get a different perspective. My body immediately bubbled with excitement and anticipation as I surveilled his emerald green eyes gaze upon the cloths. I needed this money, more than anything. My kids at home were starving, I was starving, without these earnings, I don't think we would be able to make it through the next week. As the man ransacked his pockets and his hands fulfilled with coins approached mine, an echo of voices from the distance rang in my ears. The man's coins then descended to the ground, he jumped to the sudden calling of voices in the streets. An expression of nervousness and worry unravelled across his face, and like that my once paying customer vanished into thin air. Annoyance swept through me, and the earthquake inside my stomach allowed me to remember how significant those few coins would have been. The echoes of voices continued to linger throughout the streets, becoming more and more audible. Simply ignoring it at first, I straightened out the rows and rows of cloth on my cart. The pitter patter of footsteps rang in my ears, and the streets bursted with civilians running around appearing confused and lost. My body began to tremble in both fear and hunger, to be safe I crouched behind the cart not sure what was coming next. Seconds later a mob of angry citizens swarmed the cobblestone walkway before me. In between the mob was about 20 or more priests, ropes tying their hands behind their backs. The civilians continuously shouted, "To the  L'Abbaye, To the L'Abbaye!" The L'Abbaye was a prison in Paris. As they shouted, the priests took whacks and hits to the skull, and I fastened my eye lids as quickly as possible to avoid seeing them being grotesquely murdered. My heart sunk and my chest clenched as I viewed this occur right in the street. This was when I realized that no matter how hungry, cold, restless, dirty, or little equipped the third estate was, we were not going to back down without a fight. The priests deserved this, all these years we have been doing their work and labor and paying their taxes, it is about time they were punished for their actions. No matter how many priests were executed, nothing could make up for the taxes and efforts put into France by the third estate. This was a revolution, and I was expecting more massacres like this to come.

Prisoner (Kourtney Clements)

It is the month of September in the year 1792. I'm sitting in a prison for no reason whatsoever. I am an innocent man. I did nothing wrong but not take part in the revolution. I am "the reason for the revolution." Why? Because I am a part of the first estate? I used to be an honorable man until people decided that I am suddenly a criminal because I am more privileged than the lower class. I cannot help that I was born into my title, so why should I be put on death row for this? I am going to die for this and I could not be more terrified. My fear and my life is just a minuscule amount of the events occurring in this September Massacre. These people are revolting against us, killing us, and I don't know why but they call this "justice."It is disgusting that our lack of participation in the revolution is resulting in our heads being removed and our lived being taken.

Sans-culottes(Dan Hasan)

Bonjour my name Jacque Martin and I am a member of the Sans-culottes. We are the radical left-wing partisans of the lower classes. We are comprised of mostly urban workers, which in fact dominate France. Though we are ill equipped and ill trained we are the heart and sole of the revolutionary army. Without us they would be nothing. We work hard everyday, but is it worth if we have to pay all of the taxes. The first and second estate are greedy and selfish. They will not spare one franc, no they are to busy enjoying the best life has to offer. That is not even the worst of it, the Jacobins have done something that no one will ever forget. They overthrew the current Paris commune and they proclaimed a new revolutionary Commune. Now there is death everywhere. Women, children, and even trapped prisoners have killed. This is madness. How can we hope to save France when all we do is kill its people. I will fight for my country but I don't know if this is the right path.  

Royal Family-Marie Antoinette (Emma Schambers)

What has happened to our country? Massacres are constantly occurring during this month of September and I don't even know where to begin to explain my disappointment due to these events. People are being brutally killed and tortured. My good friend, Princess Marie-Louise, was held in a prison and horribly murdered. These massacres have really emotionally hurt me in so many ways. I do not enjoy seeing my people getting hurt like this. I hope this all ends soon. If it continues, everything will fall apart. Someone must put an end to all of this. For now, I am going to try to comfort those who are close to me. I am going to let other people try to put an end to this. I do not want to get hurt. Hopefully someone can soon end this nonsense. Hopefully this violence won't last forever.  

Jacobin (G. Steinberg

Anarchy! Just as us Jacobin's planned, the monarchy of France is transitioning to a republic. As radical as these movements seem, they are a necessity for the future of France. I myself am a member of the third estate who has attended to my business for years in law very peacefully, but no longer. The unjust rule of the first and second estate must come to an end in any means plausible. I remember the glorious day as it is fixed in my memory; September 2nd, 1792. This was the day in fact where Georges-Jacques Danton, a revolutionary leader, rose to assembly and chanted that we rise against those who had pitted us unsuccessfully against Austria and take new rule to France. I was pleased as I had hated paying taxes to those stupid Clergymen and arrogant nobles. We needed to abolish the monarchy, execute the king, and return France to the people. The prisons held many counter-revolutionaries so we attacked at them first. Us Jacobin's knew this to be true because we had rounded them all up after the Tuileries assault in August. I was part of the mob. Between September 2nd and 4th 1000-1500 people were killed including over 200 priests. Anarchy! The streets were filled with blood and death filled the air, but the Republic was over the horizon and France was soon to be returned to the people. This is the time of the third estate! Viva La Revolucion!  

Sans-Culotte (Hayden Margolis)

Hello, My Name Is Jean-Paul, I am a member of the Sans-Culotte part of the Third Estate. We are an oppressed people. Why should we, the poorest estate pay for all the taxes. Why shouldn't the 1st and 2nd estate also pay. There are many others like me that share my beliefs, but they have used violence to prove their points. I hear of a storm coming. They say that we will finally prove to the Church and Government that we have had enough. I think I might join in. I am not one to normally support murder or causing pain to others. However, if there is no other way it must be done. The amount of anger I have built up must be put to use. We must make a statement in order to change things around here and that is what we are going to do. It is our job to take care of France and things must change. Violence is the only answer.

Royal Family-Louis XVI(J. Qin)

The people of France have gone mad! Almost every day, more and more tales of merciless slaughters of the good citizens come to us in whispers, occasionally told by the relatives of the victims themselves. When I first learned about the massacre at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, I was horrified by the actions of those radicals. I hoped that this event would be a unique occurrence, and the violent desires of these savages would be satisfied, but it would appear that my prayers would not be answered on this occasion. For one month, more and more of the good citizens of France have been butchered. These innocent men and women do not deserve to be tormented in such a manner. These fiends claim that I have done injustice to this country, while they mindlessly murder virtuous people. Given that I am now imprisoned, I no longer question my fate, or that of my family. The only question left now is the time I have left before my inevitable execution. It saddens me to see France, once regarded as one of the most powerful and respected empires, in such a chaotic state.

Peasant Woman (RJ Mathieu)
Oh My! The atrocities of the September Massacres! I peered through tearful eyes as thousands upon thousands of innocent people were executed. Commoners, nobility, and thieves, all bunched together into one group, "To be executed." I watched as the blood mongers tore through the crowds. I can agree as much as the next women. Change must come... But not like this. We must allow it to take its time; choose its own path. Not force it along like an oversized man through a small doorway. Shouts filled the air, "Vive la nation!" The pure chaos overloaded the senses. Heads were thrust onto spikes. Children, lost upon the street, helpless. This is not a random killing, my husband told me. This is a statement. A statement that can only be appeased by death. A flame, quenched only by blood. This is wrong.

Jacobin (Katie Hollingsworth)

We are the Society of the Friends of the Constitution and we want a war. We are mostly middle class lawyers and intellectuals. We firmly support the acts of the sans-culottes while also promoting the revolution through pamphleteers and newspaper editors who agreed to promote our cause. Our ultimate goal is to work on advancing our republic and over throwing the monarchy. We were always somewhat threatened by the danger of the moderate and political official who just wanted peace and did not care for change. During late summer began the September Massacres. These were explosions of mob violence overtaking Paris to prove a point in a very violent manner. On August 10, 1792, the night before we were suppose to attack the Tuileries, we overthrew the Paris Commune and we made the decision that there was to be a new revolutionary Commune governed by transitional authorities. This new Commune that we created helped France take tremendous leaps to democratizing and taking control of the Revolution. We new that this was the beginning of a blood shedding war that would leave its prints on history forever. "It is with regret that I pronounce the fatal truth: Louis ought to perish rather than a hundred thousand virtuous citizens; Louis must die that the country may live." -Maximilien François Robespierre, Jacobin.

Urban Women (Vikky Iannotti)

When will it end? I go to bed every night, trembling with outright fear and anticipation. Lately, everything has been getting so much worse. It is September 3rd, 1792. As an urban woman, I cannot escape this nightmare. Constant violence and conflict suffocate me. Every day I wish that I could be free, but my wishes never seem to come true. I always remind myself that there is hope, and hope is what will get me through this. Yesterday, the September Massacres began. The revolutionaries have been bombarding local prisons to justify themselves. My husband was put in prison about a month ago for stealing bread to feed our family. I am scared that he might get killed by the bloodthirsty revolutionaries. The revolutionaries are attempting to kill nobles and priests that could have possibly committed political offenses, such as treason with the invading Prussians. My husband, you see, is innocent of this. He is just an ordinary prisoner, guilty of such offenses, but how can the revolutionaries tell? I pray that they do not kill my husband for something he did not do. What can I do? How can I stop this? There is nothing I can physically do. Yet, I can hope for a better day to appear. Soon, the revolutionaries will have to stop this madness and realize that violence is not always the answer. It saddens me to think that my husband could die an innocent man, but hope is what makes me think that he won't. Tomorrow is a new day, and all I can do is hope that it will be a better one.

Sans-Culotte (Katie Allen)

I am a Sans- Culotte. I'm part of the third estate, I'm an urban worker. It's September, Paris, France. I'm sick and tired of paying taxes that the first and second estate don't have to pay. I paid taxes recently for the Palace of Versailles, all for the first and second estates pleasure. Many others like me are stating to rebel. I don't know whether or not to join them. There have been recent rebellions. The other day many people stormed a prison and a thousand people died. Even though I don't believe in others dying, I'm done with the unfairness the third estate gets. Our enemy's are right among us, and I believe we should take care of France and the rest of France's people by the people in the prisons being killed.

Jacobin (R.Durant)

Jacobin (R. Durant)

My name is Robert and I am a member of the Third Estate and a Jacobin who is tired of paying all of the taxes in my country.  I support the September Massacres because it is showing the First and Second Estate who is the boss.  Now that we have gotten rid of King Louis XVI and have put the Revolutionary Commune in power we can finally begin to fix France.  We have imprisoned nobles and Clergy members and the guillotine is getting quite a work out.  Nearly a month has passed since the king escaped from the Tuilleries before the mob could get there.  Now we are attacking the prison. We must have killed around 1,200 prisoners accused of crimes against France.  Next, we plan to Revoke the titles of all nobles and sell all of their land.  Victory is in sight!  Viva la Revolution!

Prisoners (S. Loomis)

So here I am. Here in the prison of Bastille. I am one of seven unlucky nobles who not only am imprisoned but also am about to be slaughtered by maniacs in the street. They're rebels, but so are the people that put me here in the first place. They think I'm a lunatic, but quite honestly they are the mad ones. Anyways, everyone thinks it's silly for the tax payers to pay to run this large establishment if there are only seven of us in here. We're all annoyed at the raucous that the third estate is making though. I know that this will be my end, and to live life in a cell like this honestly would be more drab than dying. So I guess this is a way of freeing myself from this cell, and most of all this world. I'm a church goer, I do good things. Opposed to popular belief I am not crazed and deranged. I will be happy once dead. It will get me out of this terrible position.

Royal Family Member-Louis XVI (Samantha Licciardi)

My power, my wonderful power, stripped from me. These Jacobins are out of control! Why won't they listen to me! They are trying to push me out of my place and there is nothing I can do about it! My hands are tied and I am at a lost for words. This have only gotten worse and worse as every torturous day passes by, more people dying under my control. Ever since September began France has been covered with the bloodshed of people everywhere. Massacres breaking out lead by those wretched Jacobins. Revolutionaries storming building after building. I feel as if I am awaiting my doom, all I can do is wait and hope I make it out alive. I had everything going my way. Endless amounts of money, parties and food. Now, I am in deep debt, throw no more parties and have as much food as an urban worker. My world has taken a turn for the worst and there is no turning back. 
My deepest fear came true. Revolutionaries stormed my palace forcing me to flee. My family and I fled away from these bloody attacks, seeking safety from the violent Jacobins. Also, to make matters even worse the Legislative Assembly suspended my authority as a king! My power, my wonderful power, has officially been stripped from me. 

Jacobins (Grace Fitch)

LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!!!!!!!
THE CLERGY AND NOBILITY MUST DIE!!!!!
The revolution is not over yet!. We will not let anyone stomp on us, we deserve rights! We are finally a republic and are finally making just laws. We can not plumet now! There is more to fight for, more to win! We shall not be stopped! The revolution lives on, and so will all the revolutionaries. The revolutionaries know what is best, those of nobility were oblivious. They only corrupted our lives, they only starved us and killed us! They know nothing! All they did was hoard wealth, land, and power! They only doubted the revolution. If he whom believes in me shall live forever, then he whom doubts me shall die!
They have been put in prison for their crimes against humanity. This is not good enough! They deserve to die! They do not support us therefore they are against us. We cannot let they wreck us like they once did. We need to prevent the falling of the revolution. I bet they are conversing with the royalty as we speak. They are plotting against us, to try to gain power and stop us in our tracks. We cannot let this happen! We have rights! We have equality!
I SAY OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! Royalty shall be abolished, and we shall be free! We will even the ties, we will get our revenge, and pay back what was taken from us. The guillotine is hungry, and we cannot let it starve like we did! Kill those against us and we shall be unstoppable!
RETRIEVE THE BLOOD!

Sans-Culotte (Amy Kulm)

I am a member of the Sans-Culotte. It is September in the year 1792. I am a poor man who grew up in the Parisians slums. My life is full of hardship and a shrinking wallet. Since I am part of the third estate I have to pay taxes. Taxes for things that I will never be able to use such as the Palace of Versailles. I will most likely never step foot in that place, yet my tax dollars was the money that was used to build that ridiculous thing. The court expensive fall onto the citizens of the third estate! The 1st and 2nd estate pay no taxes even though it will be them who will be lounging at the Palace of Versailles, probably while eating bread something that the people of the third estate cannot afford! I love my mother country, France, which is why I must protect it from all the corruptions. Even if it means that people from the 1st and 2nd estate must die. Did they really think that they could just flee away without being punished? You may call me a monster if you wish, but I know what I am, a Patriot.

I paid my price now the clergy and nobles will have to pay their price

Prisoner (Jessie Donegan)
I sit writing this on death row.  I soon face the guillotine, like the hundreds before me.  Who knows how many more will follow.  Innocent people.  "Oppose the revolution," that's what they said we did.  For merely not leading it.  I used to be respected.  I was a noble of the second estate.  Now I cling to my existence in a dingy prison. This Massacre of September is the greatest atrocity I have ever witnesses.  Hundreds of people put t to death.  People with families, husbands, wives, parents, children....  People who will never see them again.  I myself will never see my daughter Annie ever again.  I'm all she has int he world, Lord only knows what will happen to her when I'm gone.  In only a few hours now... I can only hope that someday, people view this for what it is.  Not an act of nobility, but an act of cruelty and barbarity.

Prisoners (Laura Opishinski)

Everyday we hear news of more prisoners being mutilated, raped, and butchered by the mobs of disloyal citizens thirsty for our blood. We rot in our cells, day after day, night after night. When we first head of the attacks, the first being the murder of twenty four priests began transferred to a prison on the 2nd of September, 1792 . Tales of the dead bodies of nobles and priests piled high, disembodied limbs lying in the streets. Myself and the other priests in our prison began devising ways of escape, ways to persuade the angry peasants from murdering us in cold blood. But as the time passed, and news of each murder reached us, each more gruesome and grotesque than the previous, we began to pray to be killed in the least painful way possible. We waited in our prison, like pigs for slaughter in the butcher house. It stank of sweat and blood, a sharp, sour odor. The smell of fear. We heard of the mob courts that took place before the killings, terrifying trials in which the assassins played the judges, donned in bloodied butcher aprons and weapons strapped to their sides. I was desperate for hope, not wanting to believe that I would face such a terrible fate as that of the Princess Mme de Lamballe, a young woman who was raped, mutilated, head cut of and placed on a pike to be paraded around like a trophy stag. The news of what was later known as the "September Massacres," was disgusting and disturbing, but above all, it was petrifying. News of the Convent of Carmelites' priests being murdered reaches us as well. The assassins were known to work in deep, grim silence. Silent as death. I paced my cell for hours every day, to restless to sit still. The day we have been fearing, yet expecting arrives when we hear the shouts of men echoing through the halls, driven by blood lust. I press myself into the corner, desperate not to be seen, to be passed by. A man who reeks of blood an wine opens the door, screaming like a banshee. I watch as he advances towards me,  raises his sword, and swings.

Assignment #2 10/4/2013

From your new perspective post a reaction to the "September Massacres" by Monday 10/7.  Be sure to comment on someone else's perspective (at least twice) by Tuesday 10/8.