The French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities and the Libyan Revolution are more different than similar.
It is different because of the incredible censorship of information that occurred in Libya. While during the French Revolution newspapers were independent of the government and were free to print whatever they felt necessary. However, the Libyan newspapers and internet were censored to the point that it was very hard to know what was actually going on in the country. In a world filled with technology it almost strikes pity in my heart to know that the people who participated in the French Revolution were more able to communicate and deliver news to the world than the people living in Libya, in a time where technology is so advanced that news can travel in a matter of nanoseconds from one country to the other.
However, one similarity can be found and that is the motivation to revolt. Both countries were subject to absolute rulers/dictators that oppressed their people harshly.
The success of both these revolutions were great successes in history that continue to influence the modern world today.
Good point about freedom of newspapers. Might governments today have taken lessons from past revolutions being spurred by the press. Also, I wonder if there were similar "messengers" that risked their lives to cross borders as in the case of ATTC.
ReplyDeleteThe Moroccan Revolution
ReplyDeleteThough the Moroccan and French revolutions took place in different time periods and countries, they in actuality are strikingly similar.
For instance, both of these revolutions were spurred by another. Just as the Moroccans were influenced by the events in Tunisia and Egypt, the American Revolution inspired a large amount of the French population. Anger was taken to the streets in both countries as people gathered in mobs, protests, and riots to show their frustration with the governments structure. Both revolutions were initiated with the hope that their rulers be constrained and the government reformed. Prior to its revolution, Morocco was described as "where modernity collides with religious tradition," and to have problem such as "poverty, illiteracy and corruption." We see these characteristics in France prior to and during the revolution especially through the literary text of A Tale of Two Cities. This work, complimentary of the time, sheds light on the troubles of the French revolution that just so happen to be factors in the more recent Moroccan revolution. Dickens addresses conflicts such as the view of religion through characters such as Cruncher and poverty through the identification, seclusion, and actions of social classes. An example of this social class struggle in ATTC is the wine spilling in the streets and the use of it as a writing utensil to inscribe the word blood for all to see. Finally, corruption, a large contributor to the Moroccan revolution, played a large role in the French revolution as exemplified in ATTC. Dickens expresses the magnitude of this particular issue by making it a main underlying theme throughout the entire novel.
Making this connection is important to understanding the similarity of these two revolutions as well as several others. This demonstrates the corresponding causes of revolutions that connect the entire world in there efforts for justice and a reasonable and responsible government as well as several other important issues.
Source: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/21/moroccos_moderate_revolution?page=0,0
In Libya military was originally used for the best of intentions, until chaos broke loose and people start revolting.The government has no influence on the people and militia only retain power because of their machinery. As militias fight for power, arms, and supplies they are destroying their nation. The countries leader Muammar el-Qaddafi’s downfall is seen as the only way to bring peace and prosperity back to to the country. The government only sustains as much power as any other militia. Havoc enses as military leader step up and are shot down in competition. The country was beig so divided that a civil war ensued. Many problems are caused by the lack of money, but the over abundance of oil and not knowing where it should go. This is revolution is similar to the French Revolution because the government in loss of control, the uprise and downfall in leadership, and the lack of supplies. In the French revolution leaders like the Jacobins(similar to the Jacques in ATTC as a French revolutionary group), the san-culottes, and other groups were all trying to reform the government by taking over. Similar to the mass murders of the the officials in Libya is like the officials in France being sent to the guillotine. The lack of resources is similar as well, by the governments starving the people.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/world/africa/libyas-new-government-unable-to-control-militias.html?pagewanted=all