French Nobility Essay Example

to icissitude, on account of the particular liberty that God has given them for good and for evil, they nevertheless cannot exist without order" (17).

Order gives the whole French population a purpose within society and hierarchical position, which can be broken down simplistically into clergy, nobility, and commoners. Although the three Estates provide an idealistic order, this order does create unity and give every individual a concise place within the French society for the first time. Loyseau also criticizes the third Estate for being considered undignified and merely a definition of heir occupation, although it did give commoners a greater power.

On the other hand, Isabelle de Charriere describes the French nobility in the Nobleman with scathing satire. The author uses Julia, the daughter of Baron d' Aronville, as a fictitious weapon to portray the dwindling honor of the noble title. Charriere uses her talented writing to show her frustration in being "confined by the prejudices and lifestyle of her moribund aristocratic family' (36). Charriere depicts the life of Baron d' Aronville as "exceedingly sensible of the value of this ancientrY' and having no ther values (36).

This short excerpt from the Nobleman brings to light the change in attitude on nobility between the different generations through time. Loyseau and Charriere use theyre writing to depict to the reader that privileged positions in society can be warranted, but also abused and misused at the same time. Loyseau criticizes the order for allowing no social change among estates, and limited mobility within there own hierarchical group. Loyseau does not take a stance between the first two Estates and the third Estate.

With the noble status,

the French tate gives the nobles privileges based on honorable rank. All nobles must fght in the military and give their lives for the defense of their nation, but in return they do not pay taxes and are seen as the protectors of the people. "It is certainly a very reasonable privilege that those who contribute their lives for the defense of the state be exempt from contributing their goods" (20). Loyseau shows the privileges of all orders letting the reader understand politics and their society during this time.

In Charriere excerpt from The Nobleman, the use of satire helps the audience nderstand that privileges can allow for a person to take advantage of a situation or ofa person who does not hold the same privileges. The Baron d'Aronville is a good example of what happens to privileges when they have been in the family for generations. Old Aristocratic families only hold there ancientry dear to them because it legitimizes there nobility. Julia, unlike her father, never "consulted Patents of Nobility' and wants nothing to do with her noble heritage or rank.

She also "would rather have been thought plebeian than proud" (37). Although ancientry gives people recognition and a title, Charriere reveals that the "most recent nobility is the best" because he works the hardest to maintain the title he has won (38). By using fiction and satire Charriere is clearly able to show the decay of ancient nobles and the misuse of privileges. When Loyseau discusses the basic orders in society, the only way to improve positions and privileges is through honor and merit. Honor and merit are used in the French state

to implore valor, push citizens to act appropriately, and not be corrupt.

Merit can be obtained by showing excellence in battle, politics, or can be given to you by the king or prince. The nobility uses honor to maintain stability and award people for there excellence. In Charriere's the Nobleman honor and merit are not brought up, but it is visible to see that it would be similar to that of Loyseau. Charriere uses the Baron d' Aronville and Julia in her book as opposites to show the changing attitude towards nobility. The Baron d' Aronville believes in the honor his ancestors have given him, and that honor was his name.

The Baron has not tried to become honorable for himself, but instead uses his title to stay on top and brings about meaningless lawsuit, like the "right to hang malefactors upon his property' (36). On the other side, Julia rebuffed the Baron's ideas of honor in the family name and tries to create her own honor. After reading and interpreting Loyseau and Charriere books, one can finally appreciate the French nobility during the seventeen and eighteenth century and understand why the French Revolution began. It is interesting that Loyseau and

Charriere share similar views about the French nobility, even though they are from different centuries. Loyseau evaluates the three orders and shows how they are used in society, whereas Charriere shows how the old nobility lacks honor. The differences in there writing can be accounted by the fact that Charriere is writing from a women's prospective and one hundred year later than Loyseau. It is not surprising that families who have had generations of

noble birth are less active or even corrupt then nobles who are finally granted nobility status.