Analysis Of Burke's Reflection On The French Revolution

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Throughout Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke discusses his opposition towards the French Revolution. Throughout Burke’s thoughts on the revolution, he compares the revolution itself to the theater. He goes on to explain the way in which each major “actor” within the revolution could represent the actors within the theatre. He explains that although the things we see, as an audience, are fictitious. However, the events of the revolution are real and seem like something that you might see in the theater. This is just a small view of Burke’s political views as a whole and his views on the revolution. Burke viewed the revolution as “the most astonishing that has hitherto happened in the world.” In the opening paragraph …show more content…

In the reflection, Burke says, “Everything seems out of nature in this strange chaos of levity and ferocity, and of all sorts of crimes jumbled together with all sorts of follies” of the revolution. Burke truly believes that if we go against nature, we go against our ancestors and as Burke points out “people will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.” Burke goes on to explain the way in which we should look towards our history to guide us towards the future, referring to …show more content…

The Reflections themselves cannot be read as history, but rather as a work of theory. Throughout the Reflections, Burke states that the French Revolution would end in failure due to its abstract foundations and the way it ignored the complexities of human nature and society. As a Whig, Burke argues in favor of a divinely appointed monarchy and that people have no right to revolt against an oppressive government. However, he argues in favor of private property and tradition. He cites the Declaration of Right and inherited rights and by contrast the enforcing of abstract rights that might waiver and be subject to change based on the currents of political change. Burke calls on constitutional rights and specific rights against oppression. Burke goes on to correctly predict the way in which the Revolution would bring about an army that would be mutinous and full of small factions and that a “popular general” would become “master of your assembly and master of the whole republic.” Napoleon does just that two years after Burkes

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