Student Question
Who was Jean Paul Marat during the French Revolution and why was he significant?
Quick answer:
Jean Paul Marat was a prominent figure during the French Revolution, known for his radical journalism and extreme revolutionary views. Originally a scientist and doctor, he shifted to political activism, becoming a vocal critic of the aristocracy and power structures. His writings, which included reports on assemblies and political commentaries, made him a target, leading to periods of hiding. Marat's assassination by a Girondin sympathizer underscored his contentious influence.
Jean Paul Marat was a scientist and a journalist who'd been popular with the aristocracy as a doctor and examiner but then he threw in his lot with the revolution just before the people rose up and began to be one of the most extreme voices on the part of the revolutionaries.
He began to report on the assemblies and their rumblings and even reached out to compose commentaries on the English constitution and other political ideas under consideration by the revolutionaries.
He continued to attack almost anyone who gained power and remained a radical voice for the people, often finding himself in such danger because of his outspoken nature that he would go into hiding for extended periods of time to avoid attacks on his person.
He was eventually killed by an assassin as he was taking a bath, an agent for the Girondins, one of the families that Marat had attacked in his writings.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.