2nd Estate by Asiya Falak

We must be brief, as to tend our land takes up much of our lives and dedication. These peasants are absurd upon numerous levels! (Doc. 4.3) Men are not born free; they are born to a family who is decidedly under the influence of another being. And as the nobles, we must be exempted from taxes on the fault of our great influence upon society; who must care for a land of peasants and overlook the inferior class? It is us that provide the third estate protection in a way, as by John Locke’s social contract implies. If the peasants want peace, they must sacrifice some of their rights for protective measures.

            If the peasants seek equality, they must take heed of Voltaire’s teachings: there resides equality before the law, but not equality in classes. (Doc. 4.4) We, the superior powers of Europe, have offered The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which calls for the separation of powers, as proposed by Montesquieu.

            With the Third Estate aside, we’d like to point fingers at our king, the real tyrant. The monarch claims they will become the mighty absolute ruler, but due to the ineffectiveness of our recent kings, there have been suspicions over his legitimacy and the legitimacy of the crown. The queen never shows up for the gatherings, doesn’t speak French, and the king always hides information about where our nonexistent taxes go. The classes are not the enemies; the monarch is. Montesquieu had promoted the Spirit of the Laws in order to prevent tyranny, but we still experience the tyranny from the king. Thus, a revolution must be set!