Marie Antoinette - Quotes, Facts, Pictures And Musical

by chefkeem

Read about Marie Antoinette quotes and facts along with historic pictures, video and info on the hit-musical by Michael Kunze.

The Queen was an easy target (she was beautiful, rich and care-free), but mainly for the enemies of the French monarchy. Her influence on the King and his decision makers was rather meaningless. She did, however, represent the reigning nobility, if only in the eyes of the people. And we know how people are. Just listen to the brainless parroting of right-wing talking points by Tea Partiers...

The Queen of France was executed by guillotine, but...

what else do we know about Marie Antoinette?

Marie Antoinette executionWe know the end...but what had happened before the beheading of the Queen of France, on October 16, 1793? Well, the French Revolution, right? People were enraged by excesses at the French Court, while poverty and disease destroyed the lives of the common folk. Marie Antoinette was blamed for the cost of numerous wars, for disastrous foreign policy decisions, and for her supposedly frivolous lifestyle. Not much of this was accurate. Although there was definitely a huge gap between rich and poor, and the luxuries of the French Court ripped big holes into the coffers of the treasury...the greatest waste of taxpayer money was, as usual, caused by the Pentagon. Or whatever they called their military-industrial complex, back then.

 

Let them eat cake!

Marie Antoinette quotes

When it became known that the people could not afford to buy bread anymore, Marie Antoinette supposedly replied: "Let them eat cake!" However, this quote stems from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Confessions", which were published in 1766 when Marie Antoinette was only 10 years old. Most likely, he referred to a different "princess".

Marie Antoinette with childrenWhat she did say was, "It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness." 

When presented with a plan to escape from the Tower, the Queen replied: "I could not have any pleasure in the world if I abandoned my children." 

Moments before the execution, a priest reminded her: "This is the moment, Madame, to arm yourself with courage." (Easy for him to say!) Marie Antoinette answered, "Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?" 

(Source of quotes) 

The REAL Marie Antoinette

A magnificent novel by Stefan Zweig
Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman (Grove...
Grove Press
$4.41  $31.6

Marie Antoinette - The Movie

Instant video download from Amazon! Directed by Sofia Coppola; starring Kirsten Dunst and Marianne Faithful
Marie Antoinette
Only $4.99

Marie Antoinette - on the musical theatre stage

The European hit musical by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay

Dr. Michael Kunze is the most successful musical author in the history of the German musical theatre.

His drama musicals ELISABETH, MOZART!, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, REBECCA, and MARIE ANTOINETTE  have conquered the hearts of millions all over Europe and Asia. 

REBECCA will start its Broadway run on April 22, 2012. 

The story of the Queen of France was on his mind for a long time, but he could never envision a powerful, dramatic structure behind the historical events.

The main characters were simply too boring for the theater. On the obvious surface, nobody really changed.

Kunze was enthralled by Stefan Zweig's novel, but the final push to creating a dramatic musical came from a Japanese book that introduced a crucial character to the ensemble: a peasant girl leading the fight against the nobility.

Now Michael had found his protagonist, and he named her Margrid Arnaud. The Queen and Margrid were of the same age; both wanted to help the poor - but from a completely different operational standpoint.

Needless to say, at first they were enemies.

Toward the end of the drama, when they get to know each other better, Margrid and Marie Antoinette discover their similarities and their common humanity.

They both change and become better persons through their experiences with each other.

What an amazing drama, and how much we can learn from it for our current state of polarized pigheadedness in our world!  

Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette Musical
Marie Antoinette Musical
Margrid Arnaud
Margrid Arnaud
Michael Kunze
Michael Kunze

Learn more about Michael Kunze's work

Check out his drama masterclass

The Musical Marie Antoinette (Theatrical Trailer)

Only in German, so far...
Updated: 11/19/2012, chefkeem
 
Thank you! Would you like to post a comment now?
5

Please share your thoughts on Marie Antoinette's story...

Only logged-in users are allowed to comment. Login
DerdriuMarriner on 10/16/2018

chef keem, Thank you for the biography and the video. It's particularly effective since the filming is so well done, dark enough to feel like a theatre but with enough light for effective contrast of body language, dress and faces. Is Axel Ferson included in the cast of characters?

You might also like

Thinking about Naledi

The new discoveries in the Rising Star cave in South Africa arouse questions ...

Shipwreck: the Edmund Fitzgerald

Besides the song Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, there's so much more about t...


Disclosure: This page generates income for authors based on affiliate relationships with our partners, including Amazon, Google and others.
Loading ...
Error!