Francois+Rousseau+Doctor+Vivien

1788, August 12

Dear diary,

today was a quite shocking day, which makes me wonder about the future of the French society.

As a doctor I can see how the people suffer under their situation and how they struggle through their life. However, the current situation of our government does not only affect the others. I also have first-hand experiences of the financial issues. I need to buy new medicine, bandages and other medical stuff to tend my patients, but the money is tight. Even my patients do not have enough money to pay for my service. Every day people come up to me and persuade to treat them for free. Of course I help them, because I can not bear to see these people suffer. However, the problem is that I also have to think about **my wife** and my little son. What shall I do? I am trapped between to worlds.

Thus we are the third class we have to pay the taxes, which are not really easy to settle. Many people can not even buy food, which should be the simplest thing on earth, according to our human rights. However, the harvest was really bad this year, so they had to increase the prices of food.

There is also another big problem that bothers me. Tomorrow the tax collector will come by to collect the remaining taxes. However, thus I can not earn much money I don’t know if I can pay my taxes by tomorrow. Life as a third estate person is really hard, but I can not complain because I know there are people who have it much harder. Fortunately, I know there are a two people who always back me up, my faire love, **Julie**, and my beautiful son, **Louis.** Francois Rousseau

1789, July 20 Dear diary,

eventually another diary entry for nearly one year. Since a few months ago the situation of France changed drastically. The economy and finances got worse and worse. However, my little doctor’s office runs quite well because of the storming of the Bastille. This event caused many injured people and as a result of that I am one of the best doctors in Paris, I have a lot of work. It is quite shocking how the people acted, after Louis XVI fired Jacques Necker. The whole frustration exploded into anger. They were desperate and it about time that the people did something against the bad conditions in France. At this point I thought I would never do anything like this, but my point of view changed only in one day...

Yesterday was very surprising for me because I was asked to appear at the court. It was a strange feeling for me because I did not know what to expect. As soon as the carriage arrived, I took my doctor’s kit with me and jumped into the carriage. Of course I told my wife and my son nothing because I don’t want to worry them. When I sat in the carriage whit my Sunday best, I checked that nobody noticed me jumping in. In front of me sat a prim and proper man with the best cloths I have ever seen. I nodded at him as a greeting and he eyed me suspiciously. When I sat in the swinging carriage, heard the ratting of the hooves and saw the passing trees, I got calmer and calmer. Suddenly the carriage stopped and a very well dressed man opened the door. I walked very slowly out of the carriage and sighted the palace. Another little plump man showed me the way through the place. Figures made of gold and big paintings, which were hung up on the wall, everywhere stood. A friend of the family, **Marie Julie d’Orsay**  popped up and told me that the court doctor was beheaded by the citizens and that the King has a bad cold. I was shocked that they picked me, a modest, third estate man, to treat the King. When I entered the room I thought it was the land of Eldorado. There were cakes, food, water, and wine everywhere. Then I saw him, Louis XVI lay in a big white bed. He was very pale, had dark eye circles and beads of sweat on his forehead. Louis XVI was very relieved to see me and he beckoned me over. I treated him very carefully and gave him his medicine. While I was doing that I looked in his eyes and I could see how much he was bothered by France's and his situation. After I finished my work his servants laid a little purse, with money in it, in my hand.

I left the castle and thought about the things I had seen. I was full of anger because the people of the third estate have nothing to eat and the king can eat whatever he wants. How can he treat us so bad? He was a bloody hypocrite. Suddenly, voices ripped me out of my thoughts. People from the street saw me leaving the castle and screamed at me,:” Traitor!! Traitor!! “. I ran to my to my house, full of fear of what **Marie Julie d’Orsay** told me about the death of the court doctor. **My wife** and my son were standing in the kitchen. Louis ran into my arms and hugged me and so did my wife. It was so nice to have the two most important persons in my arms. In that moment I knew I had to take responsibility for their life and I decided to go to the demonstrations on that evening. I told my wife,:” Hunny, please stay at home with Louis, and if you have to go out please tell me and I will come with you. It is too dangerous out there, people kill each other”. Julie promised me to stay at home. In the evening my best friend, **Francois**, his affaire and I went out on the streets of Paris. We screamed and fought. Thank god that I was not injured or killed by someone. Unfortunately, Francois was injured by a bullet. We went to my office and I treated him. We were glad that the National Assembly fought for our rights and that they decided that the men are all equal in front of the law. Also the government of our country changed. In this night we talked a lot about the future and what was happening now. In the end I hope our revolution will lead us to a fair and better life. How great would life be in a fair and perfect world ?! Francois Rousseau

Dear diary, the last few days were horrible, it started the day before yesterday. **Julie** and I bought a nice meal from the money I earned last month. We bought meat, potatoes and other very expensive food for a nice dinner. I had a half day free and was happy to spend some time with my little son, Louis. While Julie was working in the kitchen, Louis and I went to a nice park in Paris, where we played tag. Some people remembered me as the doctor of King Louis. They eyed me and followed me with every step I did. I felt a bit uncomfortable and wanted to go home as fast as I can. It is very dangerous at the time to be on the streets, because the government draws conclusions against the revolution. When Louis notices that I was nervous, he took my hand and begged me to go home. I gave Louis a piggyback ride because I was scared to lose him in the crowd of people. On the way home we crossed a big meeting place. Louis pointed in the direction and then I saw it. It was not only an assembly or a revolution; it was more like a horrible spectacle. There was a queue of people,who had black sacks on their heads and which were connected with footcuffs. Every one of these men was guided on to the stage. They were laid down on a bench and in less than one second, a sharp knife came down. I was so shocked that I winced for a second and I beard Louis’ eyes.

When we finally arrived home Julie already set the table and we sat down. In the middle of our dinner it knocked on the door. I opened the door and two men were standing in front of me. It was **Pierre de** **Mouet** and **Didier de Chardot**, two noblemen of Paris. They pushed me down on the floor and told me to come with them without opposition. “Hunny, do not worry I am coming back. I will solve this problem,” I screamed into the house, while I was thrown into a black dark carriage. The last sound I heard was my wife and my son screaming and crying. When the horses started walking, I was abruptly thrown in the back of the carriage. I was scared. Especial in this time more than 18.000 people were killed because they were against the government. I did not know what to expect, there were no windows in the carriage and I even did not know anything about these guys. The only clue I had were the sound of the street. I heard many people screaming at the carriage and my fear to be beheaded became stronger and stronger. Suddenly, the carriage stopped and I was pulled out. The first thing I saw was a little old house with little green windows. The men pulled me into the house and walked down circular stairs. When we finally arrived at the basement, they put me into a dark dungeon. A crowd of men dashed against me, but when I explained them that I am only a random prisoner and their friend, Sean, myold good friend, hugged me. I never thought that he would be here. He explained me that we will be sold to soldiers which will receive money for our chopped heads. The problem was that the nobles nearly lost their power and through that their money, so that they had to earn money with little tricks and illegal businesses. When I heard about this, I first thought about our government because many people got beheaded by the government, since Maximilian Robespierre is one of our rulers now. He wanted to change the government in a good way, but all that happen was that he and his allied had the power now. Robespierre is a scary man, we never know for what he is fighting for. Either he fights for the public safety or for his power because everybody who turns against the government will be beheaded. But is the government so corrupt, that they take money for people to kill? Francois ripped me out of my thoughts. He squeezed my arm and told me that someone is coming down the stairs and that we have to be quite. I sat down and looked on the floor, but suddenly I heard a wonderful and a well-known voice. It was my beautiful wife; she opened the door and took me and Francois with her.

We ran as fast as we could and at the next corner we met Mona, the wife of Francois. As we fought our way through the crowd, I noticed my good old friend. Could also flee and he was demonstrating against the new government, but suddenly I saw a soldier throwing him on the ground and screaming,” Enjoy your last days on earth”. This scene was like slow motion for me, but the hard thing was I could not intervene. However, if I would have intervened, I would probably sit under the guillotine too. Julie pulled me on my arm and I was back in real life. We ran back to our house and finally when we arrived I collapsed. The situation was too much for me.

And now the government under Maximilian Robespierre becomes nearly the same than without the revolution. Many innocent people were killed because of their different views of life. It is solely a massacre. We, the citizen are pressurized by the government and that it is called public safety???

Francois Rousseau

1815, August 30 Dear diary, Today was the worst day of my entire life. The day started very normal. I went to my little office and started working. The number of injured people decreased in the last few years because the government changed and through that the revolution stopped abruptly. According to my opinion the revolution did not really change everything because now we have the same government again. Napoleon Bonaparte is now the ruler of France and has the absolute power. He is not only an absolute ruler; he is also a determined commander. However I quite like him because he stopped the horrible revolution in France. Through his appearance the whole attitude of France changed. The revolution and the associated situation in France was unbearable, too many innocent people diet through this horrible scenario. Napoleon is the man who finally made us, the citizen, proud of our country. He fights for our country and is notorious for his cleverness. The whole economy and the culture changed rapidly since Bonaparte rules our country. Now we have a reason to be proud to be French. Till yesterday…

Yesterday morning Didier de Chardot knocked at my door and screamed that I should open the door. When I opened the door he told me that his wife, Mary du Champagne, is in labor and I should come quickly to their house. I took my doctor’s kit with me and we ran together through the streets, till we reached a little house near the border of Paris. Even from outside I was able to hear Mary screaming. When I entered I saw Marry lying in the bed, she was sweated and was totally exhausted. Didier screamed: “ Hunny the doctor is here, everything is going to be fine”. I told marry that she has to come down and that the baby was nearly there. To my surprise was marry pregnant with twins. After few hours two pretty babies were born on this lovely day. Didier and Marry were so thankful that they gave me 5 Lièvre. When I went home I was so proud that I helped two little humans to be on this world. I was so excited to tell my wife how much money these nice people gave me.

When I opened the door my wife bumped crying into my arms. She hold a letter in her hands but I was so shocked that I didn’t realize what happened. Since my son Louis enlisted himself, I was scared that this day will ever come. We sat down and I brought her a glass of water. She couldn’t talk she only stuttered a few words. At this point everything was clear and I wept bitterly. Our son Louis was dead. He died in the battle of Waterloo. The battle of Waterloo was too high for Napoleon and his troops. Whole Europe fought against Napoleon and he acted to irresponsible to think he will be the winner of this battle. This day was the worst day of our entire life. Louis was the most valuable piece in our life. I remembered the nice moments had when he was little, when we played tag in the park or every time he ran into my arms when I came back from work. We will never forget him. I’m so angry. My son died in a battle which was foredoomed to fail. Of course was Napoleon a big and useful milestone for the French people but he had also his bad sides. Next week they will bury him at a special memorial place. Louis we will never forget you. We love you !!!

Francois Rousseau