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Marie Antoinette Facts

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Marie Antoinette, a young and hated queen, ruled France in the beginning of the French Revolution. There has been many books, articles, documentaries, and movies that interpret Marie Antoinette’s life. An example of a movie is the 2006 Hollywood drama Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst. What many people wonder is if the movies, books, and documentaries stay along with what really happened in history. After watching the Hollywood movie and reading books about Marie Antoinette, someone can conclude that the movie stuck with true, historical events most of the duration of the movie but, in some places of the movie, the events that were shown were untrue. To get understanding of the movie, you have to look back and see what events were happening …show more content…

For example, the marriage between Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI was solely to ensure a political alliance between the countries of France and Austria was highlighted in the beginning of the movie. Also, the movie highlighted the hatred and suspicion between the population of France and Marie. During Marie’s stay, both the movie and historical events touched on Marie’s disdain and lack of knowledge on French etiquette and customs at the palace. When the movie showed Marie singing, they interpreted it show the musical talent Marie has due to the way she was educated. Another key example of the similarities between the movie and historical events was the pressure everyone was giving Marie to produce an heir. Everyone was getting suspicious and mad at the lack of heirs so late in a marriage. Another true fact that was both in the movie and in history was Marie’s affair with the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen. It is not said in the movie but Marie did have two illegitimate children with the Swedish Count. The movie was also correct when they added the death of King Louis XV from smallpox. The movie was correct when they added the French help in the American Revolutionary War. Louis first was against the idea, but his advisors convinced him to send funds to America to show the strength of France. The movie was also correct when saying that Marie’s first child was a girl named Marie Therese after her …show more content…

For example, Marie and King Louis did not first meet in the woods. Historians couldn’t find evidence of the letters Maria Theresa sent to Marie, pressuring her to seduce King Louis XVI. When the mob came to the Palace of Versailles, only women were there, the movie showed both men and women. The movie also didn’t mention that Marie fled the palace disguised at Madame de Tourzel’s chambermaid. The king being discovered during his escape and the family having to turn back was not mentioned in the movie. Both Marie and Louis XVI were executed by the guillotine. Marie’s execution is known as one of the most famous events in the French Revolution was not mentioned in the movie either. These were a few prime examples of the Hollywood movie productions adding and subtracting vital information to movies so that the movie can pass in the box

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