Pearl

Name: Alexander Henry Rotterdam

Age: 25 years old

Gender: Male

Occupation: English Writer living in France

Social Class: Middle Class

Financial situation: Quite Wealthy frrom publishing books.

Appearance: Well dressed, clean, looks like a gentlemen. I have brown shoulder length curly hair, turqoise green eyes, skinny, 6feet 1 inches tall.

Daily routine: I travel around France to both rural and urban places, observing and writing about the lives of the French and their society. At night, I would beg pardon to spend the night with a family and communicate with the local families about their lives. Before I go to bed each night, I always record my travel experiences so that once my time in France has ended, I can publish it as a book.

Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: I am very observative and even the most minor things, I would be interested. As a writer who writes from experience, I have learned to dettach myself from the reast of the world so I can look at it as an outsider. I am also very patient and this is probably why it would take approximately 5 years or so to to publish a single book because I will not accept my writing being written poorly. I also tend to have good manners because ever since I was a kid, I have been taught to have manners and respect everyone equally.

Past/individual-family history: My family lives in England and my parents currently own a shoe shop. I have only recently come to France, intially to write about the financial issues France is having at the moment. But I have come to notice that the royal debt is not the only problem France is facing.

Family: 2 younger sisters, ages 5 and 8. 3 brothers, ages 19,22,23

Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): As a travelling writer, I encounter many things everyday. Sometimes, I would interact with the lower class citizens and at other times with those of higher class. With the lower class citizens, life seems very tough about them, when I walk into a village, everyone is hard working, trying to survive each day. They would offer me some food but hardly any for they don't have even have enough for their own families. On the other hand, I would often beg pardon of those higher class families for a night's stay, and there, I was served very differently. People were dressed in fine materials and ate nutritious food. This made me realise the unfairness of the organization of the society; the Ancien Regime. I realised this was the biggest issue in France. Whilst the majority of the population of france, somewhat 25 million people are living in great poverty and low standard of living, the remaining 2% consists of the Clergy and the Nobility, living off the tax the 3rd estate pays. Over the last few weeks, I have encountered many protests regarding this issue, primarily the 3rd estate citizens are longing for a change. I think unless this unfair society comes to equality for all citizens, it will face consequences.

Religion: Atheist

Education: Attended and graduated from the University of Literature in London, England.

Style of speaking in France: I can speak French fluently and do so in an educated manner. I am capable of talking in many different styles, it all varies according to who it is that I'm taking to.

Languages you speak: Latin, French

Main privileges and/or conflicts: Being a writer earns immediate respect and honour, most people would allow me to stay at their home for a night. Recieved many offers to teach English at Catholic Churches: at times I was bribed with exemptions from paying certain taxes.The French government does not like foreign people to come to France, making records of the events happening in France. I know a friend who has actually been beaten by a group of soldiers sent by the toyal government for condeming their country's reputation.

Portrait : This is me


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 May 5th 1789 Tuesday  It’s finally happening! The revolution, the change, the ancient regime is finally coming to an end! Oh I am blessed to be in this period of great change for the people of France, after years of inequality and flawed society, positive change is finally occurring! It is truly amazing that the citizens of France have finally held their guts in the sky and rebelled against the corrupt society. The 3rd estates have finally, stood up.  Over the last week or so, I have been staying with an old lawyer named Sir Antoine and his family, in a town south of Paris. Sir Antoine is a great man; he is an honored lawyer with reputations for his honesty. Some even say he is the only lawyer in all of France who pays all the profligate taxes like any other 3rd estate citizen! I really respect him for I haven’t encountered a man with money with such pure heart. Anyway, today, just like any other day, I took off early in the morning after being served by the servant, some eggs and toast. I headed to St Louisiana Church square; the ground where all sorts of people meet to establish a society. Observing the fiasco around, I always find it so frustrating to see customers arguing with the shop keepers because of the disagreement caused by the different measuring systems. I believe this is where the government laws benefit the people; union of all measuring systems would contribute to the efficiency of France’s economy and also would beneficial for everyone’s convenience. But I suppose they are too busy making their lives as extravagant and spendthrift as they can, with money stained of blood and sweat of the peasants. I heard that King Louis XVI had a grandiose party for the opening ceremony of Saint-Emilion Castle and it’s always a wonder how he affords them. Already, France has a huge royal debt aged over a hundred years yet they constantly borrow more and more money each year. And because of this growing debt, the government increases and introduces new taxes, which leads to suffering of the 3rd estate. This society is corrupt in too many ways; I’m worried it can’t be solved.  Anyway, after a long day of observation, I headed back to Sir Antoine’s place in order to record my watching. But before I could even take off my shoes, Sir Antoine came rushing to the door and anxiously said: “we did it!” of course, as exhausted as I was, I did not think much of it. I thought he was probably talking about winning a case at trial but to my shock, it was a much heavier issue; Sir Antoine and his fellow representatives of the 3rd estate council, has finally rebelled against the traditional one estate one vote voting system, refusing to discuss anything as a separate group at the estates general meeting. This unwarranted system of voting is the reason behind inequality amongst the three estates. If it was a one man one vote system, it is possible that change arise for the better for the 3rd estate citizens. As of now, I realized that the majority of French citizens are living in poverty where they survive day by day with so little to eat, clothe and shelter. The 3rd estate has to pay most of the taxes, say for Sir Antoine; more than 17% of his yearly income is paid as taxes. Moreover, the 3rd estate has absolutely no power, privileges or influences at all so with all the tax they are paying, they have no say. Even Sir Antoine, he is wealthy and honoured for his talents yet he is not given any political power or influence just for the fact that he is a 3rd estate citizen. But today, people have at last revolted against this old system of voting and perhaps, this may be it, no matter what consequences lye ahead, whether positive or negative, I think that the fact that 3rd estate citizens are at last speaking up for their rights is a very, very positive occurrence. The deputies of the 3rd estate has created "The National Assembly" in which anyone could join.  I’m extremely tired and my stomach is grumbling but I just can’t rest my eyes without having to wake up two seconds later, anxious about what is going to happen next. Is this really going to be the beginning of equality of all men in France and the end of the ancient regime? If not, what is going to happen...? I am both excited and worried but tomorrow, I will head to the square again and perhaps find out more about what happened today. I can’t believe it, change, really is on its way...  Alexander Rotterdam
 * Dear Diary **


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June 10th 1789  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">Saturday <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO"> Today yet again I was at St. Louisiana Church Square; nothing has really changed in the market place. Shop keepers trying to settle their prices with the buyers, maids running about buying food for supper and vendor’s children getting told off for sneaking away with an apple or two; just like the usual. But at noon, I encountered a man named Emmanuel Bagley <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">; a member of the Clergy. I was sitting down in front of the Fontarie <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">f ountain when <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">someone tapped me on <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">my back. The corner of my eyes caught a glimpse of <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">a pair of well polished, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO"> black leather shoes. Curiously, I turned around to find a well dressed man standing before me. Straight away, I could tell he was a member of the Clergy with them fancy suites, well combed hair and bold posture. He looked <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">firmly down on me as I was sitting. I must say him being a Clergy; he did not have a very good impression on me. During my stay in France, I have noticed the unfair system of the ancient regime and how the Clergy and Nobility do nothing for the citizens of France other than making their <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">own lives as flourishing as possible. They found sneaky ways to be exempt from paying taxes, living in luxury whilst the rest of the country lives in poverty and destitute. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">They also had their own set of laws in which had positive benefits towards them. For a moment, there was silence. I looked into his eyes but there was no eye contact, his eyes were glaring at my notebook in which I was writing in. I abruptly closed my book and stood up to ask him who he was. He introduced himself in an educated, well mannered tenor and greeted me with a <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO"> bow. Pointing at my <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">note book, he asked me what I was holding. I immediately stashed it away in my bag and told him it was nothing as I know <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">often the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">Clergy and Nobility are against <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">writers writing about their society; I was afraid he was going to ask for my book. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">He constantly pleaded me to tell him what it was I was doing and in the end, I gave in and told him that I’m a writer, writing about the French society. He glanced back and forth for several minutes, looking at me one minute then my book the other. His wide, bulging eyes of fascination were so irresistible. I swear, his eyes were so intimidating; demanding me to tell him more about my book. I told him some of my observations about the French Society like unfair taxation on the 3rd estates. To my surprise, he agreed on most of my ideas and claimed that he too, thought the French society was severely corrupt. I was astounded because I thought the Clergy and the Nobility would have nothing to complain about their society with the luxurious and comfortable life it offered them! <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">After a while, we were discussing with such eager that we had not realized how loud we were speaking because when we finally came to our senses, we had a whole crowd of audience in front of us! <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">Anyway, whilst talking to Sir Emmanuel, I felt that he was different; he actually seemed interested in the lives of the people of France. As I told him my story from my stay with a 3rd estate family a couple of weeks ago, he seemed shocked at what low living standard of living they were living in. I actually showed him my observation notebook and he seemed particularly interested yet taken aback at how the family’s income was spent and how they were taxed on almost everything. Reading through my book, he admitted that he was ashamed of the royal government of how foolishly they wasted tax money. He said he could not have known in his dreams the extent of unfairness the 3rd estate citizens has to endure. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">After a moment of silently reading through my book, he turned to me and said he wanted to help the 3rd estate fight for their equality. I appreciated him willing to be a part of bringing change to the society however I thought at first that he was just too over whelmed and his willingness was only going to last a short phase. But I was wrong; this man really wanted to help. He even said the Church is a corrupt place where religion does not actually seem to be the primary concern; they were more interested in getting more money, owning more land and just continuously breeding their unquestionable powers. He spoke to me full of embarrassment and guilt of how their title brings so many privileges like exemptions from paying tax, yet these privileges are not justified. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">When I was absolutely sure that this man is going to live up to his words; I told him there was someone I wanted him to meet, it was Sir Antoine. Together, still discussing, we walked back to Sir Antoine’s house in excitement. Sir Antoine’s family, I and Sir Emmanuel all had dinner together with beer cups clinking every second, filling the room with laughter of joy. In fact, Sir Antoine and Sir Emmanuel are still downstairs in the living room with a glass of scotch in their hands, discussing about the complaints list that were drawn up weeks before, they say over 60, 000 complaints lists were drawn up from the 3 estates. 60, 000 complaint lists; that surely proves that the people are France are not happy. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO">I know that many members of the Clergy like Sir Emmanuel have realized and recognized this corrupt society and have joined the 3rd estate in The National Assembly. According to Sir Antoine, there have been small, secret meetings of the National Society over the past few weeks since the 3rd estate deputies showed an act of defiance against the king at the first meeting of the Estates General. I heard that there is a major meeting for this new convention on June 19th to welcome members of the Clergy and everyone is really excited and thrived by this period of such enlightenment! King Louis XVI has warned the 3rd estate to defy him no longer but an indecisive and introverted King he is, he will most definitely fail in bringing down The National Assembly because the 3rd estates have waited much too long for equality and they can not and will not let all this shatter to failure.

Alexander Rotterdam

<Diary Entry 3>

Dear Diary 12th July 1789 Tuesday Oh my oh my, God forgive me for thinking that the revolution was done and over with! So much has happened since the great National Assembly was established and now, something extremely terrible is going to happen! I am worried, oh how terrified I am. Setting up the National Assembly was a great victory for the third estate but a defeat for the King of France; the absolute monarch King Louis XVI. Well, actually, I would no longer refer to him as an absolute monarch because he is losing his powers; his words are no longer law. But Louis’ falling powers have encouraged him to enforce violence to break up the National Assembly! Hell with this! After all the years of grievance and injustice before the National Assembly, the people of France are not going to let this happen. Oh let me calm down for I am still trembling from recalling scenes I saw earlier today. Rumors were spreading throughout Paris that King Louis; in order to restore his lost control and power, sent royal troops to Paris “keep order” but everyone knew they were sent to break up the National Assembly. So since Sunday, citizens of Paris have been hovering all over collecting as much weapon as they could to defend themselves against the King’s troops. Until here, it can be considered peaceful. But today, the citizens took this matter to its zenith; violence finally broke out. Blood was everywhere! Revenge, hatred and death had doomed over the Bastille. Parisians have always hated the Bastilles for its torture chambers and stinking dungeons where prisoners of the crown were sent by sealed letters. It was crazy, never have I seen such a scene! Sir Antoine’s residence is not far from the Bastilles so when I received news about the riot at the Bastille, without even thinking, I just ran out with my quilt in one hand and my observation notebook in the other. And before I knew it, I was making quick steps to the Bastilles. Before I even got to the Bastilles, I could hear from a long way cannons being shot and buildings being torn down. When I finally arrived there, no one was at the Bastille but the place was a mess. Oh, but the cannon shots I heard ealier turned out to be false shots to threaten the governor that they will blow down the gates of the Bastille if they don’t surrender. I am assuming the governor gave in and surrendered because the drawbridge was down. In the courtyards were dead guards everywhere, brutally stabbed or shot to death. I stood in the courtyard amongst about 70 bodies of guardsmen, unable to take in what has happened. I did not have the courage to actually go inside but seeing what the crowd can do to so many guards in an open area, I can imagine the brutality when inside a closed area. I do not know if it was because of all the dead bodies but I felt somewhat sympathetic toward the guards. Yes, I did feel empathy for the crowd; I mean after how unfairly they have been treated for so long; such will of revenge may be provoked. However, I think it was extremely immoral and inhumane for the Parisians to have convicted such violence! The most horrifying thing was when dark came, the crowd put the heads of the head guards on spears and put hair on fire, parading it around the Bastille until the head itself turned into ashes...so now what? Are ashes of guardsmen’s head going to solve all problems in this corrupt society of France? Now that the 3rd estates have gained more say and fair treatment, they should take this as an opportunity to work with the rulers of France for having conformed ideas rather than taking it as an advantage to be more rebellious. Alexander Rotterdam