The fall of the Bastille has been one of the most significant events that started the French Revolution. Till this day, France celebrates the Bastille Day, also known as the French National Day, every year on July 14. People come together and countless ceremonies and parades are held during the day. In the article entitled "On the Taking of the Bastille and Its Aftermath", Edward Rugby discusses the remarkable series of events through his eyes. His letters focuses on the third estate's hardships and behaviors toward their rulers, which in my opinion, is similar to today's society. This essay will emphasize on the happenings at the Palais Royal, the fall of The Bastille, specifically the escape of the prisoners, and the arrival of the King.
On July 13, 1789, in search for weapons and gunpowder for a planned attack, the inhabitants headed to the Bastille. But because the governor of the prison refused to provide them the weapons, the institution got attacked until they surrendered. Rugby then realized the prison was defeated when people came swarming in the direction of the Palais Royal. Curious as he was, he ran with the crowd to see the people celebrating the forfeit of The Bastille. He describes this moment as a "joyful" event, but then suddenly noticed two bloody heads raised on pikes, which were the heads of two men in the opposing party. "It was a chilling and horrid sight! An idea of savageness and ferocity was impressed on the spectators, and instantly checked those emotions of joy which had before prevailed" (Rugby, 338). One similar recent case in Quebec was the kidnapping of the minister of labor of Quebec and a British trade commissioner by the FLQ in 1970. When the minister of Canada refused to give the FLQ's wants, they preceded torturing one of the victims until his eventual death. Many, if not all, French people were petrified and disgusted with the FLQ's actions.