Why was olympe de gouges guillotined?
Olympe de Gouges was born in 1748 in the southwest of France. During the French Revolution, her role as a playwright and outspoken political activist led her into trouble with the volatile French regime. She was finally executed in 1793, the regime no longer tolerating her various points of view.WritingDuring the 1780s, Olympe de Gouges began to write essays and plays of an increasingly socio-political nature. Her works began to make her a notable figure during a time of great political tension.Political StanceOlympe de Gouges became involved with Girondists, a French political faction during the revolution. The Girondists were hated by Maximilien Robespierre, the man who would rise in power during the “Reign of Terror.”Women’s RightsDe Gouges was a continually striving for gender equality. Her 1791 work, the “Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen,” was a direct attack upon male authority–her feminist ideals made her more enemies in France.Defense of the KingIn 179
