umarchais story does not call for a complete overhaul of the social structure. Figaro (who represents Beaumarchais in real life,) is an opportunist. Being a member of the bourgeoisie, he did enjoy some privileges and was not readily willing to give those up. Beaumarchais was only asking that the rights of the aristocracy be more reasonable and they be given less power, but of course he still wants to remain as far as he can above the peasantry. One final note of interest about Beaumarchais; he did include some hints towards the rights of women, which was extremely rare for this time. In the play Suzanne sings, Let a husband break his vows, its just a joke the world allows- But should a wife like freedom take, the world will punish her mistake. The strong it is for all they say, who in the end will have their way (Beaumarchais 217). The third author to have an impact was Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes with his persuasive pamphlet entitled What is the Third Estate? This pamphlet appeared in early 1789, a year in which many important events significant to the revolution occurred. The pamphlet ultimately protests that the current state of the estates general was unfair. The third estate should have at least an equal vote if not more than the other estates. The pamphlet ultimately leads to the transfer from the estates general to the national assembly (Sieyes 230).Sieyes pamphlet has three main objectives. The first one is to define the third estate. Sieyes describes the third estate as those who perform the labors which sustain society. The main point behind this definition is that the third estate could exist as a complete nation without the other two estates. It makes up 19/20 of the entire population, but has very little say if any in the estates general. Sieyes summarizes his first point by restating the title of his pamphlet with a firm reply, What is the third estate? Everything!, (Sieyes 231-2).In the second point, Sieyes states the demands ...
