PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS AND PUBLIC JOY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (1788–91)

mutiara nurmala sari;

very few studies have focused on the history of the emotions in relation to politics, other than those tackling the history and mentality of public revolt. Working on the French Revolution with the concept of public joy in mind presents a new perspective on the political makeup of the period. From 1788, there were expressions of public joyfulness in response to parliamentary and ministerial opposition. Then, the recognition by Louis XVI of the third estate in 1789 and of the Constitution in 1790 reshaped this expression of joy. The political harmony between the king and the nation guaranteed this joyfulness but, after the flight to Varennes in June 1791, scepticism or even hostility towards the monarchy emerged. In exploring festivities and expressions of public joy, this article sheds new light on the political psychology of the start of the French Revolution and the way it was politicized through popular joy