A TRAJETÓRIA POLÍTICA DE JEAN-PAUL MARAT: UMA ANÁLISE A PARTIR DOS SEUS PANFLETOS E PERIÓDICOS

Abstract

The French Revolution is an extremely dynamic historical moment, not only because of its sequence of events but also because of the presence of outstanding personalities who dictated the revolutionary rhythm at different periods. Among these individuals was Jean-Paul Marat, a journalist and deputy in the National Convention, known for his inflamed and radical writing. The objective of this study is to analyze Marat's political trajectories, as well as his positioning, according to the context in which he lived. The research used documentary sources, especially newspapers and pamphlets written by Jean-Paul Marat, consulted digitally, and other bibliographical references, especially the book “The Great Revolution” by Piotr Kropotkin. The work is divided into four chapters. “Conservative Marat” deals with his youth until the end of 1791, with the flight of the King. “Moderate Marat” coping with his entry into the Cordeliers Club and, with the death of the King, the National Convention in September 1792. The third “Marat and the Republic” deals with Marat's short republican phase until his death. Finally, the fourth chapter, entitled “Marat in History”, looks at the interpretations of the revolutionary from the point of view of Marxist-Jacobin historiography. The conclusion is that Marat went through different phases and his well-known radicalism is more a performative trait in his writing than his real political stance.