Maximillien Robespierre Interview Questions/Script

Welcome to 9 News, my name is Greg Stevo and today we will be going

back to France during the 18th century and we will be having an interview
with one of the French Revolutions most epochal icons: Maximillien de
Robespierre. We will be talking about his importance in the Revolution, the
Reign of Terror, and we will also be chatting about his overall life. We will
see you in a sec at France.
Welcome back to 9 News. We are now live in France and with Maximillien
Robespierre. Hello Mr Robespierre, hows it going?
Good Thanks Greg, how are you?
Same as always! Now Mr Robespierre we are going to ask you some
questions about your life and the revolution. Ready? Okay here we go.
Q1: Mr Robespierre, can you tell me about your childhood and your
education?
Well, I was born in Arras, France on May the 6th, 1758. I had 3 other
siblings and I was the oldest out of them all. My mother died when I was
only Six, and my Father left the family soon after for unexplained reasons.
While being educated in Paris, it was up to my grandparents to look after
me. Eventually, I was graduated and I earnt myself a law degree. My
father was also a lawyer. I then worked at a firm in my birth town, earning
a good enough amount of money. This was in my very early stages of my
carrier.
Interesting. Now, going on from law degree
Q2: Why did you choose to become a lawyer like your father?
I guess that my father was my role model. I looked up to him since he was
my father. Obviously until my mother died and he left. So he definitely
was not there for us then. But I have always wanted to be part of the law.
It was part of my family; in the family. Its just one of those things that
seems like u should do it.
Nice
Q3: Can you please explain to me, what are some of your most prized
achievements as a lawyer or politician?
Obviously, being elected into the committee of public safety during the
revolution was a bonus. And of course being elected into the convention in
1794. However, I did have a lot of small cases as a lawyer that I am also
very proud of. I guess that you could say that the reign of terror was an
achievement of mine. I made it. I was also elected into Estates General of
the French legislature. I am very proud of all of these accomplishments.

Awesome I would be proud If I was you.

Q4: How did you earn your well-known nick name: incorruptible?
Obviously, people didnt actually call me incorruptible back when I was
alive. But I was incorruptible. The name just formed over the years. I was
very well known as an incorruptible individual. I was an activist, I wanted
change in the political French monarchy. I was very devoted to this. So
somehow I was starting to be known as incorruptible. I defended my side
very well. I was elected into Estates General of the French legislature. I
was aged 30 when this happened. I then kept on acting against the French
monarchy over and over again. I was getting well known for this.
Eventually I left this role to do something else instead.
Well, it definitely sounds like a well earnt nickname.
Q5: Tell me about your role in the Jacobin political faction.
OK. The Jacobin Faction was a very dominant and forceful group. I became
president of the Jacobin political faction in April 1789. 3 years later, during
the uprising against King Louis, I lead the Paris delegation. Then, I
continued to enforce the Kings execution.
Sounds like you did a good job with that.
Q6: I understand that you were the unofficial leader of the committee of
public safety during the French Revolution. What was that like?
1793, I was elected to become part of the committee of public safety. My
team and I managed to control the revolutionary government. We could
oversee everything. We had unofficial control. I was a dictator. I felt
overwhelmed power, I loved being able to control a lot of things.
I can imagine.

Q7: Can you tell me about the reign of terror? What is it? What did you
have to do with it?
Oh, so thats what they call it these days. Well, while I was dictating the
Government, we made the Reign of Terror. It went on for 11 months. It was
a death pool. Approximately 17000 enemies of the French revolution were
executed and much, much more (around 350000) were executed. When I
look back on it now I now realise that I used the reign of terror to my
advantage; during this time many of my political opponents were
eliminated. My goal in the Terror was to use the guillotine to create what I
preferred it to be called, a 'republic of virtue', where in terror and virtue,
my principles, would be imposed. But this is what I realised much after the
reign of terror. After the Reign of Terror had come to a dramatic end, I was
still overwhelmed with power and I was still ordering executions. The
Revolutionary Government was starting to get sick of my actions since all
of the threats were gone. I was still full of power and excitement. I wanted
the executions to keep on coming. Eventually a group of annoying
activists, politicians, lawyers and citizens opposed us. That of all things
was not what I wanted.
I sure am glad that I wasnt a part of the reign of terror. So
Q8: How and when were you overthrown?
Like I said, I was still overwhelmed with power months after the Reign of
Terror so an opposing group was formed to challenge my followers and I.
We tried to outrun their challenging points but eventually they were just
too good. My group was then arrested and imprisoned. Prison was tough
and I knew that is was not the place for my group and I. Then (luckily and
thankfully) a fellow prisoner helped us escape. We were then on the run
from the authorities. I felt a rush of adrenaline. We then hid in the Paris
City Hall. I thought that we had a chance to be free again. But I thought
wrong.
That does not sound to good.
Q9: What was your death like; How did you die?
When I was hiding at Htel de Ville, also known as city hall, I heard that
we were classed as outlaws and that they were coming for me right at
that second. I had so much thoughts running through my brain. I knew I
was a dead man. But I did not want to die like that. So I attempted to
commit suicide. But I failed and I only damaged my jaw. Shortly after,
soldiers from the national convention charged the building and took my

group members and I. Within 24 hours my group members and I were

taken to the guillotine and executed. That was not how I wanted to die.
Sounds Terrible
It truly was.

Q10: What is your legacy you left behind?

Well, unfortunately no statues or memorials of me are in France, nor the
rest of the world since everyone thinks I am a revolutionary mad man. But
there is still a lot of controversy and talk about me, for instance this
interview. But I dont mind to much, because I did end up doing something
good: I wrote the France National Motto. I am very proud of this, as it
represents my impact on France. Other than that, my legacy that I left was
rather negative and dark, which I dont like. But at least I was
remembered somehow.
You will never be forgotten negatively or positively.
Thanks, Greg.
Anyway, thankyou Mr Robespierre for your time today, you truly showed
us your perspective on the French Revolution and you also taught a thing
or two about the Revolution and your life as a lawyer, politician, activist,
prisoner and outlaw. You gave an insight into the events of your life. So
thanks Maximillien de Robespierre for your quality time.
Its my pleasure. It felt great to give you my opinion. So I guess I will see
you soon. Goodbye.
Thanks again. Have a good one mate.
Thats it for tonight everybody, see you tomorrow.
Stay tuned for current affair.