Tocqueville questions

2. Why does a society devoted to equal opportunity weaken each individual?

A society devoted to equal opportunity usually weakens the individual. This happens because there is such a huge push for everyone to be equal that many of the people at the top are pushed down to level the playing field. Alexis De Tocqueville expresses this in his writing when he writes, “The same equality which allows each man to entertain vast hopes makes each man by himself weak” In this quote Tocqueville is stating how the same equality that makes man free to do what he wants also makes him weak because every man has the ability to do the same and compete with him. The competition of equality is what makes the single man weak. Because with competition comes failure.

5. Does Tocqueville think Americans are restless because they don’t know what they want or because what they want is not attainable.

I believe that Tocqueville thinks Americans are restless because they what they want is not always attainable. They fear that they may never be able to get everything that they want. Tocqueville exemplifies this in his writing when he states,” Americans cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach, as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them.” In this quote, Tocqueville is expressing how Americans never are content and will always continue to want the next thing and the next thing in fear that they will never have what they want or what they need.

Revolutionaries vs Aristocracy

Compare the behavior of the empowered peasants to the behavior of the previous ruling class. How do they (the revolutionaries and aristocracy) deal with personal appeals. Remember the Marquis and think of the treatment of Darnay’s arguments.

The behavior of the ruling peasants is not that different from the previous ruling class. Both powers are very cruel and killed many people. The ruling power that was previously in power was very cruel and left many to starve and die. The new empowered peasants say they are for the people but yet they are killing many people now. If you look at the Marquis and when he was previously in power you see that he is not very understanding and not willing to listen to the peasants’ pleas. The empowered peasants are also similar because they did not listen to Darnay’s arguments and went back and captured him.