Death of Marat: The Origin of Shower Thoughts
When thinking of a topic to write about this week, I found myself struggling between a few options. In my despair, deciding about what I would focus my prosaic ramblings, I found myself relegated to the shower to think. We all love to ponder in the shower, or so I’m told, hence it is only right and proper to trace back “shower thoughts” to its founder, or rather its most famous proponent.
Jean-Paul Marat was one of the great French revolutionaries. After growing up in France, he began as a well-known doctor in London whilst publishing books with little success. Eventually, he would be appointed physician to the younger brother of Louis XVI of France, though he resigned in 1783, just under a decade before King Louis’ death by guillotine.
Like any self-respecting scientist, he believed that he was being persecuted by powerful enemies. His rejection from the Academy of Sciences led to his “martyr complex”, because obviously Sir Isaac Newton’s ideas were wrong, and Marat’s were right. Alas, his experiments with fire and light fell short of much achievement, but these were before his shower thoughts days, so we’ll let him off.
In 1789, the year of the French Revolution, Marat published papers supporting the ability of the monarchy to solve France’s problems, whilst also attacking the King for his neglect. This later won him the job after the revolution’s early days as editor of L’Ami du Peuple (The Friend of the People) and became the voice of the radical (and democratic, but is there really a difference?) and advocated for measures against the aristocrats, who were plotting to destroy the Revolution. In July 1790 he promised the deaths of 500-600 would assure the freedom and happiness of France. He was sentenced to prison for a month after this, but he just ignored that and didn’t go. What a guy.
He then started advocating for the King’s death, and this is where the shower thoughts truly begin. He rose to fame because of this. He became chief of the Montagnards, the more radical of the radical factions (i.e. the more democratic – woah) and was acquitted of charges brought against him for being a traitor or too democratic or not democratic enough or just too involved. Things got confusing in France for a while after 1793.
But here comes the juicy bit. Marat’s shower thoughts were actually bath thoughts. Due to a skin condition, he had to take frequent medicinal baths and would often write his newspaper in his bathroom. And it is here his life ended. No, not drowning, that would not be dramatic enough for the scientist-turned-martyr-turned-revolutionary-turned-democrat-turned-radical-turned-lord knows what. He was murdered in his bath by Charlotte Corday, a political opponent, and his death meant he was enshrined as a martyr to the people’s cause. How fitting. He now has 21 French towns named after him. His death was immortalised by Jacques-Louis David days after his murder in The Death of Marat.
So, for those of you spending too long in the shower or bath, start a newspaper. Become a revolutionary. Call yourselves a martyr then become one for a very different reason. Maybe even have some radical ideas, like singing softer. Yes, to my neighbours, I can hear you blasting Katy Perry in the shower. It is unbecoming.
Kisses.