The beginning of the short story Revolution resembles the beginning of a fairytale. It seems that the main characters of this story are the Revolution and a student. In spite of the fact that every revolution is carried on the burden of its citizens, from this revolution, just like from many other revolutions, only the government benefits. The unhappy, dissatisfied citizens remain equally dissatisfied with their lives leading the same lives that they led before the revolution. In the short story, the student represents the voice of change, the voice of something better, something different. However, even though the student tried to make a change, he did not change the system in order to provide its citizens a better life. The only person who led a fulfilled, satisfied life was the student. Every revolution represents a cry for help from the repressed and dissatisfied citizens, but it brings welfare only to the government whereas in the lives of its citizens nothing changes.
It seems that the revolution is a method that is used whenever there is a need for change. The citizens of the short story Revolution had two revolutions that did not provide them a better life. Why did they long for revolution? The revolution brought them a hope, a second chance. The student's vision of the better life, after the revolution, was "that no longer would farmers be farmers and tradesmen be tradesmen and soldiers be soldiers, but rather all would be workers doing their share as a team for the good of the Republic" (Seltzer 2). However, the new constitution changed only their names and everything else remained the same. One cannot but notice the similarly with some major revolutions that took place throughout the history. The active protests of students in Hong Kong reveal the failure of the government to work for its citizens. The governments are working for the benefits of its citizens, but the only one that benefits is the government itself. Somehow along the process, the goals of revolutions become slowly changed and everything falls back to the same place. Nothing changes, only the leading figures change their places. The citizens lead the same lives that they have lived before. In order to change something one has to make "super-dumper structure" of the system. Regardless on the original goals of every revolution, the outcome remains the same: nothing changes.
One can notice a similarity of the short story Revolution with the former Soviet Union. The communist revolution shaped the Soviet Union into a large state that was ruled like a monarchy. The leaders promised its citizens equality for everyone, but this was not the case. In his article, Leon Aron provides some of the disadvantages that the citizens had while living in the former Soviet Union. As cited by Aron,"Shortages, food rationing, long lines in stores, and acute poverty were endemic." On the other hand, the government enjoyed many benefits. The small group of ruling class was a representation of a government that used its citizens in the name of the utopian ideology. As the time changed, the government slowly returned to the old, exploiting system and used its citizens for the same purposes that they had been used before the revolution. This point out that effort to change the system is meaningless and hopeless unless the system itself does not change from its roots.
However, it seems that a revolution is sometimes the only solution for the problems of citizens. The ongoing protest of students in Hong Kong proves that the systems functions on double standards for the Chinese residents. The protesters fight for their right to directly choose its representatives. "Since Sept. 28, protesters, who on at least one night numbered 10,000, have stood, sat and slept in the streets to lobby Beijing to revisit the Aug. 31 decision" (Barber). According to Aug. 31 decision, this right is guaranteed to Hong Kong residents. "Hong Kong and China are “one country” with “two systems” (Barber). Under the light of these protest, the name National Republic of China seems little ironical, because the government places a little right in the hands of its residents. On the other hand, the China has become one of the most prospective countries in the world. Surprisingly, this is similar to the new state proposed by the student in the story. However, the reality proves that the hopes that every revolution carries are destroyed the gradually after the revolution leaving the thing in the same state as it has been. It seems that revolution is a need in every society when the citizens are betrayed by their governments and their promises.
Throughout the history, there have been many evidences of the failed revolutions. These revolutions are not failed in the sense that they did not succeed, but in a sense that they did not serve its purpose – to make its citizens live better. The examples where major revolutions occurred, such as the Russian revolution, the Revolution in China, and the Arab Spring reveal that only the major players have changed their places. Who benefits a revolution? The governments. They use different names under the same intentions and masque their interests under the name of revolution.
Cited works:
Seltzer, Richard. Revolution.
Aron, Leon. "Everything you think you know about the collapse of the Soviet Union is wrong" The Magazine Foreign Policy. 20. June 2011. Print
Barber, Elizabeth. "Hong Kong Protester's Feel Betrayed by Their Own Government" Time. 24. October 2014. Print.
