Final answer:
Marie-Antoinette is inaccurately credited with saying "Let them eat cake," a phrase that symbolized the detachment and opulence of the French monarchy amidst the dire economic situation of the time. There is no historical proof she said this, but it has become emblematic of her and the monarchy's perceived insensitivity to the hardships of the people, contributing to the unrest that led to the French Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase commonly attributed to Marie-Antoinette is "Let them eat cake," which is often cited as her response upon being told that the French peasants had no bread to eat. This statement is seen as a display of her obliviousness to the dire economic situation and the plight of the lower classes.
However, there is no historical evidence that Marie-Antoinette actually said this. The phrase was first recorded in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's autobiography, written when Marie-Antoinette was just a child, implying that she could not have been the source.
Despite its dubious origins, the phrase became symbolic of the excesses of the French monarchy and the disconnect between the royalty and the people they governed.
Amidst financial and economic hardships in France, the monarchy, including Marie-Antoinette, was ill-prepared to address the burgeoning crisis, which contributed to the public's negative perception of her.
The queen's lavish lifestyle, epitomized by her numerous elegant silk dresses and powdered wigs as depicted in paintings by Élisabeth Louise Vigée-Le Brun, contrasted starkly with the poverty endured by many French citizens.
Thus, when the French Revolution unfolded, Marie-Antoinette's perceived insensitivity was a catalyst for anger and revolutionary fervor. As such, the phrase "Let them eat cake" symbolizes the detachment and opulence that were key grievances of the Revolution.