GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -Later the French underworld dubbed it “the widow.” During the French Revolution, the guillotine became the primary symbol of the Reign of Terror and was used to execute thousands of people, including King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.

Detailed explanation-2: -It was originally developed as a more humane method of execution. The origins of the French guillotine date back to late-1789, when Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin proposed that the French government adopt a gentler method of execution.

Detailed explanation-3: -The guillotine was a device used to execute people during the Terror. At one point during the Terror, the Committee of Public Safety eliminated the right to a public trial and a lawyer for people suspected of treason. Queen Marie Antoinette was one of the first people executed during the Terror.

Detailed explanation-4: -The guillotine itself was associated with the ideology behind the revolution, representing equal treatment for all under the law, while the executions, which were popular public events, also inspired feelings of patriotism and equality.