What was the nature of the French society in the 18th century? Why was there discontentment among its members?

The french society was characterised by extreme inequalities. It was divided into three classes or Estates:

1. The clergy comprised the First Estate.
2. The nobility comprised the Second Estate.
3. The peasants and the bourgeoisie, who included the merchants and professionals, comprised the Third Estate.

The First and the Second Estates were the privileged classes, whereas the Third Estate comprised the non-privileged classes.

There was discontentment among its members because of the following reasons:

1. The peasants were forced to perform unpaid compulsory services.
2. Those who did not pay the taxes were punished with imprisonment in the State prison called the Bastille.
3. Most of the wealth was concentrated in the hands of the privileged class.
4. The peasants and common men were burdened with heavy taxes.
5. In the 18th century, the bourgeoisie had acquired great wealth but despite their economic prosperity, they were denied social equality and political rights.