Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions? Explain.

Yes, it can be argued that the message of universal rights during and after the French Revolution was beset with contradictions. Following are the points that explain the contradiction:

• The principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity were proclaimed as universal rights but the application of these rights was often limited or selective. For example, rights were typically extended only to certain groups of citizens, such as property-owning men, while excluding women, minorities, and the poor.
• The French Revolution, despite its ideals of freedom and equality, was marked by periods of violence, repression, and authoritarianism. The Reign of Terror, in particular, saw the mass execution.
• The French Revolution did not completely eradicate class distinctions or social hierarchies.
• Despite advocating for equality, the French Revolution failed to extend rights to women on an equal basis with men. Women's participation in political life was limited, and they were excluded from many rights granted to male citizens, such as suffrage and property ownership.