| Sumario: | This article examines both reverence and rebellion regarding portrayals of Marie Antoinette by selected writers who had direct contact with her. While some authors staunchly supported tradition, others advocated reform through a stable constitutional monarchy or a republic. Some literally lost their heads while others fled to various lands. Many negotiated their new roles in a changing France. I consider several questions: how did nobles in danger describe the queen? And what of those in exile? What of those equally devoted to the queen but of a different social class? Further, what of individuals who knew Marie Antoinette but were sympathetic to both tradition and change? And what of those who more forcefully opposed the monarchy? I argue that women writers in particular employ various strategies in portraying the queen depending on their personal experiences, geographical location, and political bent. Through a study of selected memoirs and reflections, I further argue that these strategies correspond to the authors' desires and fears concerning the future of France and women's place in an evolving nation. Such authors as Madame Royale, Rosalie Lamorlière, Madame de Staël, Lucie de la Tour du Pin, and Madame Roland drew on the queen's experiences and suffering to help fashion her legacy and one of their own. At the same time, they proposed new roles for women, demonstrating how they could be part of a changing France.
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