The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower: An Enigmatic Cultural Icon The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Paris is the iconic monument of the Eiffel Tower, designed by architect Alexander Gustave Eiffel, built between the years 1887 and 1889 for the World Fair. Therefore, it is not surprising to learn of the immense number of visitors it receives each year. This summer, my classmates and I were lucky enough to be among the many tourists who visit La Tour Eiffel while staying in Paris. When we arrived at the site it was inevitable to notice how enthusiastic people were about the opportunity of being able to take a picture with the famous tower. At this point, one could not help but wonder if they were excited to take a picture with this monument because it symbolized France’s desire to restore its honor by impressing the world with its advancements or simply because they wanted to amaze their friends by uploading the picture on Facebook. It is truly unfortunate that people visit this iconic monument without truly understanding its significance. Their egocentricity, which revolves on being able to show off to their friends where they have been while not really embracing the culture of the place where they are staying, prevents them from becoming knowledgeable persons. When the tower was first built, in 1887, it was intended to be torn down twenty years afterwards. The building, which is 1,063 feet tall, was built to serve as an entrance to L’Exposition Universelle. The fair, which lasted six months, displayed the best the world had to offer in modernity, including technology and art. The tower was saved because of its utility during World War I where it served as a radio and telegraphic post. Despite the fact that the previous information might seem as fundamental reasons why such a symbolic monument was built, one must seek deeper in history to fully understand what lead to the construction of it. The Eiffel Tower fulfilled the French desire to express Nationalism at a time when it was desperately needed. Napoleon Bonaparte III had been defeated in the Franco-Prussian War and not long after that the French were involved in the bloodiest revolution in their history, the Commune of 1871. La Tour Eiffel was intended to symbolize republican ideas of equality and liberty, therefore also symbolizing the demise of the monarchy. In response to this, the monarchy attempted to boycott the fair but was unsuccessful. Yet above all, the tower was intended to boost the self-esteem of the French who wished to once again show the world what they were capable of. It would be a mistake to speak of the Eiffel Tower without mentioning the amazing telescopic view it provides of the city of Paris. The tower provides visitors with the option of admiring the view from the first, second or third level. One may have access to the first and second floor by climbing around 600 stairs. Access to the third floor is only available through the elevator. Regardless of the way one may choose to go up, it is undeniable that the view is a breathtaking one. At that point, we are allowed to admire the city of Paris as it truly is: a work of art.