Pauline Léon, a prominent figure during the French Revolution, was known for her radical political views and activism. She was associated with the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women and was a strong advocate for women's rights and participation in the revolution. Léon confessed to hating Lafayette due to his perceived betrayal of revolutionary ideals. Lafayette, initially a hero of the American and French revolutions, was seen by radicals like Léon as having abandoned the revolutionary cause when he took actions to suppress radical movements and maintain order, such as his involvement in the Champ de Mars Massacre in 1791. This event, where Lafayette's National Guard fired on a crowd of protesters demanding the removal of King Louis XVI, was particularly significant in turning many revolutionaries against him, including Pauline Léon.