Tsar Peter is intended to symbolise King Louis XVI, Catherine is Marie Antoinette and the Swiss Le Fort alludes to the Genevan financier Jacques Necker, who had attempted to reform the French economy. Peter and Catherine are depicted as ideal figures, deeply concerned for the welfare of the common people, and the liberal Bouilly clearly hoped the French king and queen would follow their example.
Tsar Peter is meant to symbolize King Louis XVI, Catherine represents Marie Antoinette, and the Swiss Le Fort alludes to Jacques Necker, a Genevan financier who attempted to reform the French economy. Tsar Peter and Catherine are portrayed as ideal figures, deeply concerned for the welfare of the common people, with Bouilly hoping that the French king and queen would follow their example.