Jean-Paul Marat was a prominent figure during the French Revolution, known for his passionate journalism and fervent support of the sans-culottes, a radical group advocating for the lower class. His newspaper, 'L'Ami du Peuple', often called for violent actions against perceived enemies of the revolution. Marat's uncompromising stance garnered both followers and enemies, leading to an increasingly polarized political environment in revolutionary France.

Charlotte Corday, a member of the Girondins, a more moderate political faction, viewed Marat as a threat to the ideals of liberty and order. The Girondins often found themselves at odds with the radical Jacobins, among whom Marat was a leading voice. In her belief that killing Marat would end the political strife and restore peace, Corday meticulously planned the assassination, managing to enter his home in Paris by posing as a supporter.

On that fateful day, after gaining access to Marat while he was in the bath due to a skin condition, Corday confronted him with a message of urgency. In a swift and shocking act, she withdrew a knife and plunged it into his chest, resulting in his immediate death. The audacious assassination occurred amid a climate of fear and bloodshed, highlighting the tumultuous nature of the revolution. Corday was arrested, tried, and ultimately executed by guillotine a few days later, but her act became emblematic of the extreme measures individuals took during this chaotic period.