French Revolution - What Does This Image means?

Question

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/core/pics/0253/img0037.jpg

Answer 1

It means, "Awakening of the Third Estate".  The First Estate is the aristocracy.  The Second Estate is the priesthood.  The Third Estate is the common people.  They are awakening and getting ready to throw off the chains the first and Second Estates have imposed on them.

EDIT:  Awww, I'm a big dummy.  Give the points to Death on the stairs.  No more drunken yahoo answers for me.

Answer 2

Just let me find my oozie amongst this junk and I will blow you away.

Answer 3

Jimmy Jazz is essentially right, apart from some glaring mistakes: The Third Estate, the common man, is lying on the ground, throwing off his shackles and reaching for his weapons.

The First Estate (THE CLERGY [not the aristocracy]) and the Second Estate (The Nobility) reel in horror at the sight.

It seeks to both depict the 'common man' throwing off the shackles of opression imposed by the First and Second Estates and encourage him to do so.