The French Revolution

The artwork shown here represents the three estates, or broad social orders, which were common in much of Christian Europe during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. These three groups of people were organized into the clergy, who were the highest, the nobility, who came next, and the commoners, who were below the rest. This arrangement continued in France into the 1700s.

What is the artist trying to describe about the three estates in this cartoon? What might the ball on the man’s shoulders represent? Why might the commoner's not like this arrangement?

Are there similar groups in modern society? If so, what are they?