Was the violence of the revolution even necessary

Pardon a question that is off topic somewhat, and probably a little naive. But was all that violence during the French revolution necessary?

Could the people have achieved reform or change through peaceful means? Or at least given the royals and other rich/powerful elements a chance, several chances to relinquish power, before starting a more militant movement?

Even if the powerful and wealthy were still resistant to changing, their power and wealth could have been stripped away. Instead of taking their lives, that too often brutally.

The majority of the violence of the period looks like it was not provoked; it was mostly an expression of hatred for the privileged section of society. The intended victims could have been expelled, expropriated(of their wealth), dethroned or given lighter punishments for resisting progressive reform.

I understand the idea of an oppressed people who have endured oppression and severe exploitation lashing out at the source of their oppression. That can get ugly if it goes on too long.

But little, if any, of the extreme violence, bordering sometimes on sadism, of the French revolution, appears to be a response to hard edged oppression and persecution. It has the feel of something nastier and darker.