Motifs Used To Characterize The Monseigneur In A Tale Of Two Cities

In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, motifs profoundly help characterize certain characters throughout the novel. Motifs help connect certain descriptions and attitudes from a certain item to a character or theme. In the novel, the motif “stone” is used to characterize the Monseigneur. The motif helps connects the idea that the Monseigneur has a heart of stone. Like many of other members of the aristocracy in France, he treats others that are lower than him horribly and with lots of disrespect. The motif also helps characterize him through the use of making his house or the château is entirely made out of stone. The house helps relate that he, like many of the powerful families before him, are cold, dark people and it also …show more content…
There are many times in the novel that the Monseigneur treats others below him like inferiors. An example of this in the novel is when he is speeding down the street in his carriage and he hits and kills a common person. He doesn’t say sorry or even look to see if the person is okay he plainly states “How do I know what injuries you have done my horses” (107) and throws out a coin. He believes that the injuries done to his horses are more important than others lives. He thinks that all these people ever do is just get in the way of him and that they can’t take care of themselves. He has a heart of stone in this instant because he believes he is significantly