Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment in 1963 that showed just how easily ordinary people could be influenced. He proves that people are changed, shaped, and molded by their experiences, some for the better, others for the worse. A similar scenario is present in Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities, where two characters originally driven by similar circumstances make completely opposite decisions at every turn. Madame Defarge, once motivated by a love for her sister and a hunger for blind justice soon becomes fueled by hatred and a thirst for violent vengeance. On the other hand Sydney Carton, originally only motivated by self-hatred and alcoholic tendencies, takes charge when unwavering love leads to an act of selflessness. After examining
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Suffering a trauma at a young age may shape outlooks on the world as adults. Madame Defarge watches the Evremondes victimizing her family as a child, leading to a morphed sense of right and wrong, “But imbued from her childhood with a brooding sense of wrong, and a inveterate hatred of a class opportunity, had developed her into a tigress.” (Dickens 372) Madame Defarge allows the shadows of her past to consume her and falls into practicing extremely unhealthy coping mechanisms. This coping forces her into developing a deep and blind hatred of the upper class, and all in their bloodline, unable to separate person from lineage. Due to her rage she is no longer able to see the moral consequences of her violent actions. On the other hand Sydney Carton suffers the loss of his parents a young age. This loss leads him to numb his chronic depression with alcohol and practice self destructive and suicidal behaviors. “Sadly, Sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than a man of good abilities and good emotions incapable of their direct exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him and resigning himself to let it eat him away.” (Dickens 88) When Carton reflects on his lost potential he hits rock bottom. Mentally Carton is devastated and fears he may never recover from his misspent life of addiction and depression. However …show more content…
Dickens makes this point by showing drastic differences in the social circles of Defarge and Carton. Madame Defarge is surrounded by blood thirsty, starving revolutionaries who are willing to do anything. “the vengeance” is one character in particular that enforces Defarges unhealthy obsession. In the novel, Dickens makes it clear that the group is no longer confined by morals “give us the blood of Foulon, give us the head of foulon, give us the heart of foulon…”(Dickens ) The vengeance and Madame Defarge lead this battle in the revolution, killing Foulon with an unnecessary brutality, placing his head on a pike and stuffing his mouth with grass. After this murder they face no uproar, rather cheering and excitement from peasants whom finally feel they have a voice. Not facing any disrupt in her social circle after the murder enforces her plan to kill the Evremondes. On the flip side of this Carton is surrounded by people like Darnay, and the Manettes, who discourage his self deprecating behaviours. Lucie simply wants Carton to be happy with himself and the life he leads in the present “ “if it will do you any good, Mr Carton, if it would make you happier, it would make me very glad” “God bless you and your sweet compassion!” ” (Dickens ) Lucie originally feels rather uncomfortable towards Carton, but when he spills his guts about his feelings, Lucie understands and assumes the role
Suffering a trauma at a young age may shape outlooks on the world as adults. Madame Defarge watches the Evremondes victimizing her family as a child, leading to a morphed sense of right and wrong, “But imbued from her childhood with a brooding sense of wrong, and a inveterate hatred of a class opportunity, had developed her into a tigress.” (Dickens 372) Madame Defarge allows the shadows of her past to consume her and falls into practicing extremely unhealthy coping mechanisms. This coping forces her into developing a deep and blind hatred of the upper class, and all in their bloodline, unable to separate person from lineage. Due to her rage she is no longer able to see the moral consequences of her violent actions. On the other hand Sydney Carton suffers the loss of his parents a young age. This loss leads him to numb his chronic depression with alcohol and practice self destructive and suicidal behaviors. “Sadly, Sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than a man of good abilities and good emotions incapable of their direct exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him and resigning himself to let it eat him away.” (Dickens 88) When Carton reflects on his lost potential he hits rock bottom. Mentally Carton is devastated and fears he may never recover from his misspent life of addiction and depression. However …show more content…
Dickens makes this point by showing drastic differences in the social circles of Defarge and Carton. Madame Defarge is surrounded by blood thirsty, starving revolutionaries who are willing to do anything. “the vengeance” is one character in particular that enforces Defarges unhealthy obsession. In the novel, Dickens makes it clear that the group is no longer confined by morals “give us the blood of Foulon, give us the head of foulon, give us the heart of foulon…”(Dickens ) The vengeance and Madame Defarge lead this battle in the revolution, killing Foulon with an unnecessary brutality, placing his head on a pike and stuffing his mouth with grass. After this murder they face no uproar, rather cheering and excitement from peasants whom finally feel they have a voice. Not facing any disrupt in her social circle after the murder enforces her plan to kill the Evremondes. On the flip side of this Carton is surrounded by people like Darnay, and the Manettes, who discourage his self deprecating behaviours. Lucie simply wants Carton to be happy with himself and the life he leads in the present “ “if it will do you any good, Mr Carton, if it would make you happier, it would make me very glad” “God bless you and your sweet compassion!” ” (Dickens ) Lucie originally feels rather uncomfortable towards Carton, but when he spills his guts about his feelings, Lucie understands and assumes the role