Foils are two characters that contrast each other in order to establish their personalities quickly. They have been used for centuries to bring depth and complexity to characters without much effort. Charles Dickens uses his foils to bring light to the other's personal situation or experiences. In A Tale of Two Cities, Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge are foils of each other, with their conflicting themes of the "golden thread" and darkness. Lucie Manette shows kindness and compassion while Madame Defarge isn't even able to show the slightest of mercy. Lucie comforted Carton when he confessed his love for her, and encouraged him to have more self-respect. "To be confronted with such pity, and such earnest youth and beauty, was far more trying
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Lucie Manette is the "golden thread" because of how she brings light and love into her friends lives. She returned her father to everyday life and filled him with life. She even gave Mr. Carton even the slightest bit of self-worth, or at least tried to. "Don't say that, Miss Manette, for you would have reclaimed me, if anything could. You will not be the cause of my becoming worse" (Dickens Bk 2, Ch 13). Lucie gives Charles love and a family, the greatest joy he could ever receive. Madame Defarge is darkness because she fills people with terror and a sense of dread. "The shadow attendant on Madame Defarge and her party seemed to fall so threatening and dark on the child, that her mother instinctively kneeled on the ground beside her, and held her to her breast" (Dickens Bk 3 Ch 3). This theme continues when her past is revealed to the reader, and gives motive to her actions. "Defarge, that sister of the mortally wounded boy upon the ground was my sister, that husband was my sister's husband, that unborn child was their child, that brother was my brother, that father was my father, those dead are my dead, and that summons to answer for those things descend to me" (Dickens Bk 3 Ch
Lucie Manette is the "golden thread" because of how she brings light and love into her friends lives. She returned her father to everyday life and filled him with life. She even gave Mr. Carton even the slightest bit of self-worth, or at least tried to. "Don't say that, Miss Manette, for you would have reclaimed me, if anything could. You will not be the cause of my becoming worse" (Dickens Bk 2, Ch 13). Lucie gives Charles love and a family, the greatest joy he could ever receive. Madame Defarge is darkness because she fills people with terror and a sense of dread. "The shadow attendant on Madame Defarge and her party seemed to fall so threatening and dark on the child, that her mother instinctively kneeled on the ground beside her, and held her to her breast" (Dickens Bk 3 Ch 3). This theme continues when her past is revealed to the reader, and gives motive to her actions. "Defarge, that sister of the mortally wounded boy upon the ground was my sister, that husband was my sister's husband, that unborn child was their child, that brother was my brother, that father was my father, those dead are my dead, and that summons to answer for those things descend to me" (Dickens Bk 3 Ch