The novel A Tale of Two Cities follows the growth and complexity of Madame Defarge as the plot develops and changes over time. Her seemingly insignificant role in the beginning of the novel quickly shifts to the evolution of a predominant character. As a strong woman of the French Revolution, she possesses a number of allies and motives related to the cause. Madame Defarge and her husband own a wine shop in France that is introduced with the vivid scene of wine spilled all over the streets along with the excited response of the poor people around. This scene parallels to the blood spilled throughout the course of the French Revolution, catalyzed in part by Madame Defarge.
Madame Defarge is a round character in A Tale of Two Cities, which is …show more content…
Both are figures that represent fate and the connections between characters. Madame Defarge knits and Lucie is the “golden thread” (Dickens 137). The pattern that Madame Defarge knits is designed to destroy and paint the streets with blood, and the “golden thread” represents mending families, minds and lives. Contrasting each other, Madame Defarge represents violence and Lucie represents “quiet bliss” (Dickens 370). Her childhood of oppression and torture from the aristocrats has sculpted Madame Defarge was sculpted into a cold, ruthless woman (Dickens 643). Despite her bad experience at the hands of the Evermonde family, Lucie took the high road and began to fix souls rather than break them. Both have the ability to control people’s lives, represented by knitting and the “golden thread.” They take opposite routes; revenge and forgiveness. As expected, Madame Defarge’s life is filled with hate, while Lucie’s is led by happiness. Even though they began at the same point, the women diverge when they channel their feelings into very different tasks. Madame Defarge reaches death while Lucie continues a life surrounded by …show more content…
Her legacy is that of a cold, selfish woman. Quiet knitting quickly turns to the “dropping of heads” as the revolution picks up speed. Even though her loyalty lies with those who were oppressed, allies quickly turn to enemies as they stand in the way of her goal. Revenge is buried deep within her, driving her actions and guiding her attitude. Madame Defarge made a choice to pursue the brutal path of vengeance, setting her apart from other women in similar situations to her
Madame Defarge is a round character in A Tale of Two Cities, which is …show more content…
Both are figures that represent fate and the connections between characters. Madame Defarge knits and Lucie is the “golden thread” (Dickens 137). The pattern that Madame Defarge knits is designed to destroy and paint the streets with blood, and the “golden thread” represents mending families, minds and lives. Contrasting each other, Madame Defarge represents violence and Lucie represents “quiet bliss” (Dickens 370). Her childhood of oppression and torture from the aristocrats has sculpted Madame Defarge was sculpted into a cold, ruthless woman (Dickens 643). Despite her bad experience at the hands of the Evermonde family, Lucie took the high road and began to fix souls rather than break them. Both have the ability to control people’s lives, represented by knitting and the “golden thread.” They take opposite routes; revenge and forgiveness. As expected, Madame Defarge’s life is filled with hate, while Lucie’s is led by happiness. Even though they began at the same point, the women diverge when they channel their feelings into very different tasks. Madame Defarge reaches death while Lucie continues a life surrounded by …show more content…
Her legacy is that of a cold, selfish woman. Quiet knitting quickly turns to the “dropping of heads” as the revolution picks up speed. Even though her loyalty lies with those who were oppressed, allies quickly turn to enemies as they stand in the way of her goal. Revenge is buried deep within her, driving her actions and guiding her attitude. Madame Defarge made a choice to pursue the brutal path of vengeance, setting her apart from other women in similar situations to her