People are deeply affected by both past and present events. Thoughts, actions, and ideals of individuals are all influenced by others they are around because people like to fit in. Crowds and companions offer protection that does not exist for a single person. So, people do what those around them do, often without thinking about if their actions are right or wrong. In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the juxtaposition of opposing characters and themes enhance the idea that people are shaped by their past and present environments and actions. The contrasting views, but similar pasts, of Lucie Darnay and Madame Defarge show how the past influences present behavior. Both women suffered great tragedy at a young age due to the Saint
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For Lucie, this meant growing up as an orphan since her father was all she had. She was told he was dead and raised in London until he was “recalled to life” from prison when she was seventeen (Dickens 13). The similarities end here since after her loss Lucie was raised by loving Miss Pross in England not knowing the full details of what happened to her family. This is the exact opposite of Madame Defarge who stayed in France, living under the same oppressive upper class that killed her siblings. As adults, both women are successful and marry well, but Lucie Darnay is kind and loving while Madame Defarge is bent on getting revenge. Each of these characteristics are exemplified by their actions. Madame Defarge condemns the entire Evrémonde family for Darnay’s father’s and uncle’s actions. This includes Lucie and little Lucie, the Darnay’s young daughter. When her husband suggests that she has gone too far she says to him, “tell wind and fire where to stop . . . but don’t tell me” (Dickens 419). Opposed to Lucie Manette accepting her father after only knowing him for moments. The characters are foils of each other, as Madame Defarge’s hate only amplifies …show more content…
Mob mentality is continuously brought up from Darnay’s first trial through the entirety of the Revolution. The idea of people do things based on what people around them do is commonplace. The actions of a person with others, versus their actions as an individual, is a comparison that Dickens makes to show how others actions affect a person. In the book, the French Revolution is introduced with “Images of the ocean . . . [Dickens] calls the Paris mob a ‘living sea’” (“Novels for Students” 356). People were swept into crowds and their own anger was amplified creating a side of themselves that does not otherwise exist, causing them to storm the Bastille and overthrow the French government. Charles Dickens highlights the idea of loss of control in oneself in the book to show how people's actions are influenced by the other people in their environment, and the consequences that it can
For Lucie, this meant growing up as an orphan since her father was all she had. She was told he was dead and raised in London until he was “recalled to life” from prison when she was seventeen (Dickens 13). The similarities end here since after her loss Lucie was raised by loving Miss Pross in England not knowing the full details of what happened to her family. This is the exact opposite of Madame Defarge who stayed in France, living under the same oppressive upper class that killed her siblings. As adults, both women are successful and marry well, but Lucie Darnay is kind and loving while Madame Defarge is bent on getting revenge. Each of these characteristics are exemplified by their actions. Madame Defarge condemns the entire Evrémonde family for Darnay’s father’s and uncle’s actions. This includes Lucie and little Lucie, the Darnay’s young daughter. When her husband suggests that she has gone too far she says to him, “tell wind and fire where to stop . . . but don’t tell me” (Dickens 419). Opposed to Lucie Manette accepting her father after only knowing him for moments. The characters are foils of each other, as Madame Defarge’s hate only amplifies …show more content…
Mob mentality is continuously brought up from Darnay’s first trial through the entirety of the Revolution. The idea of people do things based on what people around them do is commonplace. The actions of a person with others, versus their actions as an individual, is a comparison that Dickens makes to show how others actions affect a person. In the book, the French Revolution is introduced with “Images of the ocean . . . [Dickens] calls the Paris mob a ‘living sea’” (“Novels for Students” 356). People were swept into crowds and their own anger was amplified creating a side of themselves that does not otherwise exist, causing them to storm the Bastille and overthrow the French government. Charles Dickens highlights the idea of loss of control in oneself in the book to show how people's actions are influenced by the other people in their environment, and the consequences that it can