Revolutionary Women In A Tale Of Two Cities

Gigi Tran
Mrs. McKeagney
English 2 H
6 Oct. 2014
Revolutionary Women In his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens vividly articulates the chaotic strife between the extravagant aristocrats and oppressed peasants during the French Revolution. He develops the contention by entangling the two countries France and England through the notorious Evremonde family, resulting in the corruption of innocence and exponential bloodshed. Yet Dickens emphasizes the often overlooked, influential roles of women throughout the novel by their actions and motives. He skillfully incorporates the three unique characters Miss Pross, Madame Defarge, and the seamstress to illustrate the themes of the power of love, revenge, and injustice in regards to the
Dickens explains: "It was in vain for Madame Defarge to struggle and to strike; Miss Pross, with the vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate…" (Dickens 434). Dickens explicitly defines the key quality to Miss Pross's triumph over Madame Defarge—love. Madame Defarge physically stands stronger and more menacing, but these traits prove inferior conclusively. Dickens emphasizes the central point that love can surmount even the strongest hatred; yet, the hero must pay a price. Miss Pross saves Lucie's life, but she becomes permanently deaf consequently. Dickens manifests the notion that good cannot overcome evil without sacrificial love. Miss Pross's tenacity of love is further supported by her loyalty. Miss Pross's steadfast determination to nurture Lucie since childhood cultivates within her a passionate desire to provide for others, even before herself. Throughout the novel, this self-giving drive motivates Miss Pross to accompany Lucie and Darnay back and forth between the chaotic battlefield of France and England. She even
She also tarnishes the conventional reputation of innocent, docile women during the Revolution. Her ruthless brutality surmount even that of her husband. This abomination manifests itself at the storming of the Bastille: "[she] remained immovable to him when the long-gathering rain of stabs and blows fell heavy; was so close to him when he dropped under it, that, suddenly animated, she put her foot upon his neck, and with her cruel knife—long ready—hewed his head off" (257). The revolutionaries capture the French governor under the command of Monsieur Defarge. Madame Defarge, without restraint, cruelly beheads the governor by her own knife. She fails to control her violent impulsions and single-handedly instigates bloodshed and unjustified maniacal terror. Dickens clearly illustrates the decimating and irreversible consequences inflicted upon others by those who seek vengeance. Additionally, Madame Defarge exemplifies pitilessness. When Lucie implores Madame Defarge to show mercy upon her and her child, Madame Defarge ignores their pleas, without a morsel of sympathy: "She was without pity. […] It was nothing to her that an innocent man was to die for the sins of his forefathers; […] It was nothing to her, that his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan; that was insufficient punishment, because they were natural enemies and her prey, and as such had no right to live" (427). Dickens depicts Madame