Madame Defarge In A Tale Of Two Cities

Villains have been a quintessential part of the novel for generations, ranging from deranged madmen to methodical criminals. Dickens does a particularly good job in formatting his villains, and due to the levels of complexity and detail put into them, he is able to express more through them than what appears at face value. In particular, Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities is one of his most well thought out villains in terms of character design and development, conflict creation and supporting characters, and thematic representation.

Dickens created Madame Defarge’s character as one of great importance to the novel and thus needed to elaborate on her character immensely. Madame’s constant awareness of her surroundings gives her a sense

The only allies of Madame seen in the first book are Monsieur Defarge, Dr. Manette, and the Jacques men. However, the introduction of new allies, such as the Vengeance and the Revolutionaries at the siege of the Bastille, by the end of the second book bring to light a different aspect of Madame. This new feature is one of unrelenting violence and intensity for the Revolution. During the siege, “[Madame] put her foot upon [the officer’s] neck, and with her cruel knife—long ready—hewed off his head” (Dickens 387). Through this scene, the reader gets a sense that Madame feels justified in her actions due to her Revolutionary cause. Madame’s introduction to the Vengeance further elaborates her motivation by the Revolution as they rally the town to kill Foulon, a French aristocrat. Upon finally seeing Foulon tied up in the Hall, Madame “clapped her hands as at a play,” expressing her deep desire for the fall of the aristocracy, the main cause of the Revolution (Dickens 395). In reference to these events marking Madame’s connection with the Revolution and unwavering devotion to the cause, she is a protagonist in the fight for French

The Evremonde family had ruined her life when she was a child; the marquis had raped Madame’s sister, Madame’s father died from grief, and her brother died attempting to avenge his dead sister ("Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities"). This tragic series of events in Madame’s life is what fueled her aristocratic hatred and philosophy that children should suffer for the “sins of their fathers.” Madame’s hatred for the marquis is still heavily prevalent following his death and she transfers it all to Darnay after hearing that he is alive and to marry Lucie. This aforementioned event is what transforms Madame into the antagonist of the novel, and thus also seals her fate as she chases down a way to ruin Darnay and the Manette’s. In the end, a simple and highly justified desire to avenge her family kills Madame Defarge and with her dies the threat of the novel and one of the most thought out and developed