Comparing Women: A Tale Of Two Cities
Two Women What might someone think about a perfect woman versus a bloodthirsty woman? In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, the author gives the reader plenty of characters to dwell on. Lucie Manette, being the perfect woman, significantly compares to the “bloodthirsty” Madame Defarge. These two female characters face differences because of their personalities, their life experiences, and their difficulties. The young beautifully striking Lucie Manette gives off the image of a perfect woman. She came across as an angel and was a dedicated daughter and loving wife to her husband. She is, “A pretty figure with a quantity of golden hair and blue eyes,” (Dickens 14). Lucie has a compassionate heart and is often concerned about others. She does
her best to create a harmonious household for her family. “Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together, weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives, and making it predominate nowhere, Lucie heard in the echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds. Her husband's step was strong and prosperous among them; her father's firm and equal,” (Dickens162). She has always been a very innocent woman and hardly outspoken, but rather speaks with grace and dignity. When Lucie is begging Madame Defarge to spare her husband, she speaks as the mother of her two children and as the wife of her husband. She has a father whom she dedicates her time to in order to help him be free from his unhappiness. She guided him through his recovery from madness and back into the world again with the compassion and love that she has for him. Despite everything going on in her life, Lucie is happy, which isn’t always something people can say about themselves. Madame Defarge gives off the image of evil and bitterness. She is bloodthirsty, wanting to lead others in battle and displays rebelliousness contrary to her husband’s requests. Madame is not your typical woman. In fact, she is considered inferior. She is without children; therefore, never considered a real women. She has built-up anger deep within her because of her past experiences with her sister being raped, her father dying of grief, and her brother being murdered trying to avenge what had happened to his sister. “Imbued from her childhood with a brooding sense of wrong, and an inveterate hatred of a class, opportunity had developed her into a tigress. She was absolutely without pity. If she had ever had the virtue in her, it had quite gone out of her” (Dickens 281). This is why Madame Defarge wants to play such a large role in the revolution which is trying to destroy the power of the aristocracy. She is described as the women who never stops knitting and begins to knit a pattern of the names of all the people whom the revolution will destroy. “Where they reserve my chair and knitting for me, I am come to make my compliments to her in passing” (Dickens 285). Her heart is cold, blackened, and contains no sympathy for others which makes it hard to sympathize over her past because of the terrible person she becomes.
These two female characters face differences because of their personalities, their life experiences, and their difficulties. Lucie and Madame Defarge are never able to come to their senses and agree with each other. Lucie is the innocent woman while Madame Defarge is entirely without compassion for anyone and everyone.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Dover, 1999. Print.
her best to create a harmonious household for her family. “Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together, weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives, and making it predominate nowhere, Lucie heard in the echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds. Her husband's step was strong and prosperous among them; her father's firm and equal,” (Dickens162). She has always been a very innocent woman and hardly outspoken, but rather speaks with grace and dignity. When Lucie is begging Madame Defarge to spare her husband, she speaks as the mother of her two children and as the wife of her husband. She has a father whom she dedicates her time to in order to help him be free from his unhappiness. She guided him through his recovery from madness and back into the world again with the compassion and love that she has for him. Despite everything going on in her life, Lucie is happy, which isn’t always something people can say about themselves. Madame Defarge gives off the image of evil and bitterness. She is bloodthirsty, wanting to lead others in battle and displays rebelliousness contrary to her husband’s requests. Madame is not your typical woman. In fact, she is considered inferior. She is without children; therefore, never considered a real women. She has built-up anger deep within her because of her past experiences with her sister being raped, her father dying of grief, and her brother being murdered trying to avenge what had happened to his sister. “Imbued from her childhood with a brooding sense of wrong, and an inveterate hatred of a class, opportunity had developed her into a tigress. She was absolutely without pity. If she had ever had the virtue in her, it had quite gone out of her” (Dickens 281). This is why Madame Defarge wants to play such a large role in the revolution which is trying to destroy the power of the aristocracy. She is described as the women who never stops knitting and begins to knit a pattern of the names of all the people whom the revolution will destroy. “Where they reserve my chair and knitting for me, I am come to make my compliments to her in passing” (Dickens 285). Her heart is cold, blackened, and contains no sympathy for others which makes it hard to sympathize over her past because of the terrible person she becomes.
These two female characters face differences because of their personalities, their life experiences, and their difficulties. Lucie and Madame Defarge are never able to come to their senses and agree with each other. Lucie is the innocent woman while Madame Defarge is entirely without compassion for anyone and everyone.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Dover, 1999. Print.