The Symbolism of Madame Dafarge's Knitting in A Tale Of Two Cities
16 views 0 purchase
Course
19th-20th Century Literature
Institution
Istanbul Bilgi University
Book
A Tale of Two Cities
The essay uses Madam Defarge's knitting in different parts of the novel as a representation of the revolutionary fervour at different levels throughout. Each time Dicken's mentions knitting it has significance to the overall political situation in Paris. The workexplores the symbolism and importanc...
Symbolism of Knitting and it’s Demise in “A Tale Of Two Cities”
Knitting has been used with symbolic reference to Madam Dafarge and the French Revolution
spirit, in “a tale of two cities”, representing condemnation to death and wide scale bloodshed.
Knitting has mythological reference to its maker’s personality, and its demise is set off by
Madame Defarge’s own pride and insatiable thirst for revenge. She is presented as not only the
controller of fates but also, as Miss Pross put it, the “wife of Lucifer”.
In Mythology, knitting has symbolic significance to the three sisters called Fates, who solely and
individually controlled the thread of human life. Madam Defarge seems to have taken up the role
of Fates, with her knitting; she condemns individuals to death by knitting out their name. This
condemnation to death by Madame Defarge is a way for her to control the fates of men, as she
effectively has everyone on the list executed during the revolution. Her list consisted of a lot of
men who had done the Defarges or their friend’s wrong before the revolution, but abiding their
time, the Defarges were ready when the time came to exact revenge. Her vengeful thirst sits at
nothing as she ventures hot waters to achieve her aims, like setting out to kill both Lucie and her
young daughter, their innocence deemed irrelevant in her head. The narrator exemplifies
Madame Defarge’s personality by calling her a “ruthless woman” with a “strong and fearless
character, of shrewd sense and readiness, of great determination…” Condemning her victims to
death had been easy for her once the revolutions started, she believes the task to be as easy as
knitting, as she remarked to herself while marching towards Lucie’s house, considering her
reserved seat and knitting awaiting her later. This creates the impression that Madame Defarge
1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller hibakalia. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
