Madame Defarge Character Analysis in A Tale of Two Cities

The wife of Monsieur Defarge, Madame Defarge assists the revolutionaries by stitching the names of their enemies into her knitting. Madame Defarge wants political liberty for the French people, but she is even more powerfully motivated by a bloodthirsty desire for revenge, hoping to exterminate anyone related to the Evrémondes. Where Lucie Manette is the embodiment of pity and goodness, Madame Defarge is her opposite, a figure of unforgiving rage. Over the course of the novel she emerges as a kind of anti-Christ, completely devoid of mercy, and as such comes to symbolize the French Revolution itself, which soon spun out of control and descended into extreme violence.

Madame Defarge Character Timeline in A Tale of Two Cities

The timeline below shows where the character Madame Defarge appears in A Tale of Two Cities. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...of the wine shop, enters his store. From her position behind the counter, his wife, Madame Defarge , silently alerts him to the presence of Mr. Lorry and Lucie. Defarge ignores them,... (full context)

...Marquis screams that he will "exterminate [the commoners] from the earth." He drives away while Madame Defarge looks on, knitting. (full context)

...the Marquis's castle and the entire Evrémonde race should be exterminated. Another Jacques points to Madame Defarge's knitting, which lists in its stitching the names of everyone the revolutionaries mean to kill. (full context)

Several days later, Monsieur and Madame Defarge take the mender of roads to Versailles to see a procession of the King and... (full context)

...receive information that an Englishman named John Barsad has been sent to spy on them. Madame Defarge promises to add his name to her knitting. Defarge admits to his wife that he's... (full context)

Defarge is in disbelief. He feels a deep anxiety when Madame Defarge adds Charles's name to her knitting. (full context)

Defarge leads this army to the Bastille. Madame Defarge rallies the women, swearing they can kill as well as the men. After fierce fighting,... (full context)

...to the Bastille courtyard, the crowd swarms the old officer and stabs him to death. Madame Defarge takes her long knife and slices off his head. Seven prisoners are freed. Seven prison... (full context)

Madame Defarge , now the leader of the female revolutionaries, sits in the wine shop with her... (full context)

...shop, Defarge tells his wife that he is happy the Revolution has finally come. "Almost," Madame Defarge replies. (full context)

On their way to the apartment, Mr. Lorry and Defarge are joined by Madame Defarge , who is knitting, and The Vengeance. Defarge tells Lorry that, in order to be... (full context)

...from Charles: he is fine, and under Dr. Manette's protection. She gratefully kisses one of Madame Defarge's hands, but Madame Defarge coldly withdraws to her knitting. Lucie pleads for Madame Defarge to... (full context)

...out well. Lucie kisses her hand in farewell to Charles as she departs, just as Madame Defarge comes around the corner. Manette and Madame Defarge salute each other. (full context)

A rowdy, bloodthirsty crowd gathers for the trial of "Charles Evrémonde, called Darnay." Defarge and Madame Defarge sit in the front row. Madame Defarge is knitting away. Charles is sentenced to death... (full context)

...Manette, the men explain that evidence for the charge comes from three people: Monsieur and Madame Defarge , and one other, whom they refuse to name. (full context)

...of the jury. As the trial begins, the prosecutor announces who brought the charges: Defarge, Madame Defarge , and Dr. Alexandre Manette. (full context)

...is seen around Paris. He eventually wanders into a wine shop—Defarge's wine shop. Defarge and Madame Defarge marvel at his physical resemblance to Charles, but have no idea who he is. (full context)

Carton eavesdrops on a conversation between Defarge, Madame Defarge , The Vengeance, and Jacques Three, in which Madame Defarge plots to exterminate the Evrémonde... (full context)

Madame Defarge responds by revealing her history with the Evrémondes: she is the missing sister of the... (full context)

At the shop of the wood-sawyer, Madame Defarge holds a secret conference with Jacques Three and The Vengeance. Madame says that she no... (full context)

Madame Defarge strides through the streets like a tigress, a woman without pity, armed with a knife... (full context)

Jerry leaves to make arrangements. Soon after, Madame Defarge arrives at the apartment and demands that Miss Pross let her see Lucie. Miss Pross... (full context)

The Vengeance is in the crowd. She has been saving a front-row seat for Madame Defarge and holding her knitting. She bitterly regrets that her friend will miss the festivities. (full context)